Yesterday saw the shocking trade of NBA All-Star Paul George, as the Indiana Pacers traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In other news across the NBA involving star players, the Los Angeles Clippers managed to retain All-Star power forward Blake Griffin by coming to an agreement on a massive contract. This move was surprising since it came in the wake of Chris Paul being traded to the Houston Rockets.
Paul George is headed west
Following weeks of trade speculation and rumors, the Indiana Pacers finally traded four-time All-Star small forward Paul George.
In return for sending him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers will receive Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. This is a high-risk, high-reward move for the Thunder as they parted ways with their starting shooting guard and a young big man with potential for what may be a one-year rental. George has openly stated that he wants to become a free agent next year and prefers the Los Angeles Lakers. The Thunder and MVP Russell Westbrook will now have one year to convince George that Oklahoma City can be a true contender to get him to stay.
What is next for the Pacers?
In 25-year-old shooting guard Victor Oladipo, the Indiana Pacers get a player who averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season.
Domantas Sabonis is only 20-year-old and is coming off a rookie season where he averaged 5.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1 assist. Some think that the Pacers made this trade because they like Sabonis' potential. However, ESPN Insider Jeff Goodman says that most executives around the NBA have told him that they think the Pacers general manager made the trade based on emotion and did not take better offers that were available.
Regardless, the trade now signals that the Pacers will be in rebuilding mode.
Most of the NBA execs I have talked to since Paul George trade feel that Kevin Pritchard was just too hell-bent... https://t.co/14O0FQUCmA
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) July 1, 2017
Blake Griffin re-signs with the Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers and All-Star Blake Griffin have reached an agreement on a massive five-year, $173 million deal for him to stay with the team.
His contract does not have a no-trade clause in it. This move is a bit surprising, as some thought that Griffin would leave in free agency after Chris Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets.
Supposedly, Griffin met with owner Steve Ballmer, coach Doc Rivers, and a host of players as they took him "on a trip down memory lane" during a two-hour meeting. It will be interesting to see where the Los Angeles Clippers go from here, however, especially without Paul running the team.
