The Los Angeles Clippers made a splash signing top free agent Kawhi Leonard late Friday night but they didn't stop there.
The Clippers have also reportedly traded for All-Star forward Paul George, according to ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski.
Oklahoma City is trading All-Star Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a record-setting collection of draft choices, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
Los Angeles will send the Oklahoma City Thunder four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick and two pick swaps along with forward Danilo Gallinari and Canadian Shai Gilgous-Alexander, as reported by The New York Times' Marc Stein.
OKC acquired THREE unprotected first-round picks from the Clippers in this trade (2022, 2024 and 2026), league sources say, PLUS two firsts from Miami (2021 unprotected and 2023 protected 1-to-14) ... AND the right to swap picks with the Clips in 2023 and 2025. Staggering
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 6, 2019
The deal is a record-setting amount of draft picks ever exchanged to one team in a trade.
Sources: Oklahoma City is getting a massive package of future picks, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Galllinari, to deliver Kawhi Leonard who he wanted to partner with: Paul George. https://t.co/4bGpMNat8K
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
Once Leonard made his decision to sign with the Clippers, he turned his attention to attempting to recruit George to find his way to the L.A. George reportedly then requested a trade which forced the Thunder's hand and has now created the best wing duo in the NBA.
All of the corresponding moves were kept under the radar as most were predicting Leonard would either return to the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors or form a big three with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers.
Leonard chose neither and in turn has created a championship contender with Doc Rivers, George and the Clippers.
George averaged a career-high 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and led the league in steals per game at 2.2 in 77 games for the Thunder this season.
Players can negotiate agreements with teams on Sunday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET but contracts can't be officially signed until the moratorium period ends on July 6.
