The Thunder have now officially won the Paul George trade

June 25, 2026 - 03:14

Time will tell, but it looks like the Oklahoma City Thunder got yet another vital piece by drafting Michigan's Aday Mara with the 13th pick in Tuesday's NBA draft. The 7-foot-3 center proved his ability on both ends of the floor during his lone college season, and his arrival in OKC closes a chapter that began years ago.

The trade that sent Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 was always about the long haul. The Thunder received Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and a mountain of draft picks. At the time, it felt like a gamble. Now, with Gilgeous-Alexander emerging as an MVP candidate and the team holding a stockpile of young talent, the deal looks like a masterstroke.

Mara is the latest piece from that haul. The pick used to select him was originally owned by the Clippers, part of the trade package that kept giving. With his size, shot-blocking instincts, and soft touch around the rim, he fills a clear need for a team that already has a deep guard rotation. The Thunder now have a legitimate young big man to pair with their star point guard.

The Clippers, meanwhile, have yet to win a championship with George and Kawhi Leonard. Injuries have derailed their runs, and the future looks uncertain. Oklahoma City, on the other hand, is building something sustainable. They have a franchise cornerstone, a war chest of future picks, and now a promising rookie. The math is simple. The Thunder won this trade, and the Mara pick is just the latest proof.