The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, facing off in the 2025 NBA Finals, share a significant connection: the trade that sent Paul George from Indiana to Oklahoma City almost eight years prior.
Remarkably, both teams can attribute the development of their current star players to the subsequent moves made after dealing George.
When George, who has earned nine All-Star selections, sought a trade to join Kawhi Leonard on the LA Clippers in 2019, the Thunder capitalized by acquiring future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This trade also brought in draft assets that led to the selection of All-Star Jalen Williams and rookie Dillon Jones, with additional picks still pending, including the 15th and 24th picks in the upcoming draft.
Similarly, the Pacers built upon the assets received for George – Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis – after they developed into All-Stars. Sabonis was later the key piece in a major trade that brought All-NBA selection Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana. The trade of Oladipo for Caris LeVert eventually resulted in acquiring starter Andrew Nembhard and reserve Ben Sheppard through draft picks obtained in a subsequent 2023 trade involving LeVert and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While other teams can`t trade a prime Paul George, examining these transactions reveals valuable lessons on how the Pacers and Thunder strategically built youthful rosters capable of reaching the NBA Finals through trades.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Trades:
- Oladipo and Sabonis acquired for George (July 6, 2017)
- George sent to the Clippers for Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks, and two pick swaps (July 6, 2019)
Lesson 1: Embrace Boldness (`Scared money don`t make none`)
This principle was evident in the Thunder`s initial acquisition of George from Indiana. Given George had just one guaranteed year left before potentially becoming a free agent in 2017, Oklahoma City was seen as an improbable trade partner.
Most small-market teams, typically risk-averse, would have avoided pursuing George due to the risk of him leaving as a free agent. However, Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti, known for building their 2011-12 Finals team, opted for a more audacious approach.
In a documentary discussing George`s free agency decision, Presti quoted a line from A Tribe Called Quest`s 1993 track `Midnight` to explain his philosophy: “Scared money don`t make none.”
Presti asserted, “If you expect Paul George or any player to have confidence in your organization, you must first demonstrate that confidence yourselves.”
While the combination of George, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook didn`t achieve the expected playoff success in 2018 (losing to the Utah Jazz in the first round), George surprisingly re-signed that offseason. This move positioned Oklahoma City advantageously when he requested a trade just a year later.
Perhaps the Thunder didn`t see the initial George trade as overly risky because it didn`t cost them any draft picks. Thus, the lesson isn`t about carelessly sacrificing the future for immediate success, but rather recognizing that seizing opportune moments can itself be a bold strategy.
This principle might currently apply to Kevin Durant`s anticipated trade from the Phoenix Suns. A smaller market team could potentially acquire Durant at a reduced cost, leveraging his potential 2026 free agency. Reports indicate the Timberwolves showed serious interest at the last trade deadline, and despite their recent playoff run, exploring the addition of Durant remains a viable consideration.
Lesson 2: Effectively Use Leverage
The return package the Thunder received for George initially appeared outrageous. While trading numerous unprotected first-round picks and swaps is more common now, it was nearly unprecedented at the time of the George trade.
Naturally, Oklahoma City understood the Clippers were acquiring George not just for his talent, but also to secure Kawhi Leonard, the most sought-after free agent and recent Finals MVP with the Toronto Raptors.
However, many teams would have hesitated to push their demands too hard, fearing the deal might collapse. Requesting such a large haul of picks could have seemed excessive, especially since the Thunder were also getting the promising rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who, though not yet seen as an MVP candidate, had shown All-Star potential as a 20-year-old starter for a playoff team.
Yet, Oklahoma City was prepared to retain George and didn`t compromise on their demands. The Thunder have executed clever strategies since then and benefited from some fortune. While Gilgeous-Alexander developed into a spectacular star, it`s the entirety of the assets acquired in the George trade that positions them as potential future contenders.
The Milwaukee Bucks might face a similar scenario if Giannis Antetokounmpo requests a trade. Securing robust offers for Antetokounmpo wouldn`t be difficult. Nevertheless, they should be patient and await the optimal package, especially if, like with George, it involves sending Antetokounmpo to his preferred team.
