The Oklahoma City Thunder have proven to be an organization to reckon with, taking away two stars from potential Western Conference studs in the making and putting a stellar support cast alongside MVP Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder first pulled the rug from under the Los Angeles Lakers, who were intently looking into ways to get the L.A. native into a purple-and-gold uniform this season or the next. By trading Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers, the Thunder secured a helping partner to move forward and compete in a rugged West.
The organization doubled down in that commitment to compete by adding Carmelo Anthony on Saturday, trading forwards Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a second-round pick in exchange for the 10-time All-Star — actions which haven't been taken for granted by George.




“It’s Year One, and (the Thunder have) proven – and I haven't even gone through a season yet – and they've already proven everything on my check list (that) I can check off,” George told Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports. “That's what feels good. That's what makes me feel like, ‘Hey, this can be a landing spot for me, and somewhere I can call home for years.'”
The Thunder has been aggressive this offseason after seeing Westbrook leave every last drop of sweat on the court last season with a depleted roster. Without having played a single game with the team, Paul George has already seen one more All-Star caliber player than his former team had ever acquired in his seven years in the league.
This organization has put forward all the effort in making this a roster that can contend with best of the West, even willing to eat a whopping tax bill to have this three-headed monster to show for — a commitment that might be just enough to keep George in house next offseason.