Thunder Are The Ultimate Winners From 2019 Blockbuster Trade With Clippers

In the summer of 2019, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two pick swaps. The blockbuster trade was the biggest move for a single player in NBA history, in a memorable summer that saw some of the league’s top talent relocate to new teams. The massive haul given up by the Clippers for George was also an insurance move to guarantee the team landed two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.

The common thought was that the Thunder would tank for the next few years, loading up on draft capital and making moves for bigger stars down the road. They tried that method for a few years, and were able to stockpile more than 15 first-round picks over the next seven years. While playing the long game, led by general manager Sam Presti, the Thunder built a strong, young team in a much shorter span than many expected.

Over the past three seasons, Oklahoma City has drafted Josh Giddey, Chet Holgrem and Jalen Williams, all of whom are currently starters and each averaging at least 10 points, four rebounds and two assists per game. Along with Gilgeous-Alexander, the young core has proved that they aren’t just a team with potential in a few years but rather a championship contender today.

In that span, the Thunder also drafted Brandon Clarke, Immanuel Quickly, Alperen Shengun and Derrick Lively II, but all were traded before they could ever put on an OKC jersey. Despite trading them away before playing a single minute with the team, the hit rate on the Thunder’s draft picks by Presti is unrivaled by any other team and should be cause for their concern.

Even with their untouchable drafting record, the primary cause for the Thunder’s success has been Gilgeous-Alexander. For the second straight year, the 25-year-old is averaging more than 30 points per game, along with 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2 per contest. Though at the time of the trade,  Gilgeous-Alexander seemed like just a small piece of the pie offered for George, his 30 points per game is a feat George has yet to accomplish in his career. He also received first-team All-NBA honors in 2023, as opposed to George last making the list in 2019, his final year with the Thunder.

The draft picks offered for George would have been enough for most teams to accept the deal, but the addition of Gilgeous-Alexander was an unforeseen luxury for Oklahoma City. Since the trade, the Clippers have seen more success in the regular season and playoffs, but have had an overall better team than the Thunder. Though it hasn’t played out in long-term winning just yet, the common thought around the league is that Gilgeous-Alexander has been a better and more impactful player than George.

As of March 16, the Thunder are currently tied for first in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets with a 47-20 record. The team is third in points per game at 120.7, second in field goal percentage at 50% and first in three-point shooting at 39.4%. Oklahoma City is also the second-youngest team in the NBA with an average age of 24.12 years old, but their lack of experience hasn’t stopped their regular season success.

With their young roster at the top of the standings Oklahoma City is in unfamiliar territory, but that shouldn’t mean they should be counted out. The last time the team made the NBA Finals was in 2012, with a squad that was drafted and developed by the team in the form of Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kevin Durant. Yes, it’s unfair to compare this year’s team to the one from 12 years ago, but they look and feel similar, and are currently carrying themselves like the team that was three games away from the franchise’s first NBA Championship.

Article by Eli Gregorski