The Los Angeles Clippers stunned the NBA world on Saturday with a massive trade for Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George that convinced Kawhi Leonard to sign with the Clippers as well.

But George wasn't the only star player the team considered pairing with Leonard, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:

"Before free agency started, the Clippers knew they needed a second star to lure Leonard, but had no idea whom he wanted. The Clippers inquired on deals for Washington's Bradley Beal and New Orleans' Jrue Holiday, but those guards weren't available in trades. Eventually, Leonard made his intentions known to the Clippers: Paul George."

The Clippers not only gave up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari, they also backed up a Brink's truck full of trade assets to land George:

It's unlikely either Beal or Holiday would have garnered that many assets in a deal. George, after all, was an MVP finalist this past season after averaging 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three. Oh, and he played elite defense too. 

After seeing the haul the Oklahoma City Thunder received for George, both the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans have to be wondering if they just passed on the biggest potential deals they would ever receive for Beal and Holiday. 

That may hurt the Wizards more in the long run than the Pelicans, who already received their own massive trade haul for Anthony Davis and look like a team that could potentially compete for a playoff spot as early as this season behind Holiday, Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, JJ Redick and Derrick Favors.

It's understandable that the Pelicans would want to surround Williamson with talented veterans and win with him early to avoid the struggles the organization had during the Davis era.

But the Wizards appear to be crumbling around Beal. John Wall could be out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, appeared to be declining before the injury anyway and is due to make $171.1 million over the next four seasons, a contract that is borderline untradeable even when he's healthy. 

The Wizards do have two seasons to figure that out, however, with Beal under contract through the 2020-21 campaign and a number of contracts coming off the books after the 2019-20 season. That may have ultimately been the motivation behind not making Beal available in trade talks. 

But if they don't figure it out at some point over the next two years, they risk losing Beal for nothing, much as the Charlotte Hornets did with Kemba Walker this offseason after choosing not to trade him during the season. 

That would be inexcusable for the Wizards. And if it happens, fans of the team won't soon forget the trade package Oklahoma City received for George.