The trade that sent Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder came as a shock to many as Russell Westbrook's squad was not part of teams that emerged as frontrunners to land him. However, the Indiana Pacers surprisingly pulled the trigger on the deal where they received Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis in exchange for their former franchise player.

It has also drawn mixed reactions from Thunder fans, as he could eventually leave next summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. It's no secret that he has the desire to play for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, and his decision to re-sign with the team will hinge on how far they'll reach in the playoffs. But recently, he made it known that he will give it his all this coming season and is targeting the NBA MVP award, which can be considered good news for the Oklahoma City faithful.

George is widely considered as one the league's elite players today, and he has proven in the past that he can be a franchise player, by leading the Pacers to the postseason in six out of seven campaigns. While it remains to be seen if he can co-exist with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook, his goal could also fire up his new teammate to play even better than last year, and bring more success to the team.

The Thunder have already produced two MVPs, as Kevin Durant also won the award in 2014. However, it will be the first time since 1958 that two different players will win it while playing for the same team. The last time it happened was when Bob Cousy and Bill Russell won the trophy in consecutive seasons, playing for the Boston Celtics.

Should George stay true to his word and ultimately be named MVP, it could mean a bright future for the Thunder, as his success with them may continue in the years to come, and his partnership with Westbrook has the potential to make them NBA champions as well.