When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George in the middle of the night, many believed General Manager Sam Presti had made a costly mistake. To acquire Kawhi Leonard and satisfy his demand for a partner, the Los Angeles Clippers surrendered Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round draft picks, and the right to swap two more. At the time, the prevailing view was that Presti had handed the Clippers a potential dynasty. However, looking back six years later, the Paul George Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trade analysis reveals that the Thunder may have engineered one of the most remarkable steals in recent NBA history.
The Initial Reception: Clippers Build a Superteam
Immediately following the trade, the sports world lauded the Clippers’ acquisition as a masterstroke. Analysts and broadcasters highlighted Kawhi Leonard alongside Paul George as a formidable duo capable of dominating the Western Conference and even contending for championships. The package given up, including SGA, was regarded as the price for assembling this championship-caliber squad. While Paul George performed solidly in Los Angeles, the Clippers never advanced beyond the Western Conference Finals and fell short of reaching the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander blossomed into an MVP contender, firmly establishing himself as one of the league’s elite players and a dominant force in the West.
Expert Opinions from the Trade’s Announcement
Contemporaneous reactions from voices in the sports world emphasized the perceived value the Clippers secured. Nick Wright offered,
“And listen, I understand the trade haul is unprecedented, but you cannot look at it that the Clippers gave up that for Paul George. They gave up that for Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. You got the reigning Finals MVP and maybe the next best two-way wing in the league. A top-five player and now also a top-15 player. That’s the price of that. Both on longterm deals.”
Jalen Rose added,
“And before you know it, the Clippers got both of their guys for the future. Brilliant move(s) by Uncle Dennis. I want to see if I can be a part of the family.”
Seth Greenberg remarked,
“He was playing chess; everyone else is playing checkers.”
On SportsCenter, Bobby Marks told Lina Cohen,
“It’s not like it’s bare bones there, Linda. There’s still a foundation there. And yes, it cost you Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari. I think when you’re getting a player like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the picks are worth it.”
Stephen A. Smith asserted,
“I think you have to give them the edge [in the Western Conference]. I can’t believe that anybody would come to me with a proposition that would say there’s somebody better than the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but the Clippers are clearly a better team this year. And when you talk about them getting Kawhi Leonard, you only thought about him. But if you have Kawhi Leonard with Paul George, and you have two stars on your team with the Los Angeles Clippers, with the depth that they have, with the coaching staff that they have, with the resources they have, etc. I can’t knock anybody right now who would think that the Clippers may very well be above the Lakers in the pecking order.”
Chris Broussard supported this view:
“Right now, I think the Clippers are the best team in the league. I think for a few reasons: No. 1, their team fits better together — at least right now. We look at the Lakers and we kind of wonder, ‘OK, is Boogie, does he even fit in today’s game?’”
Kenny Smith emphasized the strategic advantage, stating,
“You cannot double Kawhi Leonard when Paul George is on the floor. So, you got two guys who are the best possibly in their position at times, one-on-one players, that will get to play one-on-one. That in itself, that’s what made Michael Jordan so great. He didn’t have guys that…”
Bruce Bowen commented on the significance of the acquisition,
“I think this is a huge, huge day for the Clippers’ organization, as far as getting two marquee stars in their prime. A two time MVP in the Finals in Kawhi Leonard being able to lead the charge, and now, kind of give Paul George a little tutelage when it comes to leading a team to a possible championship.”
Michael Wilbon reflected on the trade’s unusual nature,
“It sounds like a great tandem. It sounds like a great tag-team. I don’t understand… I got to hear more as we go on about why Oklahoma City would be so accommodating to the Clippers. For what? Was Paul George first-team or second-team All-NBA? Either way, we’re talking about a top-10 player in the league this season. And now OKC doesn’t have him, to accommodate the Clippers; that’s going to take some digesting as we sort of filter through this the next couple of days. But Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, I mean, yeah, why not? Why? Who wouldn’t want that? And it doesn’t seem like the guts of it. You still got an ensemble around them.”
Rachel Nichols concluded,
“There is no price that is too high for the Clippers in this scenario.”
How the Trade Has Aged: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Emergence
With the benefit of hindsight, the prevailing opinions in 2019 stand in sharp contrast to the reality of today. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a promising young guard at the time of the trade but not yet recognized as an MVP-level talent. The Clippers were confident that trading him was a worthwhile gamble to assemble two top-10 players and chase immediate titles. However, it has since become clear that the Thunder retained a rare gem. Gilgeous-Alexander’s growth into a superstar, MVP winner, and franchise cornerstone has turned this transaction into an infamous miss for the Clippers, who traded away the player most capable of delivering a championship.
The Strategic Implications and What Lies Ahead
The Paul George Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trade analysis underscores Sam Presti’s keen foresight and patient management skills. While the deal initially appeared lopsided, Oklahoma City’s accumulation of assets and development of Gilgeous-Alexander have created a roster with immense potential and a clear path toward sustained success. Meanwhile, the Clippers, despite their marquee stars, have struggled to capitalize fully on their investment, highlighting the risks inherent in aggressive win-now trades.
The trade remains a cautionary tale in the NBA about balancing immediate results against long-term player development and organizational stability. As Gilgeous-Alexander continues to elevate his game and lead the Thunder, the ramifications of this trade will likely influence front-office strategies league-wide for years to come.