The 2025 NBA Finals feature the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, two teams whose paths to contention are remarkably intertwined through a pivotal trade involving Paul George almost eight years prior, when he was sent from Indiana to Oklahoma City.
Both franchises have successfully leveraged George`s departure into acquiring their foundational stars, ultimately leading them to this championship stage.
In 2019, George, now a nine-time All-Star, sought a move to the LA Clippers to team up with Kawhi Leonard. The Thunder expertly capitalized on this request, securing future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a trove of draft picks. These picks later materialized into All-Star Jalen Williams and promising rookie Dillon Jones, with additional selections, including the 15th and 24th picks in this year`s draft, still on the horizon.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers, having initially received Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis in the George trade, saw both players develop into All-Stars. The Pacers then strategically `spun` these assets into further gains: Sabonis became the cornerstone of a significant trade that brought in All-NBA talent Tyrese Haliburton, while the trade of Oladipo for Caris LeVert eventually resulted in the acquisition of starter Andrew Nembhard and reserve Ben Sheppard through draft picks obtained from a 2023 LeVert deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Since other NBA teams won`t be able to replicate a trade involving Paul George in his prime, it`s worth examining these complex transactions to understand the actionable lessons that other franchises can draw from how the Pacers and Thunder strategically built their young, Finals-bound rosters.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City ThunderThe Trades:
- Oladipo and Sabonis for George (July 6, 2017)
- George to the Clippers for Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks, and two pick swaps (July 6, 2019)
Lesson 1: “Scared money don`t make none”
This principle traces back to the Thunder`s initial acquisition of George from Indiana. Oklahoma City was an improbable destination for George, who had only one guaranteed year left on his contract in the summer of 2017 before a player option allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent. Many small-market teams, operating cautiously, would have shied away from pursuing such a trade, fearing George`s potential departure in free agency. However, Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti, who also orchestrated Oklahoma City`s first Finals team (2011-12), dared to think bigger.
In a documentary on George`s free agency, Presti justified the move by quoting a famous lyric from A Tribe Called Quest`s 1993 song `Midnight`: “Scared money don`t make none.” Presti argued, “If you expect Paul George or any player to have any confidence in you as an organization, you have to demonstrate it yourself.”
Although the pairing of George and Carmelo Anthony with Russell Westbrook didn`t yield the desired playoff success for the Thunder in 2018 (they suffered an opening-round upset to the Utah Jazz), George re-signed with the team that summer. This put Oklahoma City in an advantageous position when George ultimately requested a trade a year later.
The Thunder might not have perceived trading for George as a massive risk, partly because they didn`t have to surrender any draft picks in the initial deal. Thus, the lesson isn`t about recklessly mortgaging a team`s future for immediate success, but rather about being bold and opportunistic when the right situation arises.
In the near term, this lesson could directly apply to Kevin Durant`s potential trade from the Phoenix Suns. A small-market team might capitalize on Durant`s possible 2026 free agency to acquire him at a reduced price for his immense talent. Reports indicate teams like the Timberwolves were seriously interested in Durant at the trade deadline, suggesting that exploring such opportunities remains worthwhile, even if circumstances have changed.
Lesson 2: Don`t be afraid to utilize leverage
On paper, the return the Thunder received for George from the Clippers seemed excessive at the time. While trading numerous unprotected first-round picks and swaps has become more common in subsequent years, it was almost unprecedented when the George trade occurred.
Of course, Oklahoma City was aware that the Clippers weren`t just getting George; they were also using him as a crucial piece to secure Kawhi Leonard, the top free agent on the market and fresh off leading the Toronto Raptors to a championship as Finals MVP.
Despite this, many NBA decision-makers might have hesitated, fearing they would push too hard and jeopardize the entire deal. Asking for such a bounty of picks could have seemed greedy, especially since the Thunder were also acquiring the promising Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who, while not yet seen as an MVP candidate, had demonstrated All-Star potential as a 20-year-old rookie starter for a playoff-bound Clippers team.
However, Oklahoma City was resolute, prepared to keep George if their demands weren`t met. This unwavering stance, combined with astute subsequent moves and some fortunate developments (like Gilgeous-Alexander`s meteoric rise), is what has positioned the Thunder as a potential dynasty, built on the foundations laid by the George trade.
