Pacers Trade Paul George to the OKC Thunder
The biggest story of this year's National Basketball Association offseason finally ended on Friday night. Paul George teaming up with Kyrie Irving and LeBron James as a Cleveland Cavalier?
Just hours before the start of National Basketball Association free agency on Friday night, the Oklahoma City traded Oladipo and forward Damontas Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for All-Star forward Paul George. If this does not happen, a rookie Oklahoma is likely to become a player in the Lakers.
According to ESPN, the Thunder will meet with Rudy Gay as free agency this weekend to add more options.
Many are wondering did the Pacers get enough in return for Paul George, and was this the best they could've done. The Indiana Pacers reportedly had a potential deal with the Celtics that would have landed them several draft picks for George, but the trade never materialized.
In other National Basketball Association news approaching the start of free agency, Blake Griffin has canceled his meetings with the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets and will reportedly return to the L.A. Clippers on a five-year max deal. So not only do the Thunder land an All Star in George, but they also save a bit on pay roll as well. He reportedly informed the team earlier this year that he planned to leave next summer as an unrestricted free agent and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
No draft picks were given up and yet, the Thunder found a way to make themselves an even better team.
The American star forward Paul George for the first time in his career he changed the team.
The Thunder looks at this as their opportunity to reclaim their contender spot in the conference and give them the chance to continue their extended run of success. Second, they are about to be hit with a big offer for restricted free agent forward Joe Ingles.
Their current thought process is like a poker player pushing his entire pile of chips to the center of the table. Only time will show, and it's time for both the Pacers and George to move on.