Who said the NBA offseason isn't fun?
The drama and titanic moves made by several teams have already made the first few weeks more exciting than the entire NBA playoffs, which were mundane to say the least.
Perhaps the biggest offseason tidal wave (so far) crashed ashore Friday evening when the Oklahoma City Thunder struck gold by trading for the Indiana Pacers' Paul George, just hours before the free agency party began.
It was a colossal move that rocked the league. Still, Thunder fans should be optimistic but not overconfident following the blockbuster trade for George.
This doesn't hand the Thunder an NBA title.
Eerily enough, the Thunder's roster for this year will be nearly identical to that of two year's ago during the epic Western Conference Finals collapse to Golden State.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti pulled a rabbit out of a hat by snagging George, who had several other suitors Indiana was already negotiating with.
Very few people pegged Oklahoma City as a possible landing spot for George, but never doubt the wise wizard Presti. Don't forget that earlier this week Presti was on the New York Knicks' shortlist to take over for Phil Jackson.
"We're involved in everything. We're going to pursue everything," Presti said on the night of the NBA draft. "We're going to make all those calls. We're going to pursue all those things."
Turns out he wasn't lying.
Many Pacers' fans were outraged that all they received was a package of saltine crackers when they could've gotten a steak dinner for George.
In fact, before the trade deadline in February, the Boston Celtics reportedly offered four first round draft picks. On draft night just over a week ago, they still offered three. Instead, the Pacers declined and eventually received no draft picks for their star.
Instead, all they got was a middle-of-the-road player in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, a young guy coming off a tough rookie year.
Wisely, the Thunder didn't cough up a draft pick while unloading Oladipo's rather absurd $21 million salary. Behind LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, George is arguably the next best small forward in the game along with the 'Greek Freak' Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Here are some George numbers for those unfamiliar: four-time NBA All Star, All-NBA Third Team three times, All Defensive Second Team twice, 2013 Most Improved Player and 2016 Olympic Gold medalist. The small forward as the face of the Pacers averaged 23.7 points per game this past season along with 6.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
He shot an efficient 46 percent from the floor and 39 percent from beyond the arc. That's a solid number for the Thunder -- who are desperate for a catch-and-shoot threat from 3-point land. He's one of the best two-way wing players in the league and can take over the game at any time.
Seems like all rainbows and sunshine, doesn't it?
Not exactly.
George only has one year left on his contract. Come next July, George is an unrestricted free agent just like Russell Westbrook.
That is, if Westbrook declines a five-year designated player supermax extension (for more than $200 million) that the newly crowned league MVP is eligible for. The Thunder are likely to offer that this summer, but Westbrook could mull his decision over while seeing what potential this season brings. A word of caution to this tale...
You've seen this before, Thunder fans.
Almost a year ago to this day, Kevin Durant did want many believed to be unthinkable. He left the team that blossomed him into the superstar he is today. He left the city that nurtured him while his career took flight. He left to go ring chasing.
It's not uncommon. Several elite players have done this in recent years.
That is why, come next Fourth of July, no Thunder fans should be surprised if Westbrook and newly acquired superstar George do the same.
It's no secret.
George wants to return to Los Angeles and play for the Lakers.
George, who played college ball at Fresno State, and Westbrook, who played at UCLA, are both California kids born and raised. The Lakers have already cleared cap room enough to lure two superstars to L.A. next summer and play for the great Magic Johnson.
Why do you think that following the draft no teams wanted to dish out future draft picks for George? OKC and others didn't want to fork over future assets because they have a strong gut feeling he will leave their team in a year from now anyway.
It could be KD 2.0 for all we know. Then again, both Westbrook and George could stay while luring other big names to Oklahoma City.
This all hinges on the success of the Thunder this season.
Until Westbrook signs his supermax extension though, betting both -- or even one -- of them stay in Oklahoma City is ludicrous. The Thunder don't have an ace in the hole, yet.
Give the other 29 teams chasing the Warriors credit, though.
NBA teams are sick of middling in mediocrity while watching a potential dynasty form in front of their eyes. Face it: The Warriors are the favorite to win the NBA Finals for years to come -- should the nucleus stick together.
Their main core -- consisting of two-time MVP Stephen Curry, Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green -- are all in their primes. Not to start an argument ranking the best players in the league, but let's be honest, Golden State boasts four of the top-20 NBA players, at least.
The sheer talent gap vaults the Warriors several stories over the 29 teams hopelessly chasing them. No other team this past season came close to boasting that many top-tier players.
Houston (Chris Paul) and Minnesota (Jimmy Butler) added more talent with their own blockbuster trades this past week to bridge that gulf. Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio and others are aiming to do the same. Add the Thunder to that list following Friday night's trade.
I'll be the first to admit I didn't think the Thunder had the guts to pull the strings. I thought the front office would kick back and watch helplessly as other teams built their own superstar juggernauts to contend with the Warriors.
It appeared OKC was set for another do-it-all-yourself-Westbrook type season filled with a record number of triple doubles and another shameful first round playoff exit.
Instead, the Thunder appear poised to actually contend.
Let's be real: OKC didn't stand a chance in the West playoffs this year. Westbrook simply couldn't do it all alone. Now, with George to fill the void Durant left, he doesn't have to.
It's an arms race right now in the NBA. The Thunder don't want to be left without multiple weapons.
The Thunder can likely kiss their protected lottery draft pick for 2018 goodbye, which is alright. Earlier on Friday, point guard Ricky Rubio was traded from Minnesota to Utah. In exchange for Rubio, the Jazz handed Minnesota a first round draft pick, which just so happens to be the Thunder's first round pick for next summer's draft. When Oklahoma City traded for center Enes Kanter in 2015, they coughed up a first round draft pick, which was lottery protected.
The only way Oklahoma City would get this pick back is if it misses the playoffs and lands in the lottery. This is unlikely now considering the Thunder have George.
Kudos to the Timberwolves, by the way.
Minnesota dumped Rubio's $14.1 million salary for the upcoming year and almost guaranteed themselves another first round pick. That cleared plenty of cap space to sign free agent point guard Jeff Teague to team up with Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
If the Jazz are somehow able to retain All Star swingman Gordon Hayward, also known as the baby-faced assassin, Utah joins suddenly one of the best divisions in basketball. The Thunder, Jazz and Timberwolves could all have impressive years while battling for the Northwest Division crown and jockeying for pivotal playoff seeds in the loaded West.
Regardless of how the rest of free agency and the NBA offseason shakes out, the Thunder are once again contenders in the NBA title race.
There is room for optimism, but don't get too cocky Thunder fans. If Westbrook and George don't decide to stick around, your title window is closing, and fast.