The 2025 NBA Finals feature the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, a matchup with roots tracing back to a major trade almost eight years ago that sent star Paul George from Indianapolis to Oklahoma City.
Remarkably, both teams competing for the championship were built, directly or indirectly, from the assets acquired by trading George away.
When George, now a nine-time All-Star, sought a move to the LA Clippers in 2019 to team up with Kawhi Leonard, the Thunder capitalized. They acquired future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander along with multiple draft picks. These picks have since yielded All-Star Jalen Williams and rookie Dillon Jones, with more future selections still in hand, including the 15th and 24th picks in this year`s draft.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers initially received Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis in the original 2017 trade for George. Both players developed into All-Stars. Indiana then continued to build by trading these assets forward. Sabonis became the key piece in the blockbuster deal that brought All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Pacers. The trade involving Oladipo for Caris LeVert eventually led Indiana to acquire starter Andrew Nembhard and reserve Ben Sheppard through draft picks obtained from a 2023 trade involving LeVert and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Since teams won`t have the chance to trade a prime Paul George in the future, examining these foundational deals offers valuable lessons on how the Pacers and Thunder constructed their young rosters to reach the Finals.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Key Trades:
- George from Pacers for Oladipo and Sabonis (July 6, 2017)
- George to Clippers for Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks, and two pick swaps (July 6, 2019)
Lesson 1: Boldness Pays Off (`Scared money don`t make none`)
The Thunder`s initial move for George in 2017 was daring. George had only one guaranteed year left before potentially becoming a free agent. Many conservative, small-market teams would have avoided the risk of him leaving without compensation.
However, Thunder general manager Sam Presti, who also built their 2012 Finals team, adopted a bolder approach. Referencing a lyric from A Tribe Called Quest, Presti justified the move, stating, “Scared money don`t make none.” He argued that demonstrating confidence in pursuing a player is crucial for the player to have confidence in the organization.
While the pairing of George, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook didn`t bring immediate playoff success (losing in the first round in 2018), George re-signed that summer. This positioned Oklahoma City perfectly when George requested a trade a year later, allowing them to extract significant value.
The trade for George wasn`t without risk, but the Thunder didn`t sacrifice future draft picks in that initial deal. The lesson isn`t reckless mortgaging, but being strategically opportunistic.
This principle could apply to future situations like Kevin Durant`s potential availability. A small-market team could leverage the risk of his future free agency to acquire him for a lower cost relative to his talent.
Lesson 2: Don`t Hesitate to Maximize Leverage
The return the Thunder received for George from the Clippers was, on paper, extraordinary at the time. While trading numerous unprotected first-round picks and swaps has become more common, it was groundbreaking then.
Oklahoma City knew the Clippers weren`t just acquiring George; they were using him to secure Kawhi Leonard. Yet, many executives might have feared pushing too hard and losing the deal. Asking for so many picks alongside a promising player like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who showed All-Star potential as a rookie) could have seemed excessive.
But Oklahoma City was prepared to keep George if their demands weren`t met. Their refusal to back down, combined with shrewd subsequent moves and some luck (like Gilgeous-Alexander developing into an MVP), resulted in a haul that positions the Thunder as potential long-term contenders.
A similar high-leverage situation might arise if Giannis Antetokounmpo were to request a trade. While the Milwaukee Bucks would surely receive strong offers, the Thunder`s example suggests they shouldn`t settle and should be willing to wait for the ideal package, especially if the destination is preferred by the player.
Indiana Pacers
The Key Trades:
- George for Oladipo and Sabonis (July 6, 2017)
- Oladipo for LeVert and two second-round picks (Jan. 16, 2021)
- LeVert and a second-round pick for Ricky Rubio, a first-round pick, and two second-round picks (Feb. 7, 2022)
- Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, and a second-round pick for Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson (Feb. 8, 2022)
Lesson 1: Identify and Develop Undervalued Talent
Unlike the Thunder`s trade, the Pacers` initial return for George (Oladipo and Sabonis) was widely viewed as underwhelming at the time. Oladipo`s efficiency was below average, and Sabonis had struggled as a rookie starter. Indiana correctly predicted that both players had untapped potential.
The Pacers leadership likely saw that Oladipo and Sabonis would benefit significantly from larger roles and better offensive spacing than they had with Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. Oladipo`s time with the ball and Sabonis`s willingness to shoot threes both increased dramatically in Indiana, allowing their skills to flourish.
Oladipo`s improvement was immediate: he jumped to over 23 points per game, led the league in steals, won Most Improved Player, and made All-NBA in his first season with the Pacers. Sadly, a serious quad injury the following year altered his career path.
As Oladipo battled injuries, Sabonis blossomed, becoming a Sixth Man of the Year runner-up before developing into a multi-time All-Star and MVP vote getter.
Predicting which specific undervalued players will follow this trajectory is difficult, but the lesson is to look for players whose situations might be hindering their production. Players like Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio) or Walker Kessler (Utah), whose advanced stats or roles don`t yet match their physical tools or draft pedigree, might be candidates to thrive in a different environment with a clearer role.
Lesson 2: Don`t Fear Trading an Established Star
Even with Sabonis developing into an All-Star, the Pacers seemed to hit a ceiling, losing in the first round repeatedly and then heading for consecutive lottery finishes by the 2022 trade deadline. While other teams might have tried a smaller retool around Sabonis, Indiana was willing to make a significant move, which proved instrumental in their journey to the Finals.
Trading Sabonis for Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson was seen as a good move at the time, primarily due to Haliburton`s youth, potential, and bargain contract. However, it left the Pacers with a guard-heavy roster and a significant gap at power forward, contributing to a sub-.500 record the following season despite Haliburton making the All-Star team.
Everything aligned in the most recent season. Haliburton elevated his game to All-NBA status, leading the team to the NBA Cup final. The addition of Pascal Siakam via trade in January finally addressed the power forward need. This complete roster reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 (losing to Boston) and has now advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
While future Finals trips aren`t guaranteed, Indiana`s championship window is wide open with the 25-year-old Haliburton entering his prime. The broader takeaway here is that, for most players (outside of perhaps the truly elite), no one should be considered “untouchable.” If a team looking to win now is willing to overpay for your established star, it`s always worth exploring, as it could unlock a path to a higher ceiling, just as it did for the Pacers by acquiring Haliburton.