The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George to a desperate Clippers team for an unfathomable haul in 2019. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had just finished his rookie season and was the young talent. General manager Sam Presti convinced LA to give up Danilo Gallinari, five first-round draft picks, and two first-round swaps to go with him. This is the SGA trade after he won MVP, but Presti keeps making this look better for the Thunder by nailing the draft picks.
The Thunder used the 2022 first-rounder from this deal to select Jalen Williams. Yes, Presti got two stars from this trade and still has three selections to make. Tre Mann and the pick that turned into Jamie Jaquez were flipped in other deals. OKC also got Dillon Jones from this package and has picks 15 and 24 in the 2025 draft plus a 2026 first. It will only get better.
The Clippers trading for PG meant landing Kawhi Leonard in free agency. It was their chance to get two stars and become title contenders. Many thought it was a genius move by LA when it happened, but they underestimated Presti’s eye for talent.
Thunder clearly fleeced Clippers in Paul George for SGA trade
Nobody thought Gilgeous-Alexander would become the MVP. He finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 and averaged just 10.8 points per game. SGA was a special talent but needed the right situation. The following season, he put up 19 every night and was quickly blossoming into a superstar. Presti saw the ceiling and insisted on his inclusion in the deal.
Many thought he reached for Jalen Williams in the 2022 draft when the Thunder selected him 12th overall, but the 24-year-old flipped the narrative by becoming an All-Star. There were questions about him being their number two scorer, but those vanished after their finals run. Presti is an elite talent evaluator and keeps putting his players in positions to succeed.
The Clippers with PG and Kawhi never realized their potential. They were one of the title favorites in the bubble before an epic collapse. LA reached the conference finals in 2021, but Leonard couldn’t stay healthy. The gamble didn’t pay off, and the Thunder will continue to make the Clippers pay.
SGA and J-Dub have Oklahoma City set up to contend for the championship every year for the next decade-plus. It is difficult to believe Presti added both in the same trade. This changed the trajectory of the franchise and has the Thunder ready to navigate any hurdle.
Credit to Sam Presti. He made a bold trade for Paul George and convinced him to sign an extension. Without that, this trade does not happen. Presti knew he needed a star next to Russell Westbrook and acquired one. He flipped him just two years later for one of the biggest hauls in NBA history. That is masterful work from Presti and his front office.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the team to beat in the NBA for the next decade. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren are an elite Big 3. The franchise is loaded with depth and draft capital to plug any holes. No franchise wants to face OKC now, and the best is still yet to come. All their success leads back to this slam dunk trade.