Indiana Pacers
The Trades:
- George traded for Oladipo and Sabonis (July 6, 2017)
- Oladipo traded for LeVert and two second-round picks (Jan. 16, 2021)
- LeVert and a second-round pick traded for Ricky Rubio, a first-round pick, and two second-round picks (Feb. 7, 2022)
- Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, and a second-round pick traded for Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson (Feb. 8, 2022)
Lesson 1: Spotting Undervalued Talent
Unlike many analyses, these lessons aren`t solely based on hindsight. Most of these trades appeared successful immediately, with the Pacers` return for George being a key deviation. Victor Oladipo hadn`t achieved league-average true shooting percentage in four seasons, and Domantas Sabonis shot under 40% as a rookie starter for the Thunder. Indiana correctly gambled that both players possessed untapped potential.
The Pacers likely recognized that Oladipo and Sabonis would thrive with increased ball-handling responsibilities and better spacing in Indiana. Playing alongside Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, they were often relegated to roles that didn`t fully utilize their talents. Oladipo`s time with the ball almost doubled from 2.4 minutes per game with the Thunder to 4.4 with the Pacers, while Sabonis drastically reduced his 3-point attempts, taking 159 as a rookie compared to just 121 over the following three seasons combined.
Oladipo`s improvement was rapid. The next season, his scoring surged to 23.1 points per game on 48% shooting, he led the league in steals, was named Most Improved Player, and earned All-NBA Third Team honors. Tragically, this peak at age 25 was followed by a quadriceps tendon rupture the next January, significantly impacting his career path.
While Oladipo dealt with injuries, Sabonis began to shine. He was runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in 2018-19 and then became an All-Star in the subsequent two seasons, often starting alongside Myles Turner in a large frontcourt. Sabonis has since been named an All-Star three times and has twice finished in the top 10 in MVP voting.
Predicting such a development path for any player is highly speculative. However, there are recent first-round picks who might be undervalued and could thrive in different circumstances. San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, for instance, has struggled to find his role alongside Victor Wembanyama, and the team performed better defensively after he was injured last season. Playing next to a traditional stretch forward, rather than Wembanyama, might better showcase Sochan`s defensive skills and athleticism.
Another intriguing player is Jazz center Walker Kessler, whose strong rim protection numbers don`t always correlate with his overall on-court impact (net rating). The influence of Utah`s young guards on this is debatable. Improved defensive structure could emphasize Kessler`s strengths and hide his weaknesses, while more skilled guards might generate better scoring chances for him in pick-and-roll situations.
Lesson 2: Be Willing to Trade a Star
Despite Sabonis`s impressive development, there was a perceived limit to the Pacers` potential with him as the main star. After three consecutive first-round playoff exits post-George trade, Indiana was headed for a second straight lottery pick as the 2022 trade deadline neared. While other small markets might have rebuilt around an established star like Sabonis, the Pacers` readiness to trade him is precisely why they`ve now reached the Finals.
Trading Sabonis for Haliburton as the core pieces in a six-player deal appeared highly favorable for Indiana at the time. Haliburton was four years younger, already a starting guard for Sacramento, showed All-Star potential, and was on an affordable rookie contract. However, the trade created a roster imbalance, leaving the Pacers guard-heavy with a significant weakness at power forward. This contributed to a 35-47 record the next season, even with Haliburton making his first All-Star appearance.
Last season saw everything click. Haliburton, earning All-NBA honors, guided Indiana to the inaugural NBA Cup Final, and the mid-season acquisition of Pascal Siakam addressed the power forward need. The Pacers advanced to the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals (losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics) and have now reached the NBA Finals, winning the East for the first time since 2000. While future Finals appearances aren`t guaranteed, Indiana`s championship window is clearly open with the 25-year-old Haliburton entering his prime.
Pinpointing which teams could most benefit from this lesson is difficult; it relies on an established star becoming highly desired by a `win-now` team willing to significantly overpay. The main takeaway is that, for all but the league`s absolute top players, no star should be considered `untouchable`. If your front office can manage the process discreetly to avoid negative impact, it`s always prudent to listen to trade offers – just in case another team is willing to make a favorable error.
