The dilemma: should OKC Thunder fans cheer or jeer Paul George?

Paul George returns to Chesapeake Arena for the first time since demanding the OKC Thunder trade him to the Clippers. The question is should fans cheer or jeer him?

Tonight’s match between the OKC Thunder and LA Clippers marks the first time Paul George will play at Chesapeake Energy Arena since his trade request this past offseason.

Opinions vary on where Thunder fans reside on the matter and everyone has a right to feel how they do. When he takes to the court today there is uncertainty about how he’ll be received. Will there be cheers or jeer?

Cheers:

Thunder Nation has dealt with returning players in both manners depending on how the player left the team. For former OKC Thunder players like James Harden, Victor Oladipo, Enes Kanter, Serge Ibaka, and Thabo Sefolosha they’ve all been greeted with rounds of cheers and ‘Thunderous’ applause. Albeit, all of these players were traded so it wasn’t like the players made the decision to leave.

When Russell Westbrook makes his return to Chesapeake no doubt he’ll be given a hero’s welcome.  Talking with Thunder fans, many are watching more Rockets games this season just so they can catch Russ.

That’s true commitment given numerous Rockets games are comprised of James Harden‘s dribble, dribble, dribble and score 35 – 50 points show and it can be exhausting. Harden is amazing but it’s not the most exciting offensive system.

Jeers:

Conversely, players like Kevin Durant and Reggie Jackson got the jeers, snake signs and dancing cupcake on crutches treatment. That may appear as if the fanbase has a cut and dry reaction to players who don’t want to stay but it’s not as simple as that.

In the case of Jackson, he wanted to be the starter over Westbrook and didn’t exactly endear himself to his teammates.

As for Durant, there were a few reasons for the angst. First and most importantly he left OKC to join an existing superstar team (and the one OKC had on the ropes 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals).

The blindside aspect of his departure was also hurtful. KD didn’t owe anyone anything, but that doesn’t mean the fans and even his teammates weren’t upset especially with the perceived indication he was coming back. Since OKC is a small market, that he never considered doing a sign and trade to help the organization added salt to the wound. A wound that was reopened this summer when he did a sign and trade between the Nets and Warriors who got at least something back (D’Angelo Russell).

Still, Durant also re-signed quietly with OKC in the summer of LeBron’s decision, did much for the community and brought so many firsts to the franchise such as winning scoring titles, an MVP and alongside the OKC4 took the Thunder to their first and only trip to the NBA Finals.

Over time I think those still firmly on the anti-Durant side of the equation feelings will soften.  The greatest factor in Kevin Durant‘s situation is he didn’t bolt at his first opportunity – he re-signed. Ultimately, it’s important that fact is remembered.  We might not like how it came about, or where he went, but he had earned the right to make the decision.

How will OKC Thunder welcome Paul George?

Which brings us to Paul George. Again, there are fans who fall on both sides regarding his departure. Even among the writing team here at TI we fall on different sides of the argument.

Some feel the situation wasn’t conducive to winning for George and his desire to return home to play should take precedent as fair.

Others take the stance (raises hand) then why sign a contract to re-up for four years and not once indicate it was never meant to last beyond one season? He had every opportunity in free agency to leave and go home so why didn’t he?  Sure he got injured and that affected his postseason production but is that the fans or the franchise’s fault?

The biggest issue I have is the contradictory statements. When he re-signed to a lucrative contract he stated he had unfinished business in OKC. One year later with two injured shoulders suddenly that business is finished????

Paul George and Doc Rivers – contradict timelines of trade request:

In his interview with Rachel Nichols of NBA The Jump – PG states “we were all on the same page, to give it ONE MORE YEAR. It felt like it was just stagnant”

The elephant in the room for this statement is if in fact “we” meaning the OKC Thunder franchise, Sam Presti, Russell Westbrook and Paul George ALL felt that way then why sign a 4-year deal?

