The 2019 Clippers-Thunder trade that sent Paul George to the Clippers will go down as one of the wildest trades in NBA history and PG-13 himself was recently asked to reflect on it.
The trade, which sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and multiple first-round picks to OKC for Paul George is talked about to this day.
After the Clippers’ 128-117 win over the Thunder, reporters asked George who won the trade in the end.
“I just think both sides won,” George told reporters. “I did think it was quite a lot that Clippers were willing to give up, but their commitment to me is my commitment to them.
So just appreciative that they went out and grabbed me and brought me over here. Very appreciative of Steve [Ballmer]. But both sides won.”
At the time, Gilgeous-Alexander had just finished his rookie season, so no one at that point could predict how much he would flourish with OKC.
“Shai is, I think initially when that trade happened, no one saw — we knew Shai was going to be really, really good, but he’s special,” George said. “
And so I guess in a way, Oklahoma won that trade with picks and a future MVP. So again, great trade for both sides.”
Since Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have joined forces at the Clippers, they have been unable to secure a championship, leading many to think that OKC won the trade overall.
But with the injection of James Harden this season, their chances are looking as good as ever.
After a rough 0-6 start when Harden arrived, LA have since gone 23-7 and have a 26-14 overall record so far this season.
Warriors forward Draymond Green, for one, thinks that Harden should be getting more credit for what he’s done at the team.
“I think by the way, James Harden should be an All-Star this year,” Green said. “I’m not sure how people are viewing that, but he only missed like the first four games for the Clippers and then he got traded there. He’s playing at an All-Star level, and the way their team is playing, I think James Harden is an All-Star this year, should be.”
Draymond Green Opens Up on Warriors Trade Rumors
The trade rumors about the Warriors have been going crazy, especially considering their current 18-22 record, and four-time Dubs champion Draymond Green has spoken honestly about the chatter.
After the Warriors dropped yet another game against the Grizzlies on Monday, Green acknowledged that his side is “not a very good team right now.”
“I also know, in regard to the Dubs, there’s been a lot of trade rumors,” Green said on a Tuesday’s episode of The Draymond Green Show. “
I know my name has came up, I know everyone’s name has came up except for Steph Curry. My name has not come up in trade rumors too often. … And to be honest, I have not thought about it one bit.
“I dont make much of it at all. Rumors are just that: They are rumors. … I hear all the same things that all you guys hear. That is the gift and the curse of social media.”
Rumors about the Dubs trading Green, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul and Jonathan Kuminga in a multitude of deals have all been thrown around – the latest being that the Mavs are continuing to be linked to Wiggins.
There was even one recent report that “everyone” but Steph Curry “is on the table”.
Green discussed the possibility of the franchise trading him.
“So if that ever came to fruition, then you cross that bridge when you get there,” Green continued. “I know everyone says, ‘The Warriors got to make a trade.
They’re going to make a trade.’ If you’re 18-22, how can you question anything someone does? We’ve had the opportunity to get out there and play and prove ourselves as a team.
The reality is we’ve never been a very active team at the trade deadline, I think I can count right at the top of my head guys we’ve traded for at the trade deadline. …
However, we also do have a new GM, and Mike has been incredible by the way. He could work differently than Bob [Myers]. He could be more aggressive at the trade deadline than Bob was.
“I don’t know. I don’t really have a feel for it. Would I be shocked if something was to change or if some trades happen? No. I wouldn’t be shocked. We’re 18-22 with the highest payroll in the league. [Warriors owner] Joe Lacob has a business to run as an owner.
Mike has a business to run as general manager. Do I think I’ll be traded? No, I hope not. But if any of those things happen, that’s a part of the business that we chose to be a part of.”
Warriors’ Rookie Mourns Assistant Coach Dejan Milojevic’s Passing
The Warriors are mourning the death of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic and their rookie Brandin Podziemski has payed his respects.
