The NBA is a relatively enclosed ecosystem. With limited talent divided by 30 teams, a move by the Indiana Pacers can end up having ripple effects across the NBA. Or, if the Cleveland Cavaliers had kept David Griffin around, they might have ended up with Paul George.
And when that didn’t happen, Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis ended up with the Indiana Pacers.
Let’s look back two summers ago, shall we?
According to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon (subscription required), Cleveland was close to making a deal that brought in George and sent Kyrie Irving out.