About this Episode
"In this episode of Podcasty NBA, hosts Niko and Stella explore how a series of bold trades involving Paul George transformed both the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder into NBA Finals contenders nearly eight years later. They break down key transactions including acquiring Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, and analyze lessons about risk-taking, leveraging trade situations, identifying undervalued talent, and strategic roster building as detailed by Kevin Pelton's analysis on ESPN.com."
Article Discussed: "NBA Finals 2025: How Paul George blockbusters built Thunder and Pacers"
Author: Kevin Pelton
This podcast was generated by AI using Podcasty.
Episode Transcript
Niko: Welcome back to Podcasty NBA! Today we're diving into a fascinating story about how two teams, the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, ended up facing off in the NBA Finals after a chain of trades that started nearly eight years ago. It's all linked to one player: Paul George.
Stella: That's right, Niko. This episode explores how trading Paul George set off a domino effect shaping the rosters of both teams. We'll break down key trades, players involved, and lessons other teams might learn from these moves as they built their young, talented squads that reached the Finals.
Niko: Let's start with what actually happened. Back in 2017, Paul George was traded from Indiana to Oklahoma City. The Thunder acquired him even though he had just one guaranteed year left on his contract and could become a free agent soon. That was a bold move by Thunder GM Sam Presti.
Stella: Absolutely. Presti famously said 'Scared money don't make none,' showing he believed in taking risks to build confidence in the organization. Even though pairing George with Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook didn't yield playoff success immediately—they lost in the first round—the gamble paid off when George re-signed that summer.
Niko: Then, a year later in 2019, when George requested a trade to join Kawhi Leonard with the LA Clippers, Oklahoma City leveraged that situation brilliantly. They got Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—who's now an MVP candidate—as well as multiple draft picks that turned into All-Star Jalen Williams and rookie Dillon Jones.
Stella: Meanwhile, Indiana got Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis for George. Both were considered underwhelming at first but developed into All-Stars once given bigger roles with better spacing and more ball handling opportunities on the Pacers.
Niko: Right. Oladipo exploded immediately after joining Indiana, leading the league in steals and winning Most Improved Player before injuries slowed him down. Sabonis grew steadily too—becoming an All-Star twice and finishing top 10 in MVP voting before being traded for Tyrese Haliburton.
Stella: That trade for Haliburton was crucial. Haliburton is younger with All-Star potential on a bargain contract. Although it left Indiana guard-heavy initially, adding Pascal Siakam later filled gaps at power forward. This helped propel them to their first Eastern Conference finals since 2000 and now to the NBA Finals.
Niko: 'Scared money don't make none' really captures Oklahoma City's approach—taking risks rather than playing it safe like many small-market teams would have done during those trades. They didn't fear losing George in free agency but saw opportunity instead.
Stella: 'Don't be afraid to utilize leverage' is another lesson here. The Thunder pushed hard for multiple unprotected first-round picks when trading George to the Clippers—even though it seemed greedy at first—and refused to back down from their demands because they knew what they wanted out of the deal.
Niko: "On Indiana's side, identifying undervalued talent was key," Pelton points out. Oladipo and Sabonis weren't stars yet but had untapped potential that flourished once given bigger roles on the Pacers' roster—a testament to smart scouting and player development strategies.
Stella: "And importantly," he adds, "don't be afraid to trade a star." The Pacers moved Sabonis for Haliburton despite Sabonis being an established star because they recognized their ceiling was limited otherwise." This willingness opened up new opportunities leading them deeper into playoff contention.
Niko: "It's interesting how these trades also highlight broader themes like risk-taking versus conservatism in team building," Stella. "Both franchises showed boldness by making moves others might avoid due to fear or uncertainty."
Stella: "Exactly," Niko. "And while not every team can replicate this path exactly—since context matters—the principles of leveraging opportunities, valuing potential over immediate results, and staying flexible with roster construction are universal takeaways."
Niko: "To sum up," Stella, "the Pacers-Thunder saga teaches us about strategic risk-taking through trades centered around Paul George; how identifying undervalued players like Oladipo and Sabonis pays dividends; and why sometimes moving stars can unlock future success."
Stella: "Looking ahead," Niko, "these lessons could influence how other small-market teams approach star trades or rebuilds—especially if big names like Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo become available under similar circumstances."
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