As the 2025 NBA Finals tip off, there’s a surprising common thread connecting both finalists: Paul George. Although George himself won’t be playing in the series, his past trades have directly shaped the rosters of both the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, who now meet for the NBA championship.
Both teams reached the Finals by capitalizing on the assets they received in exchange for trading George — turning those moves into the foundation of their current success.
Indiana Pacers: The Paul George Trade Tree
The Pacers drafted Paul George with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. After years of All-Star play and playoff runs, Indiana faced the possibility of losing him in free agency in 2017. Rather than risk losing him for nothing, the Pacers traded George to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- 2017 Trade:
- Indiana sent Paul George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
Over time, Indiana flipped those initial assets into key pieces of their 2025 Finals roster:
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Pascal Siakam
- Andrew Nembhard
- Ben Sheppard
- Johnny Furphy
Today, these players make up roughly one-third of Indiana’s roster, half of their rotation, and include both of their on-court leaders in Haliburton and Siakam.
Oklahoma City Thunder: The Franchise-Changing Trade
Paul George played just two seasons in Oklahoma City, both ending in first-round playoff exits. In 2019, the Thunder traded George to the Los Angeles Clippers in a move that would redefine their franchise.
- 2019 Trade:
- Oklahoma City sent Paul George to the Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and multiple first-round draft picks.
The key acquisition was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has since emerged as an MVP-caliber superstar. Among the many picks acquired, one was used to select Jalen Williams with the 12th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Williams has developed into Oklahoma City’s second-leading scorer and an essential part of their Finals run.
The Thunder still own additional future first-round picks from the George deal, keeping them well-positioned for long-term success.
The 2025 NBA Finals: The Legacy of Paul George Trades
In a remarkable twist, neither the Pacers nor the Thunder would likely be in the NBA Finals without the trades that moved Paul George. Both franchises executed long-term strategies that turned those deals into multiple foundational stars and a deep supporting cast.
The ripple effects of the George trades have not only redefined both franchises but also directly shaped the 2025 NBA Finals — a rare example of how franchise-altering trades can benefit both teams involved when managed wisely.
