The Oklahoma City Thunder emerged victorious in the Paul George sweepstakes shocking the NBA world in a trade with the Indiana Pacers.
Heading to OKC is a great two-way player in George who can lock down the opposition’s best perimeter weapon. Going to the other way to the Pacers is Victor Oladipo – a poor man’s version of George – and Domantas Sabonis which was probably the biggest caveat for Indiana in the deal.
Oklahoma City’s acquisition of George came at a huge surprise considering the Thunder were hardly mentioned – if at all by the NBA pundits speculating on where the now former Pacers star may end up. At first thought many believed George was Cleveland bound to team up with LeBron James in a one-year effort to take down the Golden State Warriors next season. Meanwhile the Celtics were doing everything they could to perhaps make a serious run at George and Gordon Hayward who informed the Jazz that he’d be opting out of his contract. The Wizards were even thought to be potential trade partners with the Pacers possibly offering up Otto Porter Jr. in a deal.
Now the Thunder will pair George with the League’s reigning MVP in Russell Westbrook in a huge single season gamble for an NBA title. Like George, Westbrook is on the final year of his deal with OKC while George has continued to hint that he’s destined for the Lakers in 2018-19.
