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If the Pacers had not traded Paul George against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer of 2017, the all-star wing would go well alongside LeBron James in purple and gold when the Lakers would face the Trail Blazers in Portland this evening their NBA 2018-19 season. George, a native of L.A., admitted to The Undefeated.
"I had to decide halfway if I wanted to go home or it was smarter to be in the situation I am in now," he said. "But it was not exaggerated, I wanted to play in the C & # 39; s where I wanted to go.If this trade had never gone down, if I had played another year at Indy. , I would have worn the Lakers uniform. "
For fans of the Lakers, the "and if" behind his statement will turn into bitterness if the Thunder surpasses the Lakers this year, as many expect. So, how did this happen? How did a small market like Oklahoma City land the kid L.A. who had decided to go home when he became a free agent?
Two summers ago, before the last year of the PG-13 contract, he told the Pacers that he had gone free investment this summer. This is the usual chorus of superstars who want to go out but do not want to screw up their team by leaving them nothing in return (that is, LeBron's first decision in the summer of 2010) . It's an ultimatum that the Bucks – with Giannis Antetokounnmpo – and the Pelicans – with Anthony Davis – never hear, but it's still a gift from a superstar who wants go out but do not want to leave his old team in the enemy. The Pacers, to the chagrin of the fans of the time, delivered it to the Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
Before Dipo became a talented NBA player with the Pacers last season as he led them to the playoffs and a game after eliminating LeBron in the first round, the deal seemed like a real blow to the GM Thunder, Sam Presti. But they also traded against Carmelo Anthony and the mid-season loss of the long and lean defensive stud, Andre Roberson, has under-projected all the realistic shots in which they would make a lot of noise in the playoffs and defy the supremacy of Warriors or Rockets for Western. They were sent back to the first round by the Jazz.
However, George liked OKC. A lot, it turns out. A few days after the start of the free agency contract last summer, Russell Wesetbrook staged an evening where Nas played, and that is the place where PG announced that he had signed a new contract with OKC for four years. Take out the cigars.
Thunder had shown him the light, and he did not even meet the Lakers when the free agency started, much to their chagrin.
The Raptors hope the same plan will work with Kawhi Leonard this season, also from Los Angeles. Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and LeBron James hope the opposite.
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