The LA Clippers pulled off the coup of the offseason, signing reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and acquiring All-NBA forward Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, getting the two-way superstars came at a hefty price. The Clippers had to give up veteran Danilo Gallinari, promising sophomore Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the most massive haul of first-round draft picks ever to get George from the Thunder, and in the process, get Leonard aboard as well.
According to The Athletic, the Clippers were reportedly “heartbroken” about having to give up SGA:
The most difficult concession was parting with Gilgeous-Alexander, their prized sophomore point guard who had become a beacon of hope for the organization. He’s the type of young tantalizing talent every smart front office loves — and a non-negotiable inclusion for the Thunder. The Clippers believe he is a future All-Star and were “heartbroken” when they uttered his name on the trade call, as one person involved in the process put it. They didn’t want to trade him.
As difficult as it was for them to part ways with Gilgeous-Alexander, it was necessary for them to include him in that package. The Thunder most likely would not have accepted any deal without SGA. No other asset from their roster, aside from the picks, is as valuable as the 6-foot-6 point guard.
The Second-Team All-Rookie member had an incredible debut campaign with LA. In a full season that included 73 starts, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, all while shooting an impressive 47.6 percent from the field as a first-year guard.
He displayed incredible poise and maturity as a rookie, and he was a key contributor in their impressive, albeit short, playoff campaign where they gave the then-defending champion Golden State Warriors a tough out in the first round.
Oklahoma City is surely going to love having Gilgeous-Alexander as its point guard of the future.
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