Fansided

Biggest impacts of NBA stars changing teams this offseason

By Joe Romano

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 3: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball against Isaiah Thomas #4 and Jae Crowder #99 of the Boston Celtics during the game on January 3, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 3: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball against Isaiah Thomas #4 and Jae Crowder #99 of the Boston Celtics during the game on January 3, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
Westbrook
Westbrook /

New Team — Oklahoma City Thunder

Old Team — Indiana Pacers

How did he get here? Traded for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis

What does he enter? George enters Oklahoma City on the last year of his contract. Rumors are already swirling that he is gone after this season. George expressed his interest in joining the Los Angeles Lakers. The rumors got so loud that the NBA recently fined the Lakers for tampering with George’s agent.

For this season, George is on the Thunder. On the court he will join fellow All-Star and reigning MVP Russell Westbrook. The two combine for a formidable duo that should keep OKC in the running for a spot in the top four of the Western Conference. Continued growth of Steven Adams, the team’s young center, will aid in this quest. The Thunder also brought in Patrick Patterson from Toronto to help space the floor. Patterson is an underrated power forward who can play next to Adams or sixth-man Enes Kanter.

Westbrook put up historic numbers last year on the way to his MVP award. The arrival of George will lessen his workload and increase his efficiency. Swapping Patterson in for Taj Gibson should give both All-Stars more than enough room to drive to the hoop.

What is he leaving behind? Once George let the Pacers know he wanted to join L.A. in 2018, the writing was on the wall for the two to part ways. The package Indiana received for George was underwhelming to say the least. The team argued that George expressing interest in L.A. and their tampering decreased his trade value and it’s hard to argue with that line of thinking.

On the court George will be replaced by Indiana native Victor Oladipo. He is coming off an underwhelming season with the Thunder. Oladipo will join Myles Turner as the face of Indiana’s rebuild. The other piece of the George trade, Domantas Sabonis, has showed little in his time in Oklahoma City. He was a highly touted recruit coming out of Gonzaga and may find a niche in the league.

The Pacers will be towards the bottom of the league and begin rebuilding for the first time in a while. George was the last hold-over from the teams that battled LeBron James and company in the Eastern Finals. It would have been nice to see them get a better package for George to kickstart their rebuild a little better.

Home/NBA