The Milwaukee Bucks could find themselves in a similar situation if Giannis Antetokounmpo were to request a trade. While strong offers for Antetokounmpo would undoubtedly materialize, the Bucks should not be afraid to wait for the absolute ideal package, especially if, as with George, it also facilitates Antetokounmpo`s desired destination.
Indiana Pacers
Indiana PacersThe Trades:
- George for Oladipo and Sabonis (July 6, 2017)
- Oladipo for LeVert and two second-round picks (Jan. 16, 2021)
- LeVert and a second-round pick 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 for Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson (Feb. 8, 2022)
Lesson 1: Identify undervalued talent
While many of these trades appeared to be wins at the time, the Pacers` initial return for George was a notable exception. Victor Oladipo had not yet achieved league-average true shooting percentage in his four NBA seasons, and Domantas Sabonis had shot under 40% as a rookie starter for Oklahoma City. Indiana made a correct bet that both players were capable of significantly more.
The Pacers likely recognized that Oladipo and Sabonis would flourish with increased ball-handling opportunities and improved spacing in Indiana. Alongside Russell Westbrook with the Thunder, they primarily served in complementary roles that did not fully utilize their skill sets. Oladipo`s time of possession nearly doubled from 2.4 minutes per game in his single season with the Thunder to 4.4 with the Pacers, while Sabonis went from attempting 159 three-pointers as a rookie to a combined total of 121 over the next three seasons.
Oladipo`s breakout was almost immediate. The following season, he jumped to 23.1 points per game on 48% shooting, led the NBA in steals per game, earned the Most Improved Player award, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Unfortunately, this marked Oladipo`s career peak at age 25, as a quad tendon rupture the following January significantly altered his career trajectory.
As Oladipo battled injuries, Sabonis began to emerge, first as a runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in 2018-19, then as an All-Star in the subsequent two seasons while starting alongside Myles Turner in a jumbo frontcourt. Sabonis is now a three-time All-Star and has twice finished in the top 10 in MVP voting.
While betting on any single player to follow such a path is inherently risky, there are recent, potentially undervalued first-round picks who might benefit from better situations. San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan has struggled to find his niche playing alongside Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs notably improved after Sochan was sidelined last season. If he played with a more traditional stretch big rather than Wembanyama, Sochan`s defensive versatility and athleticism might become more apparent.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler is another intriguing case, as his on-court impact in net rating has not fully matched his impressive rim protection statistics. It`s difficult to ascertain how much Utah`s young backcourt contributes to this discrepancy. Improved defensive execution could highlight Kessler`s strengths while minimizing his weaknesses, and superior guards might create more opportunities for Kessler to finish plays out of the pick-and-roll.
Lesson 2: Don`t be afraid to trade a star
Despite Domantas Sabonis`s significant development with the Pacers, there was a discernible ceiling on their team`s progress. Indiana experienced three consecutive first-round exits after the Paul George trade and was on track for a second straight lottery appearance as the 2022 trade deadline approached. Another small-market team might have chosen to retool around Sabonis, a proven star. However, the Pacers` willingness to move on from him is precisely why they are now in the Finals.
Swapping Sabonis for Tyrese Haliburton as the centerpiece of a six-player trade seemed like an excellent move at the time. Four years younger, Haliburton was already an established Sacramento starter with All-Star potential on a bargain rookie contract. Yet, the deal left Indiana with a guard-heavy roster and a glaring hole at power forward, a major factor in the Pacers` 35-47 record the following season, despite Haliburton making his All-Star debut.
Everything ultimately converged last season, with Haliburton leading Indiana to the inaugural NBA Cup final as an All-NBA selection. The Pacers further solidified their roster by adding Pascal Siakam in a January trade, effectively filling the void at the power forward position. Indiana reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 before falling to the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics. The Pacers have now gone a step further, winning the East for the first time since 2000. While future Finals appearances are never guaranteed, Indiana`s contention window is wide open with Haliburton entering his prime at age 25.
It`s challenging to pinpoint which specific teams can directly apply this lesson, as it often depends on which established star becomes highly sought after by a win-now franchise willing to overpay. The broader takeaway, however, is that, with the exception of the league`s truly elite, untouchable players, there should be no such thing as an “untouchable” star. As long as your front office can prevent leaks and potential damage, it`s always worth taking the call, just in case the other side is prepared to make a strategic error.
