What do Pacers, Thunder have in common? Trading Paul George helped build their rosters

Indianapolis Star

2 days ago

Who is most responsible for the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder reaching the 2025 NBA Finals?
There are All-Star and All-NBA players, of course. Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam are the Pacers' anchors, while the Thunder have league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams.
Coaches Rick Carlisle of Indiana and Mark Daignault of OKC have made the right moves, as have roster builders Kevin Pritchard of the Pacers and Sam Presti of the Thunder.
But both teams owe a sliver of thanks to the same person: Paul George. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star helped both franchises — by being traded away.
"I don't mean this facetiously or in a mean way: A very large part of Paul George's NBA legacy is going to be all the great teams that were created in his wake," NBA reporter Zach Lowe said this week on Bill Simmons' podcast.
The Pacers selected George 10th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. He became a full-time starter in his second season, and earned Most Improved Player honors in his third. He made the All-Star team four times in Indiana, was voted third-team All-NBA three times and earned All-Defense honors three times.
Indiana traded him to the Thunder in 2017, getting Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis in return.
The Pacers sent Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 8, 2022, and the key piece coming to Indiana was Tyrese Haliburton, who has two All-Star nods and two third-team All-NBA teams since. He has often been spectacular in these playoffs.
Also, draft picks that became Andrew Nembhard (31st overall, 2022) and Ben Sheppard (26th overall, 2023) came to the Pacers in deals related to Indiana's 2021 trade of Oladipo to the Houston Rockets.
George played two seasons in Oklahoma City, making the All-Star team both years, All-NBA third team in his first and All-NBA first team in his second.
In the summer of 2019, OKC sent George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a two-player, seven-draft pick package that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had just finished his rookie season. One of those draft picks, a 2022 first-rounder, yielded Jalen Williams.
SGA has led the Thunder for six years, earning All-Star berths and first-team All-NBA honors the past three. In 2024-25, he led the league in field-goal attempts (21.8), made free throws (7.9) and points (32.7) per game and was named league MVP.
In his third season, Williams was an All-Star and third-team All-NBA selection, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
Little-used Dillon Jones also came in the George deal, along with two 2025 first-round picks and a 2026 first rounder.
The nod goes to OKC. The Thunder's move brought in their best player directly, and one indirectly with a draft pick. The Pacers needed more moves post-George to complete their Finals roster.