A Thunder fan saying quote “FUCK THIS BULLSHIT”

Lakers fans being depressed

Clippers fans elated

A distinct lack of comments predicting SGA to be an MVP

This. This is a fleecing honestly. I would trade my 7 week old daughter for FIVE FIRST ROUND PICKS and two picks swaps lol

Funny, they got it right on being a fleece, but for the wrong reasons.

The buildup to this trade was a movie. Tracking Kawhi’s plane, helicopters following him in Toronto, meeting with Masai, the pic of Kawhi at a convenience store near LA, Lakers “insiders” posting that the move was done… I was like 90% sure he was going to the Lakers and then this nuke dropped.

Kawhi was right there with LeBron after that Raptors season, people criticize the trade now because of what SGA has done but there are like 25 teams that would’ve done the same thing the Clippers did to get Kawhi if they could have back then

Getting SGA and then having him develop into an MVP is one thing, but getting JDub as well from it is just unimaginable. Jdub alone and like half the picks would be worth PG.

This was taken a jerk during the time, but damn, it happened

You may have the solution to the ASG, instead of east vs west, what about a tournament of the different divisions?

When this USA vs World thing inevitably doesn’t work, this right here has to be the next all star game gimmick

Wild that originally there was barely any mention about SGA in that trade.

I was sad at the time, but knowing the ceiling the team had with 2 first round exits, it needed to happen.

“Exec of the Year award needs to be renamed to the Jerry West Award”

I remember going to Frank and Son’s the following day. There was a Lakers fan and a Clippers fan running one of the shops. I made small talk to the Clips fan about the trade and it ended up with him and the Lakers fan arguing about the picks and swaps lol

The clippers made that trade for both pg and Leonard. I can’t fault them for making that trade at the time.  Presti did an excellent job of taking advantage of the leverage he had at the time.  Though I think in the end the clippers played themselves as I think Leonard was gonna sign there no matter what if the clippers called his bluff and not traded for pg. at the same time I understand not wanting to take that chance.  

I’d do that trade knowing what we knew at the time ten times out of ten if I’m the clippers. It’s not like those picks were top 5, Presti did an amazing job of drafting. 

Honestly as far as pick value the trade harden trade may end up worse for the clippers.  The sixers have both 28 and a 29 swap if they want it, there is a very good chance both those picks are lottery picks and even though harden is a decent player still, they aren’t winning a title with that roster. 

Lmao, this is exactly how this sub reacted when the poll of executives came out yesterday where they chose 7’4 Wemby who’s like 9 years younger THAN Jokic to start a franchise. Anybody in their position would do the same but the comments were appalled.

Infact if I had to start over, I’d 100% choose the player with the most generational potential, maybe ever, that is on a rookie contract.

People were so high on PG back then.

Edit: This is an observation, not a PG jab.

Clippers had to make this trade. It was functionally for Kawhi and PG. Looking back OKC obviously won the trade by a landslide, but I still think the Clippers did the right thing at the time. No one could have predicted SGA becoming an MVP.

What moment from recent history will we be looking back on like this in a few years?

I remember feeling relief that they were finally done trying to retool the year after year, just to lose in the first round. Those Utah and Portland series were a tough watch.

I blinked and six years disappeared

Thunder comments aged like sour milk. So many wanna hang Presti on the crux

Look at the Thunder now. Betcha people who yelled the loudest that night wanting Paul George back is now all silent

It looks bad now, but it was a great move at the time. Kawhi and PG was a ridiculous core to build around, they just got cursed by the basketball gods and couldn’t stay healthy enough

Delete this fam, I don’t need the reminders.

Another lesson in not letting a player dictate your roster moves. What makes Presti so great is that he never makes these sort of desperate, roster crippling moves.

Lol an RDAmbition mention, what an offseason

Who could’ve saw SGA and this iteration of OKC coming? I’m so happy it did tho tbh, Sam presti learned so much and got what he deserved

As someone who was not following the NBA too much during this time but knowing who this trade worked out, this thread is a hilarious read

Had a guy at our bar wearing an Paul George OKC Thunder shirt at work today lol.

Had a whole chat about this and how it built the current team.

Jerrys the greatest laker of all time

“Lillard waved the Thunder out of existence”. Lillard waved. Lillard waived :( He just didn’t know it yet

One person said, “Do draft picks even matter for LA teams? Just let other teams draft all NBA players and then they just show up on your doorstep or demand to be traded there.”

There is some truth to that. Even though it was a terrible trade for the Clippers, they’ve had a winning record every year since then (and haven’t had a losing record since 2011).

Their last draft pick who made an all-star appearance was Blake Griffin, drafted in 2009.

They might never win a ring this way, but maybe their goal is just to make the playoffs every year & keep selling tickets.

A lot of hindsight bias here but I think teams would still do that trade at the time

Kawhi was coming off his 2nd ring + finals MVP, looking like a top 4 player in the league, and PG himself was coming off top 3 in both MVP & DPOY

Hard to predict SGA’s surge obviously

yep, Uncle Dennis pulled off an all-timer for OKC. the Thunder should retire his copy of NBA2K that inspired that trade.

“So the earth quake earlier was Jerry west dropping his balls to the ground”

We never got the Battle of LA.

The Clippers are always gonna clip.

65 years ago Elgin Baylor and Jerry West were tasked with making the people of Las Angles fans of the Lakers…and they really did spend the rest of their lives doing just that🤣🤣🤣

BATTLE FOR LA!!!

FUCK OFF PRESTI

lmao this is so wild to look back on

As a raptor fan, I remember seeing this and thanking the stars above for Masai Ujiri. Kawhi wanted the raps to trade for George in order for Leonard to re-sign, Ujiri said no. That would have been a franchise ending trade for us. This team would have never recovered if we gave up all that.

When I search for shai’s name in the comments, nothing comes up in 4.8k comments. I was expecting at least some small attention to him.

Lost all respect for Kawhi for the way he handled his move stringing along the Lakers. Thank God we didn’t get him though.

Time flies.

And everyone thought that was a Clippers win, landing a new superstar duo in Kawahi e PG13 that would have opened them a dynasty.
But instead the year after the ring went to LA, BUT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF IT and in the following years both the Lakers and the Thunder have done better in the Playoffs; while the Clippers, because of the perennial Kawahi health issues, have never even reached a Conference Final.

That was SIX! Years ago

shows we know nothing lol

I’m pumped to see what Trezl will do

That trade hit me like the mid afternoon depression of the KD signing hangover, very glad I was wrong

ARealSlimBrady • 6y ago Pacers Anyone in for an OKC + Pacers PG abandonment support group?

‘Show us on the roster where Paul hurt you’

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I think the saddest part is the lack of battle of LA that we were seemingly destined to witness. Up there with never getting a Kobe LeBron finals