The NBA’s punishment of the LA Clippers has pushed the Paul George deal back into the spotlight, and it’s a reminder of just how costly that move turned out to be.
Kawhi Leonard wasn’t part of the trade itself, but his arrival in Los Angeles - and his wish to play alongside George - set everything in motion. That’s why the deal is now viewed by many as one of the worst in league history.
George has also been at the center of another heavily criticized trade, this one involving the Boston Celtics this offseason. The two deals look similar on the surface, but they come from very different versions of George.
Back in 2019, the Clippers landed George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City got Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, a 2021 first-round pick that became Tre Mann, a 2022 first-round pick that became Jalen Williams, a 2023 first-round pick via Miami that was later amended to 2025 and became Thomas Sorber, a 2024 first-round pick that became Dillon Jones, a 2025 first-round pick swap that became Nique Clifford, a 2026 first-round pick that became Aday Mara, and a 2023 first-round pick swap that was not conveyed.
George was traded again in 2026, this time from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Celtics. Philadelphia received Jaylen Brown, while Boston got George, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2031 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2030 second-round pick.
One wrinkle makes Boston’s deal even more notable: the 2028 first-rounder it received from Philadelphia is actually the Clippers’ pick. The protections on it are complicated, but it could still end up being a strong asset for the Celtics.
That’s where the comparison gets tricky. The George the Clippers traded for in 2019 was coming off the best season of his career. In 2018-19, he put up 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and a league-leading 2.2 steals per game, and he finished third in both MVP and DPOY voting.
At the time, some even viewed Leonard and George as a modern-day Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
The George Boston acquired is a different player entirely. He’s 36 now and on the downswing of his career. He still has the kind of game that could make him a borderline All-Star, but he’s not the force he once was.
Even so, the Clippers’ end of the original trade is brutal to look at now. George became Gilgeous-Alexander, who is now a two-time MVP and NBA champion, and Oklahoma City also got multiple first-round picks. That alone makes the deal one of the most lopsided in NBA history.
And the damage didn’t stop there. The Clippers also have to give up five more first-round picks as part of their punishment for violating salary cap circumvention rules tied to Leonard’s signing.
That’s why some have framed the whole Leonard-George stretch in harsh terms: the Clippers wound up with one Conference Finals exit in 2020-21 and gave up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 10 first-round picks.
As for Boston, whether the Celtics regret sending Brown for George is still an open question. The Clippers-Thunder trade, though, doesn’t need much debate. Oklahoma City will be enjoying that one for a very long time.
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Derrick White has long looked like one of the safer pieces in Bostons core, the kind of player who fits almost anywhere because of his defense, decision-making and steady all-around game. Sports Illustrateds John Karalis recently underscored that point while also noting the tension around the Celtics cap situation, where even dependable contributors can become complicated fast when the financial picture tightens.
Whites recent shooting has added another layer to the conversation, since a swing in performance can change how a team views a player whose value is built on balance rather than volume scoring. None of that means Boston is preparing to move him, but it does make his roster security feel a little less automatic than it once did, especially with the Celtics already navigating a squeezed financial outlook. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Trade Return Rides On One Complicated Pick Twist
The Celtics return for Jaylen Brown is straightforward on the surface: Paul George, two first-rounders and two second-round picks from Philadelphia. But buried in the package is the kind of draft-night accounting that can shape a franchise years down the line, including an unprotected 2031 pick from the 76ers and a protected 2028 first from the Clippers that comes wrapped in swap rights and layered protections involving Boston and San Antonio.
For the Celtics, the second-round pieces add a little more value to the haul, too. They come in 2028 and 2030 and are structured as the most favorable of several teams selections, which is the sort of detail that can look minor now and matter later when front offices are hunting for flexibility. The headline of the deal is the star-for-star swap, but the real long-term intrigue sits in how those picks eventually shake out. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Got A New Eastern Conference Threat To Worry About
The Eastern Conference picture may be about to get a lot more complicated for Boston. With the NBA punishing the Clippers over the Kawhi Leonard trade, the path has opened for Leonard to return to the Toronto Raptors, and ESPNs Shams Charania reports the deal is expected to be finalized in the next few days. For a Celtics team already measuring itself against the conferences best, the timing matters.
Toronto with Leonard back in the fold is a very different problem than Toronto without him. Even with the obvious questions about his health and durability, his arrival would be viewed as a major upgrade and would put another proven playoff force back in Bostons lane. The Celtics do not need more contenders making the road harder, but this one has the kind of star power that can change the balance in the East quickly. [Read more 🡒]