The forces that conspired to make two people not want the things they've always wanted: three trades from three small markets — San Antonio, Indiana and Oklahoma — that meant leaving over $100 million on the table, two highly competent organizations putting together season-long pitches, load management, an NBA championship in Toronto, and a collective-bargaining agreement (including the super-max contract) that incentivizes players staying put. On Wednesday, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard took the podium together, as members of the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul's detour even included spurning the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason to sign a four-year extension with the Thunder.