Paul George Traded To OKC

[MBunge]

I wonder why the Pacers wouldn't wait to see what happened with Hayward first?

Almost like a spite trade.

I really believe this is a spite trade, and it's $84 million worth of spite.

I don't understand why they couldn't wait for two more weeks before the Hayward thing settles before they go back to this deal. Bradley, Crowder, Yabusele and two 1st (even without the Nets and LAL/SAC pick) is MUCH BETTER than what they got.

Pritchard simply did this out of spite. There's no other reason as to why he'd do such a dumb and expensive trade.

Or, he thought Oladipo and Sabonis were better than a role player and a couple of late firsts.

So you're saying he's stupid?

Mike

[KG Living Legend]

How did Celts not beat that offer?

That's what we get for trying to play hardball.

Yep. It's not like it was both the Brooklyn pick AND the LA pick or bust. Danny wouldn't even offer the freaking LA pick... for a freaking MVP-level player in George.

Good Lord, Danny. I'm sure the apologists on here will make yet another excuse for him, though, just as they will when he doesn't land Hayward, too.

 Potter I'm disappointed too, but he was leaving next year.

[jpotter33]

So freaking frustrating.

George went cheap. Butler went cheap. But hey, we have "assets".

To be fair, Butler was not all that cheap. Decent return for the Bulls, IMO.

But PG going for Dipo and Sabonis?? THATS CHEAP! I have a hard time imagining Pacers would choose that package over Bradley+Crowder and MEM and LAC 1st rounders.

Which means that PG likely told Ainge that, come hell or high water, he was going to LA.

Mike

Amazing that people don't get this.

It's not a failure on Ainge's part. Ainge simply didn't want to give up a good asset for a rental.

I think there's very little chance George joins the Lakers.

Really? I would've said that if he went anywhere else, but he joined Westbrook in OKC, who also has been long linked to LA. I think they go there together now next year. They're not going to be good enough to beat the best in the West there, so why not go to LA now together?

[Roy H.]

I wonder why the Pacers wouldn't wait to see what happened with Hayward first?

Almost like a spite trade.

Why should they? To repeatedly get offered Crowder and a non-lottery pick?

Really? Because there would be more pressure on Ainge to get the superteam completed if Hayward had signed here first.
The cap plan for Boston was to sign Hayward first, then trade for PG.
Why not wait 2 days? OKC isn't renegging a deal where they dump Oladipo's 21 million contract and all they have to include is Sabonis.

Horrible trade for the Pacers.

What stopped Danny from making a contingent offer? If he was serious about George, he would have offered more than Crowder and non-lotto picks.

Oladipo is better than Crowder. It's not irrational to prefer Sabonis over the Celtics or Clippers pick. If Danny wanted George, he should have been willing to part with a legit asset.

[j804]

DA on NBA TV said this was most likely the Pacers saying were not trading him to Boston where they build a potential dynasty we want him outta here. Let's trade him somewhere out west.

[Roy H.]

So freaking frustrating.

George went cheap. Butler went cheap. But hey, we have "assets".

To be fair, Butler was not all that cheap. Decent return for the Bulls, IMO.

But PG going for Dipo and Sabonis?? THATS CHEAP! I have a hard time imagining Pacers would choose that package over Bradley+Crowder and MEM and LAC 1st rounders.

Which means that PG likely told Ainge that, come hell or high water, he was going to LA.

Mike

Amazing that people don't get this.

It's not a failure on Ainge's part. Ainge simply didn't want to give up a good asset for a rental.

I think there's very little chance George joins the Lakers.

Really? I would've said that if he went anywhere else, but he joined Westbrook in OKC, who also has been long linked to LA. I think they go there together now next year. They're not going to be good enough to beat the best in the West there, so why not go to LA now together?

Because they're not into throwing tens of millions away.

[MVPPierceNoJoke]

I know one thing. IT is not happy right now. If Ainge wiffs on Hayward and sits on his hands, this could be the start of losing him next year. From all accounts he wants a star next to him.

[LilRip]

Dipo and Sabonis...still can't get over it.

That's roughly equivalent to Crowder and Rozier. A mercurial starter who can occasionally look awesome, and an inconsistent young player with a few promising flashes.

I would've done Crowder, Rozier and Boston's 2018 pick for PG.

[Billz401]

I wonder why the Pacers wouldn't wait to see what happened with Hayward first?

Almost like a spite trade.

Why should they? To repeatedly get offered Crowder and a non-lottery pick?

C'mon man, you're smarter than that.. 1) every1 knew ainge's 1st priority was getting a free agent. 2) knowing that, there was pretty much 2 possibilities of trade offers he could make. Both of which had to include AB and Crowder as well as another piece to make numbers work. So that's 2 quality starters 1 of which on a steal of a contract, another young piece, and most likely multiple non lotto firsts. That's a heck of a lot better than dipo and sabonis..

[Ilikesports17]

What makes OKC think they can keep him? They clearly paid rental price and if he does leave then that hurts their ability to bring back Russ doesn't it?

[Roy H.]

DA on NBA TV said this was most likely the Pacers saying were not trading him to Boston where they build a potential dynasty we want him outta here. Let's trade him somewhere out west.

Or, OKC made a better offer than Danny was willing to.

Oladipo + Sabonis > Crowder + late firsts

[RJ87]

Celtics trade offer for Paul George back at trade deadline, per league source: Brooklyn pick (wound up being No. 1) and 3 other first-rounders.

http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0672625265960031417-4

Something tells me Danny wasn't the irrational actor in the Paul George situation.

Mighty convenient that leaks minutes after the trade goes down.  Don't drink the kool-aid, man.

[celticinorlando]

Great...another season of Crowder. Another season of Bradley missing 40 games because of hamstrings..or a knee...

What a gut punch. What is the target year again? 2025?

[liam]

Do you want a player, George, that doesn't want to play for your team and quits on his own team with a year left on his contract?

[RJ87]

What makes OKC think they can keep him? They clearly paid rental price and if he does leave then that hurts their ability to bring back Russ doesn't it?

And if he does stay?