With the 12th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Michigan center Aday Mara, effectively fortifying their big man rotation. As significant as this move is for the Thunder from a roster perspective, with this selection, OKC has officially exhausted the last pick it received from the Clippers as part of the historic Paul George trade.
It is not outrageous to say that the epic deal to send Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers effectively laid the foundations for the Thunder’s dynasty. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander coming over, along with veteran talent and several draft picks, OKC gained all the necessary assets to structure a rebuild and eventually secure the NBA title in 2025.
Here is a brief overview of the Thunder-Clippers trade, along with the players the Thunder drafted using the first-round picks they received from Los Angeles:
Los Angeles Clippers Receive:
– Paul George
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive:
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
– Danilo Gallinari
– No. 18 pick in 2021 – Tre Mann
– No. 12 pick in 2022 – Jalen Williams
– No. 10 pick in 2023 – Cason Wallace
– No. 12 pick in 2024 – Nikola Topić
– No. 15 pick in 2025 – Thomas Sorber
– No. 12 pick in 2026 – Aday Mara
– 2027 first-round pick
Technically, the Thunder still have another protected first-round pick (Spurs) from the Clippers in 2027. However, this was also settled as part of the initial 2019 trade, according to Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells, who wrote:
“There is actually still one more piece in play for the Thunder, a 2027 protected first-round pick from the San Antonio Spurs. The pick was acquired during the 2025 draft when Oklahoma City traded the draft rights for Nique Clifford, who was taken with a pick that originated with the Clippers, to the Sacramento Kings.”
“But the Thunder’s return on the deal is officially settled for a trade that was originally agreed to on July 6, 2019. The Clippers made the deal, reportedly knowing Kawhi Leonard was only going to sign with them if they added George; otherwise, the two-time NBA Finals MVP was prepared to join the Los Angeles Lakers.”
Although the trade seemed to benefit the Clippers at first glance, the reality hasn’t been as kind. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may have been the crown jewel in the deal, but virtually every asset in the trade proved valuable for the Thunder.
During his brief tenure in OKC, Danilo Gallinari established himself as an elite offensive contributor, posting 18.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field and 40.1% from three-point range.
In 2021, OKC selected Tre Mann with the 18th overall pick. Although Mann’s time with the Thunder only spanned two seasons, his averages of 8.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game off the bench were impressive.
In the 2022 NBA Draft, the Thunder selected Jalen Williams with the No. 12 pick. Williams immediately asserted himself as an impactful player, and by his third season, he cemented his reputation as one of the best two-way stars in the league.
Although he struggled with injuries in the 2025-26 season, posting 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, his role in securing the title in 2025 cannot be overlooked.
After acquiring Williams in 2022, the Thunder selected Cason Wallace with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Wallace has quickly grown in stature as a reliable 3-and-D asset. With averages of 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on 35.1% shooting from beyond the arc, he was crucial in addressing Williams’ absence last season. Although his future remains in question due to OKC’s salary cap issues, his impact was tangible.
In 2024, the Thunder acquired Nikola Topic with the No. 12 pick in the draft. Although Topic’s NBA career has had a rough start, marked by several health issues, the Thunder remain optimistic about his ability to contribute as a key playmaker in the rotation.
Similarly, OKC’s 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber is yet to make his debut for the Thunder after suffering a knee injury in June last year. Regardless, OKC will hope he makes a full recovery and contributes to winning soon.
Now, following Aday Mara’s arrival in 2026, the Thunder have finally reaped the final benefits of the Paul George trade. With Mara positioned as an elite defensive-minded center, who averaged 12.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game, OKC is bound to be more dangerous.
On the flip side, the Clippers didn’t achieve much success with Paul George, though they remained in the playoff picture for some time. With George eventually being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the 2024-25 season, it is safe to emphasize that OKC won the trade.
