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Kevin Durant: Pacers gave away Paul George

 

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35, right) controls the basketball against Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13, left) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pacers 142-106.

 

Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors says he was shocked that the Indiana Pacers traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Pacers received Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis

"So that was shocking because Indiana just gave him away," Durant told Bill Simmons in an interview for The Ringer.

George will team up with Russell Westbrook to try to challenge the NBA champion Warriors in the coming season, the last on George's current contract.

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There's a lot of competition in the Western Conference, where Chris Paul joined James Harden in Houston, and San Antonio always seems to be a factor. Minnesota appears to moving in the right direction, and the Los Angeles Clippers still have plenty of talent.

Here's the Durant-Simmons exchange regarding the trade:

Simmons: What about PG to OKC?

Durant: That was a shock too.

Simmons: PG was one of your favorite opponents.

Durant: Oh yeah. Yeah. Any 3-man that I feel — all the 3s that play my position. That’s the only players I’m really rivaling with. Like, I don’t rival with no other players. I’m not guarding a point guard all game, or guarding shooting guards or power forwards. I’m looking at only small forwards, so that’s why I’ve got so much respect, and I think Paul George is so good. A lot of people disrespect him. Because I play against him and I respect my position.

So that was shocking because Indiana just gave him away. And I ain’t think OKC would even think about giving up anything to trade for him. I didn’t think they would do it, but that was a ballsy move.

Durant isn't the first to chastise the Pacers for the move. Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said the Pacers 'could have done better.' A PG-to-Cleveland deal was one of many reportedly discussed before the OKC deal happened.