Los Angeles Clippers advisor Jerry West knows his franchise took a major gamble by trading away an NBA-record five first-round draft picks to get Paul George. But what the trade doesn't display is how acquiring George helped the Clippers secure another two-way star in Kawhi Leonard as a direct result of it.
West admitted he had a voice in the deal, but gave credit to the front office for crafting a trade that included point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, forward Danilo Gallinari and the five picks to net George.
“I felt that [president Lawrence Frank] had sent us a message – and you would have to ask him that – that if we could get one of those players it surely would impact what his plans were. And through a lot of hard work by our front office (the deal got done),” West told Sam Amick of The Athletic. “Obviously, we gave up a lot to get him, but I think when you get a player of that caliber it should be well worth it.”
West went on to explain why he feels this way:
“When you get two players in their prime – and really, getting into their prime – it’s fun to pair people like that who are basketball players. And I’m talking about total players, on both ends of the court. I think on a Friday night, when (the trade) was announced, I was in Las Vegas. And a lot of people in the league, who were there watching the summer league, came up to me and said, ‘Oh my God. How’d you guys get both of them?’”
George is bound to return at some point this week after missing what will be the first 10 games of the season after he sits out on Monday against the Toronto Raptors. The All-Star and 2019 MVP candidate is expected to return on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets.
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