Pacers make 'difficult' trade of George to OKC official

The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder officially consummated their blockbuster Paul George trade Thursday, the teams announced.

The Pacers sent George to the Thunder in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and forward Domantas Sabonis.

"We are excited to welcome Paul George to the Thunder family and the Oklahoma City community," said Thunder GM Sam Presti in a statement. "Paul is a tremendous fit for our organization on and off the floor. He represents all the positive traits of an elite competitor, and we have long admired his relentless pursuit to improve and his ability to impact on-court success.

"His skill set is dynamic and at the forefront of the evolution of the game, yet he combines this with traditional and historical values and will. We are fortunate to have an incredibly unique player wear the Thunder Blue and know he will help us as we continue to build the legacy of the Thunder in real time."

Both of Indiana's acquisitions will be introduced to the media Friday.

"We feel very strongly about the potential Victor and Domantas bring to our team and what they mean for the future of the franchise," said Pacers president Kevin Pritchard. "Both are highly competitive, highly skilled and both are winners. That is why both were lottery picks, that is why we sought them out to be part of this deal.

"As for the trade, it was difficult both on a personal and professional level. Everyone here knows what Paul meant to this franchise; he was both a tremendous human being as well as player here for seven years. We thank Paul and his family for their contributions to the Pacers and wish him well."

It was early last month when the four-time All-Star informed management that he wouldn't be remaining with the Pacers once his contract expired at the conclusion of the 2017-18 campaign, thus putting the organization in a very precarious position.

Considered to be one of the premiere two-way talents in the Association, George will join league Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook to create a formidable one-two punch that should give opposing teams in the Western Conference all they can handle and then some.

Indiana basketball purists will remember Oladipo from his time suiting up for the Hoosiers for three seasons, where he was a consensus first-team All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The Pacers mark the 25-year-old's third team since being drafted second overall by the Orlando Magic in 2013.

Sabonis was selected 11th by the Magic in last year's draft, and was soon dealt to the Thunder with Oladipo in a package for Serge Ibaka. The near 7-foot Lithuanian averaged 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 81 appearances his rookie year, which included 66 starts.