From July 1 to 2035, Bobby Bonilla collects a paycheck from the Mets under a deferred payment plan. It is Bobby Bonilla Day.

THE Thunder is like the Bonilla of the NBA. Which would make the Clippers the Mets.

Every time the Clippers come to town, as they have for a 7:00 p.m. Monday matchit reminds us of the debt they still owe to the Thunder – on top of everything they’ve already given. Like, you know, a perennial MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a choice that became Jalen Williams.

We are more than five years away, and we still feel the effects, from Summer 2019 Thunder-Clippers trade. The Thunder traded Paul Georges to the Clippers, which led Kawhi Leonard signing with the Clippers – creating a super team for Los Angeles’ second franchise.

The Leonard-George duo led the Clippers to their only Conference Finals appearance in team history, but overall the deal was an abject disaster. Still, it was a decision the Clippers had to make. Thirty out of thirty general managers would tell you that.

But since the Thunder had the clout of Leonard wanting to return home to Los Angeles (the Clippers wouldn’t have Leonard without George), Thunder general manager Sam Presti could name his price.

And it was exorbitant.

Like Bonilla, the Thunder are not done collecting.

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Where is the Thunder-Clippers trade?

Here are the full terms of the agreement:

• Thunder exchanged: Paul Georges

• Clippers traded: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, 2022 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, 2026 first-round pick (all unprotected), first-round picks via Miami in 2021 and 2023 and pick swap rights with Clippers in 2023 and 2025

At the time of the exchange, the hoard of picks was considered the true prize. No one knew that Gilgeous-Alexander would become one of the top five basketball players in the world. Better than George in a few years.

OKC upped the score on an already lopsided trade by drafting Jalen Williams with the 2022 first-round pick LA traded away. The third-year guard from Santa Clara looks like a future All-Star. He could be an All-Star this season.

The Thunder drafted Dillon Jones with the 2024 first-rounder that the Clippers sent to the Thunder. Too early to know how this choice will age.

Tre Mann, who now plays in Charlotte after being buried in OKC’s rotation, was also a product of one of the Clippers’ picks.

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Thunder-Clippers 2025 pick swap

The Thunder have the right to trade picks with the Clippers in the 2025 NBA Draft – which the Thunder most certainly will do.

OKC and LA will likely finish at opposite ends of the Western Conference standings, even though the Clippers (6-4) have played well to start the season. Much better than expected, especially considering how juicy this pick was after George fled and Leonard suffered another knee setback.

Leonard is sidelined indefinitely, leaving James Harden as the Clippers’ only “star.”

The Clippers have no incentive to tank since they don’t have their pick, but they still project as a play team at best.

Dreams of the Thunder landing the No. 1 pick (courtesy of the Clippers) and drafting Duke’s Cooper Flagg are far-fetched…but still not impossible.

The Hawks, who were expected to pick 10th last year, won the lottery with a 3% chance and moved up to first place. Like last year’s Hawks, the Clippers appear to be a secondary lottery team this season.

The Clippers will make their final payment to the Thunder on 2026 draft night.

The Mets, meanwhile, will have nine more years of checks to write to Bonilla.

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Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Do you have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoma journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at Subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article was originally published on Oklahoman: What do the LA Clippers still owe OKC Thunder from the Paul George/SGA trade?