NBA Trade Rumors: Warriors declined a Paul George-for-Klay Thompson mega offer

This would have been a blockbuster deal, but the Warriors declined the offer

If you thought there was a competitive balance issue in the NBA last season because of the Golden State Warriors, Golden State might have turned down an offer recently that would have had every basketball fan up in arms.

In a recent conversation between ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and the Thunder's Paul George, Wojnarowski casually dropped a bombshell of trade information that would have blown everyone's mind had the Warriors agreed to it. Here's the conversation bit from Wojnarowski's podcast that dropped on Thursday:

"There were a lot of trade discussions -- I think probably every team in the league checked in with Indiana about you in that window when you were available. One offer I was told was made was that Indiana offered you to Golden State for Klay Thompson, Golden State said no, and talks didn't go anywhere."

OK, take a deep breath. Now imagine Paul George, a four-time All-Star in the prime of his career, being traded to arguably the best team in NBA history. It's nearly unfathomable, right?

"Yeah, I think that would have been a Chris Paul to L.A. situation where they denied that trade," George said laughing. "Yeah, I was aware of it. I would've looked forward to it, of just being in a good situation and a chance to compete for a championship. But it didn't happen. It's still fun to team up with a special talent and have a chance to compete against that team."

The Pacers might have been better off for it had the Warriors agreed to switch All-NBA caliber wings and acquired Thompson, but that never came about after Golden State refused to part with one of the members of their core group that has helped them win two titles in three seasons. Instead, the Pacers traded George to OKC for Victor Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis a week after the NBA Draft.   

As George alluded to with the denied Chris Paul to L.A. trade, perhaps that trade might have been vetoed by commissioner Adam Silver. Or, perhaps, George could have joined forces with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Scary to think about, right?