George was shocked by trade to OKC: Not one of the teams I had in mind
Just like the rest of the NBA world, Paul George was stunned to learn he'd been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the eve of free agency.
While the move may have caught the 6-foot-9 forward by surprise, George said he's happy to be part of a true contender, believing the combination of him and Russell Westbrook will give the Thunder a solid shot at winning a championship.
"It was surprising. This team wasn't one of the teams that we had in mind," George told ESPN's Royce Young. "I thought I was going to four or five other teams that were pretty active in trade (talks). When I found out it was OKC, I was quite surprised but at the same time I was happy about the trade. I was thrilled, I was looking forward to it. All I wanted was a chance and an opportunity to play for something special and ultimately to try and win a championship and right off the bat I think I can do that here playing alongside Russ."
Related: Paul George hopes he, Westbrook address 2018 free agency together
The Pacers began engaging teams about potential deals for George after the four-time All-Star reportedly told the franchise he intended to leave Indiana as a free agent in 2018. While a number of teams expressed interest in the 27-year-old, Oklahoma City rarely came up as possible destination.
George averaged 23.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals on 46.1 percent shooting this past season.