On this day in 2019, the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired one of the largest volumes of draft assets in NBA history and skyrocketed their ensuing rebuild.
In the early hours of July 6, 2019, the NBA world was stunned when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Thunder sent Paul George to the LA Clippers in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and a long list of draft picks that span throughout the 2020s.
The original haul of draft picks included the Clippers’ first-round pick in 2022, 2024, 2026 and swap rights in 2023 and 2025. OKC also acquired the Heat’s first-round pick in 2021 and in 2023 with protections.
Tonight will mark the 4-year anniversary of one of the most lopsided trades in sports history: pic.twitter.com/mYk9IazmRz
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) July 5, 2023
This trade came literal minutes after the Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard to a deal.
After convincing George to re-sign with the Thunder on a multi-year deal the previous summer, the duo of Russell Westbrook and he reached its peak after a third consecutive first-round exit.
Following the trade, Westbrook was traded days later to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul and several draft picks as well.
Since the trade, the Thunder used the Clippers’ 2022 first-round pick — which turned out to be the No. 12 pick — on Rookie of the Year runner-up Jalen Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander has also blossomed into one of the best players in the league, earning All-NBA honors for the first time this past season.
Meanwhile, the Clippers’ duo of Leonard and George have had injury problems in their four years and made the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2021.
