With all due respect to Russell Westbrook, the OKC Thunder trade which jettisoned the 2017 MVP to the Rockets for Chris Paul is one of Sam Presti’s best trades of his tenure. Moreover, it may go down in franchise history as the trade that reshaped the future.
Granted, the Paul George trade netted more long term benefits with the seven draft picks (five picks and two swaps) and cornerstone talent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Yet, without Chris Paul on this iteration of the OKC Thunder and even with Danilo Gallinari and SGA are the Thunder anywhere near the team they’ve so quickly developed into?