It's finally over. Seven years after the LA Clippers traded for Paul George, the deal has been finalized. The trade that sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder along with seven first-round picks or pick swaps is finally a memory, as the last draft choice from the exchange has been utilized.
With the Thunder selecting Aday Mara at No. 12 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Clippers can move on from one of the most polarizing trades in history.
The trade between the Clippers and Thunder was as follows: Paul George to Oklahoma City for Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, pick swaps in 2023 and 2025, and first-round selections in 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Thankfully, with the No. 12 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft officially utilized, the Clippers' trade for George has mercifully been finalized. Here are the players the trade ultimately produced, including those selected with the aforementioned picks.
After seven agonizing years, the Clippers can finally move on from the trade for George and begin escaping the shadow it's cast.
Clippers' trade for Paul George finalized as Thunder draft Aday Mara
George produced what's become a criminally underrated tenure with the Clippers. He missed considerable time due to injuries, but when Kawhi Leonard went down with a season-ending injury of his own in 2021, it was George who led the franchise to its first ever Conference Finals appearance.
That alone should frame George in a positive light, as he helped deliver the best postseason run the Clippers have ever produced.
Unfortunately, the outgoing package just so happened to have included one of the best players in NBA history. No one speaking honest words can say they saw the full extent of his success coming, but Gilgeous-Alexander has put together a Hall of Fame résumé during the seven years since the trade.
At 27 years of age, Gilgeous-Alexander is a two-time MVP, four-time All-NBA honoree, one-time NBA champion, one-time Finals MVP, and one-time scoring champion.
What makes the trade even worse, however, is that Oklahoma City also landed Gilgeous-Alexander's co-star because of it: Jalen Williams. Williams is now an All-NBA, All-Defense, and All-Star selectee. He was drafted, however, at No. 12 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft—with the selection the Clippers traded to the Thunder.
One title and three consecutive seasons as a No. 1 seed later, the Thunder made out like bandits. Thankfully, the Clippers can finally move on.
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