The trade that sent Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the LA Clippers came as a total shock only seconds after Kawhi Leonard's agreement to join the team had been report. While earlier reports suggested Leonard actively recruited George and asked him to demand a trade, that is supposedly “not accurate,” according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Both George and Russell Westbrook had voiced their displeasure with the way their postseason ended to management prior to the start of the NBA Draft, but George reached out once again on July 3.

The Clippers received word that George wanted out of Oklahoma City, and that is when the teams engaged in potential trade discussions, engaging in a 48-hour negotiation to work out a deal to send George to Los Angeles.

It appears Leonard's mandate was solely to find a player to pair him with, as the Clippers surveyed the market for any stars who could complement him on and off the court. LA reportedly tried its luck inquiring for James Harden and Bradley Beal after striking out on Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant, but both were unavailable for trade.

It seems unlike Leonard to be that forceful and ask a player to demand a trade, as he's a rather reserved player who works behind the scenes. George and Leonard's pairing was fortuitous — both natives to the L.A. area and looking for a fresh start near their hometown after playing away from it their entire NBA careers.