Paul George Thanks Pacers Fans on Instagram After Trade to Thunder

Paul George played the first seven seasons of his career with the Indiana Pacers and expressed his gratitude to the fans in an Instagram post after he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday:

"I can go on and on with pics and comments but INDIANA.. THANK YOU for all that you've been for my family and I!" the message read. "I've met and worked with some of the most unbelievable human beings I think I will ever meet! You all know who you are.. Indy you'll be in great hands with the future! Love you all."

This comes after Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported George was traded, and Sam Amick of USA Today noted the Pacers received Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis in return.

Thanking fans on Instagram after a blockbuster trade is nothing new this offseason. Jimmy Butler thanked the city of Chicago and Bulls fans on his Instagram page after the only NBA team he ever played for traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

As for George, he has been a dominant talking point throughout the offseason after Adrian Wojnarowski (then of The Vertical) reported the four-time All-Star told the Pacers front office he planned on opting out of his contract and becoming a free agent in the summer of 2018 with eyes on joining the Los Angeles Lakers.

Indiana couldn't offer him a five-year, $207 million designated player veteran exception because he wasn't a member of an All-NBA team. It also lost leverage in trade discussions after it became public George was seeking to play elsewhere because teams were likely worried he would bolt for Los Angeles after a season.

While the Pacers received two players in return, they didn't get a single draft pick back in the trade.

George will now team up with MVP Russell Westbrook on the court. The wingman can serve as a secondary scoring option capable of being the primary one for stretches, which will take some of the pressure off Westbrook's shoulders.

In addition to scoring a career-high 23.7 points per game this past season, George is a three-time member of an All-Defensive team and can guard the likes of Kevin Durant or James Harden in a potential playoff series.