The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, after both jumping out to 2-0 series leads in the Conference Finals, are expected to meet in the NBA Finals. Both teams have depth, elite guard play, and a well-rounded supporting cast.
Neither team has ever won the Finals, so regardless of who wins, a fan base will finally reach the promised land.
Both teams built a winning roster and found success on the back of an identical move: trading away Paul George.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Mar 12, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket beside Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first quarter at Paycom Center.
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
In 2017, the Pacers traded George to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo. Sabonis would later be flipped for Tyrese Haliburton, and Oladipo would be turned into Ben Sheppard and Andrew Nembhard, both key role players for the Pacers.
The Thunder, meanwhile, traded George to the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and several draft picks, one of which turned into Jalen Williams.
Gilgeous-Alexander is better than Paul George ever was during his prime, evidenced by his recent MVP award. While Haliburton is not quite the player that George was, he seems poised to reach the NBA Finals, barring a collapse at the hands of the New York Knicks, which is something George has never done.
Last offseason, George signed a four-year, $211 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and then appeared in only 41 games, having one of the worst seasons of his career. The Sixers seem to have no plans to trade George, although it seems like a blueprint for success if they, like the Pacers and Thunder, can find a sucker willing to overpay for the nine-time All-Star.
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