How can the clippers trade a 2012 pick when the Cs have it?

[blceltsfan]

Maybe someone can clarify this for me?

I understood that in the Thunder deal for Perkins, the Celtics receive the Clippers' 2012 first-round pick, via Thunder (Eric Bledsoe trade) (top 10 protected in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, unprotected in 2016. In 2012, the Celtics would receive the lesser of the Clippers first-round pick or the T'Wolves' first-round pick (Marko Jaric trade)) (Jeff Green trade 02-24-11)

How can the Twolves pick be going to the Hornets in the CP3 trade?

[PosImpos]

the clippers just traded whatever rights they have to the t-wolves pick.  if it so happens that the t-wolves pick is somehow worse than the clippers pick (incredibly unlikely), then i imagine the hornets would get the clippers pick and we would get the t-wolves pick.