"The Oklahoma City Thunder, top-seeded in the NBA playoffs for the third consecutive season, are running roughshod over opponents. Kicking everybody's butts and driving everyone up the wall. And, oh, Clippers what did you do? This Oklahoma City juggernaut, built to last in an era that would otherwise be remembered for its parity? It was spawned on July 6, 2019, when the Clippers traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and a boatload of draft picks to the Thunder in exchange for Paul George, who they paired with free agent Kawhi Leonard, mortgaging their future on the failed bet that two Southern Californians would lead the franchise to its first NBA title."
"And by a boatload, I mean a battleship-sized boat - sent to sink the rest of the NBA. The defending NBA champions who were built largely through that trade - in which the Clippers relinquished their first-round pick in 2022, 2024, 2026 plus pick swap rights in 2023 and 2025 - have the Lakers in the blender at present. The Thunder's 125-107 victory Thursday at Paycom Center gave them a 2-0 in the best-of-seven second-round series. Undefeated so far this postseason, Oklahoma City soon will dispatch the shorthanded Lakers and then go marching on toward a defense of last year's NBA championship."
"In 2025, they became the second-youngest team in league history to win it, capping their franchise-record 68-win season. This year, Gilgeous-Alexander likely will repeat as MVP after leading the Thunder to a 64-18 regular-season record. SGA, the stylish, maddening, smooth-operating Canadian point guard, is the head of the boa constrictor. And the young, selfless team around him is putting the squeeze on opponents with ridiculous depth, much of it stockpiled via that trade."
"That includes the 2022 first-round pick, which became Oklahoma City's second-best player, Jalen Williams (who is injured and hasn't even played in t"
The Oklahoma City Thunder, top-seeded for a third straight season, are winning decisively in the playoffs and leading a 2-0 second-round series after a 125-107 victory. The Thunder are described as a long-lasting, deep team built through a major 2019 trade. On July 6, 2019, the Clippers traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and multiple draft picks to Oklahoma City for Paul George, pairing him with Kawhi Leonard and mortgaging future assets. The Clippers later relinquished several first-round picks and pick swap rights. The Thunder’s roster includes players developed from those assets, including Jalen Williams, and is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is expected to repeat as MVP. The team is positioned to defend its championship.
#nba-playoffs #oklahoma-city-thunder #los-angeles-clippers #shai-gilgeous-alexander #nba-roster-building
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