If in fact as George later went on to say this was something discussed ‘days before the moratorium’ which contradicted the 48 hour window Jackie McMullen’s ESPN article cited. then why did:

A) Kawhi Leonard attempt to first get Jimmy Butler to pair up with him and make calls to Kevin Durant among others if this situation was so definitive?

B) Why did Doc Rivers state Kawhi Leonard was shown a list and picked out Paul George’s name and said “if you get him I’ll come here” — hadn’t PG already stated this was a done deal six days prior to the moratorium? Notably, the Clippers didn’t even meet with Leonard until a few days after the moratorium began.

C) And WHY did Sam Presti travel to sign Mike Muscala and Alec Burks in order to add depth to the existing roster — and then later tell them along with Nerlens Noel who was re-signing they didn’t have to honor the initial moratorium agreement since the situation had changed? Moreover, Presti clearly denied this was something he knew about beforehand or was agreed to ahead of time.

D) Jackie McMullen’s ESPN article cites an entirely different timeline as told to her by Doc Rivers, and Clippers management that Presti was approached with 48 hours to complete the trade.  Yet Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst Woj Pod differ completely to McMullen’s timeline.

The story Woj and Windhorst tell states Sam Presti was approached DAYS BEFORE free agency began. Hang on – PG  — didn’t you say EVERYONE knew this was just a one year deal? So presumably if that was true and your comments Leonard and you were talking about this for years then wouldn’t you have requested the trade back in April in your exit meeting?

The takeaway here is McMullen is speaking directly to the teams and coaches whereas Woj and Windhorst are likely speaking with the agents and big surprise everyone has a different timeline and different story!

Let’s note the obvious—- Leonard stating he tried to get San Antonio to trade for PG when he asked for a trade out of Indy. That implies the Klaw was willing to stay put which means everything went off the rails in his injury-riddled season.

Moreover, Leonard’s recent comments coupled with Doc Rivers‘ statements indicate if the Clippers had been unable to sign Paul George he was NOT going to sign with them. Rather, the implication was he would return to the Raptors. Leonard told reporters in Toronto he gave serious thought to returning and it was by NO MEANS A DONE DEAL until other moves were made. Everyone on the Raptors knew his preference was to return home, but winning a championship has a tendency to alter perspective!

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

It’s just too many different “stories” that feel like tall tales to either cover up the collusion or perhaps to appease the fan base who is asking the question.

What we do know for certain is the Clippers recruited Kawhi Leonard with no holds barred. Notably, LAC management attended so many of the Raptors games last season it became a major talking point at the Board of Governors meetings.

Plus, it’s clear given how he left Indiana if Paul George hadn’t got what he wanted then his personal team would’ve made his desires public. If that happened the Thunder doesn’t land the unprecedented haul of assets and picks they did. Sam Presti was put between a rock and a hard place but fortunately, like Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption he brought along a rock hammer in his negotiation bag.

To assume there wasn’t some sort of collusion would be ignoring too many of the points outlined above. Since we’re not privy to the conversations of what really went down all we can know is one side isn’t telling the truth – Sam Presti’s actions give him the edge (at least from the view in this chair).

The full effect of Paul George’s trade, subsequent Russell Westbrook, and Jerami Grant trades won’t be recognized until all those draft picks are conveyed or utilized in trade packages.

In addition to that packed draft closet, the OKC Thunder are now led by the brilliant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plus (for now) Danilo Gallinari and Chris Paul.

For as much as many of us miss Russell Westbrook the performance of this Thunder trio and new iteration of the team has been more enjoyable than watching last season’s projected elite squad fail to meet our expectations. If for no other reason than that, we should probably thank Paul George.

So should OKC Thunder fans cheer or jeer Paul George?

If you fall on the salty side of the equation and are looking for a way to get your point across a poster with Damian Lillard shooting over him to win the series would drive home your message.

For those on the appreciative time of his tenure – let him know it by your cheers.

My stance on this is always it’s up to the individual. If you aren’t sure what to do then avoid doing either and put your energy into cheering SGA, PG3, and Gallo for making this one of the most enjoyable seasons on record.