05-11-2024, 08:43 PM
I think the LAC-OKC trade was about as archetypical as there can be of a Win-Win trade. A good way to assess a trade is to try to answer the question of which team would call off the trade, if they knew then what they know now, and I think NEITHER team would call off that trade, even in hindsight.
For LAC, don't forget that what that trade also truly yielded was Kawhi Leonard, because he wanted to sign with LAC but made it clear he wouldn't do so if they didn't land PG (or someone like him, an elite all-star talent) to help the team win. LAC gave up a lot in SGA and future draft capital, but got a huge franchise-altering duo, and it positioned them to immediately be a "win now" team.
And obviously OKC got assets to rebuild from the ashes that has turned into 2 very good players, SGA and Williams. The rest of the "draft capital" is just a pupu platter of what look likely to be low picks, with the upside that they have multiple chances to get lucky.
For LAC, don't forget that what that trade also truly yielded was Kawhi Leonard, because he wanted to sign with LAC but made it clear he wouldn't do so if they didn't land PG (or someone like him, an elite all-star talent) to help the team win. LAC gave up a lot in SGA and future draft capital, but got a huge franchise-altering duo, and it positioned them to immediately be a "win now" team.
And obviously OKC got assets to rebuild from the ashes that has turned into 2 very good players, SGA and Williams. The rest of the "draft capital" is just a pupu platter of what look likely to be low picks, with the upside that they have multiple chances to get lucky.