Paul George Injury impacts OKC Thunder draft position

The OKC Thunder were sitting at home on Christmas Day as the NBA patched together what is typically their most important day on the calendar when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted a league shifting announcement that former-Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star and current Clipper leader Paul George will be out for a significant amount of time.

The OKC Thunder traded for Paul George after a gap-year post Kevin Durant, George offered hope, and seeming stability. Though, after two seasons, two first-round exist, and an MVP caliber campaign, Paul George teamed up with Kawhi Leonard in L.A. coasting the Clippers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has since inked a max contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder and paved the way for this rebuild.

Along with SGA, the OKC Thunder were able to snag a bevy of First-round draft picks from the L.A. Clippers who were too eager to leap at the chance to pair two top 15 players together and did not place protections on those selections. Now? We are seeing just how risky that was.

Paul George’s injury helps OKC Thunder draft pick, shifts the NBA

This is now the typical post bashing the Clippers for trading the farm to get an MVP-level player they should be applauded for not staying ideal and doing. what was best for their organization in an attempt to win a title? If anyone is to blame, it is Kawhi for nuking the organization’s leverage with his “I will not sign without Paul George” shtick. Though, if I could have that power over a potential employer, I have to assume my ego would use it too. That’s why I struggle to call this a bad move, just a risky one that once looked incredibly promising.

Kawhi Leonard was injured during the postseason last season, and many anticipate he will miss the entire season or at least the 82-regular season contests which are what matter for the Clippers’ draft pick which is owed to the OKC Thunder without any protections for the Clippers to get it back.

Now, Paul George will be re-evaluated in a month for an elbow injury, what is being called a torn UCL in his right elbow. It is important to note, this does not mean George will be playing basketball again in a month, that is just the soonest the doctors will look at the All-Star wing.

The L.A. Clippers’ first-round pick is tied for the 19th overall slot with a tough road ahead. After the loss tonight to the Denver Nuggets, they take on the Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets again, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Philidelphia 76ers, and the New York Knicks before George will be re-evaluated.

While the Clippers have no true incentive in punting the season, especially as the bottom of the Western Conference struggles to separate themselves and the fact their pick is owed to OKC, is there an argument within the walls of LaLa Land for the organization to just shut their stars down and ensure they will be 100-percent entering next season? Unlikely, but this stretch of the season can improve that Clippers’ selection in a big way for the OKC Thunder who march on with their rebuild.