The 46-year-old Serbian coach died in Salt Lake City on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack during a private team dinner the night before.
The team were in Salt Lake City to play the Jazz on Wednesday night, but the NBA has postponed the game.
“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” coach Steve Kerr said in a statement released by the team.
“This is a shocking and tragic blow for everyone associated with the Warriors and an incredibly difficult time for his family, friends, and all of us who had the incredible pleasure to work with him.”
“You changed my life in such a short time,” Podziemski wrote. “The most important thing you ever told me was to just smile! Your joy and laughs will forever be missed. Shine down on us from heaven. Rest In Peace Dejan Milojević.”
Milojevic was in his third season with Golden State and before that had coached in Serbia as an assistant to the national team and worked with a young Nikola Jokic before he came to the US.
“The NBA mourns the sudden passing of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a beloved colleague and dear friend to so many in the global basketball community,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “In addition to winning the 2022 NBA championship in his first season with the Warriors and mentoring some of the best players in the world, Dejan had a decorated international playing career and was a distinguished head coach in his native Serbia.”
will not face charges over an alleged relationship with a minor.
OKC Thunder guard Josh Giddey won’t be facing any criminal charges over his alleged improper relationship with an underage girl, Newport Police Department announced on Wednesday.
“After a thorough and exhaustive examination, we have completed our investigation into information that was circulating on social media involving Josh Giddey. Our detectives have reviewed all of the available information and were unable to corroborate any criminal activity related to Mr. Giddey,” the press release stated. “The Newport Beach Police Department is committed to ensuring that accurate information is disseminated to the public, while also ensuring the rights of all those involved.”
In November of last year, an X user posted of photos and videos of Giddey with a girl that was a high school junior at the time that went completely viral.
The account has since been deactivated.
The post prompted the investigation and Newport Beach police said on Nov. 29 that said, in part, that the department was “actively seeking additional information related to these allegations and pursuing all leads and evidence to obtain the facts of the case.”
The 21-year-old could still face disciplinary action from the NBA, since players don’t need to be criminally charged to be fined or suspended.
In early December, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the league would let the investigation run it’s course.
“Generally, we will work with law enforcement to the extent they will share with us the information they have,” Silver said during his Las Vegas news conference before the NBA’s in-season tournament final. “We can learn from that. We gather whatever information is available to us, in working alongside a police department in this case, or a D.A. As long as they say that we are not interfering with their investigation, we do what we can at the same time. But generally, we fall in behind any investigation and then go from there.”
Clippers Set To Host 2026 All-Star Weekend at New Intuit Dome
The Clippers will get a brand new stadium and will be christening it with the 2026 All-Star weekend, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Tuesday.
Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California will follow on from the 2024 and 2025 All-Star Games in Indianapolis and San Francisco – hosted by the Pacers and Warriors.
The Clippers are planning to move into the estimated $2 billion dollar stadium by June and open in August.
“We are appreciative,” Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said. “The league gave us a year to get our act together so that we can be not just perfect but perfect when the All-Star Game comes here. Just think, if you want to have the pinnacle of basketball, you have to have the very best players in the world playing here.”
The Intuit Dome is set to host NBA games in time for the 2024-25 season and Silver spent an hour touring the venue as it is being built before Tuesday’s press conference.
“I’ve seen pretty much every major arena in the world at this point, 32 years in the NBA,” Silver said. “And this is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
It starts with the fact that Steve Ballmer chose to build a basketball-centric arena … He wanted to build this arena to make basketball the centerpiece.
On top of that, of course, he ran Microsoft. He’s one of the world’s great technologists, and he brought all that learning [to this arena].
He also is someone who, at this point in his life, had the time to personally imprint his vision on this building.”
Silver also confirmed that Intuit Dome will be the venue for the 2028 Summer Olympics in LA.
The 2026 event will be the 75th edition of All-Star Weekend and will mark the seventh time the NBA All-Star Game has been held in the Los Angeles metro area.
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