After reports that Paul George was interested in joining the Lakers after he becomes a free agent in 2018, Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN are reporting that the Pacers and Lakers have engaged in trade talks ahead of Thursday's NBA Draft.
Los Angeles Lakers have not made a comment on this matter but George has reportedly started the negotiations with them. "New team president Kevin Pritchard has engaged in trade talks with teams such as the Houston Rockets, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers".
However, most teams are not equipped with the young talent or draft picks to grab the Pacers' attention. He averaged a career-high 23.7 points and shot 46 percent last season, but the seventh-seeded Pacers were swept by Cleveland in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
However, per Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star, the Pacers may not be motivated to move George prior to the draft anymore.
While NBA trade rumors involving Paul George have mostly focused on a few teams, a newer possible destination is now being mentioned.
Paul George intends to leave Pacers next year
Ford's most recent mock draft has Fultz going to the Philadelphia 76ers , who acquired the top pick from the Boston Celtics . Again, what I've been dealing with is stories. "This is my team, my group and this is where I'm at".
After a glance at the Wizards roster, I don't see how the Wizards could acquire George without sending dealing Porter to the Pacers or elsewhere.
The Lakers could always draft upside players and hope those players draft rights are appealing, but that would not be the same as the Pacers picking exactly who they would want with those selections. If the deal becomes a reality, George could be spending at least one season with the Cavaliers before he goes back to the free agency. He can sign a five-year extension with the Pacers for $177 million or sign with the Lakers next summer for four years and $130 million. IN tried to acquire Brook Lopez and Jahlil Okafor at the trade deadline.
Magic Johnson has never been shy about his desire to recruit Paul George to the Los Angeles Lakers, but it turns out just his presence alone was enough to get the job done. The proverbial roll of the dice is such that George could be traded to another suitor on a one-year deal and then find an amicable situation where he might re-sign long term, leaving the Lakers without its coveted marquee player.
As Wojnarowski notes, "the Lakers can create the necessary salary-cap space to sign George next summer and won't be compelled to make a dramatic offer to IN now". You guys talking or teams talking. "I always want to be part of a team that has a chance to win it [all]".
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