The Oklahoma City Thunder have been building for a long time, and luck has played a part in forming their current dynasty in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Thunder are the defending champions and also lead the regular season this year.
Experts have picked the team to win the championship this year and achieve a back-to-back title. The team is led by reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The team has come a long way through trades to reach the current era of SGA. A major reason for this is the trade involving Rashard Lewis in 2007.
When the Sonics (now the Thunder) sent Lewis to the Orlando Magic, Sam Presti did not seek players in return; he opted for a Trade Exception instead.
He used this exception to absorb Kurt Thomas's salary from the Phoenix Suns. As compensation for helping the Suns free up cap space, the Suns gave OKC two first-round draft picks.
One of those picks from the Kurt Thomas deal became Serge Ibaka (24th pick in 2008). Ibaka became a pillar during the Durant and Westbrook era, but his true value emerged years later when he was traded.
Ibaka was traded in 2016 to acquire Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Oladipo and Sabonis were then traded in 2017 to acquire Paul George.
George was traded in 2019 to acquire Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
That single move in 2007 paved the way for the Thunder's current era under SGA.
