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NBA Trade Rumors: Paul George should be traded by draft night

By Clevis Murray

Apr 23, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) points during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) points during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Rumors: Paul George should be traded by draft night, considering that the Indiana Pacers want to move fast on a deal

For about a year or so, Paul George’s name was linked to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers. As a year became months and the months became weeks, his name being dealt became a hot topic. And now it looks like he’s cleared the path to dawn the purple and gold.

George has reportedly informed the Indiana Pacers that he will decline his $20.7 million player option for the 2018-19 season, which shouldn’t come as a surprise with cap continuously increasing.

That means he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

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George also informed the Pacers that his “preferable” destination is the Lakers, with the report of him looking to depart from Indiana has created a decrease in leverage for Indiana. The bright side to the situation is George treating Indiana like Carmelo Anthony did the Nuggets back in 2011, and informing the team of his preferred trade destination being New York.

What’s been learned from that situation, and what George should take into account, is this: why get traded there instead of outright signing there? What’s against George being dealt there is Los Angeles having to give up the assets, but the question is which assets? D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle are probably unlikely to be involved in any trade them sharing an agent with George.

After those two, the Lakers could look to part ways with the No. 2 pick, Jordan Clarkson and/or Brandon Ingram. If George’s arrival to Los Angeles is ideal, shouldn’t Ingram become expendable? Both share the same position, unless the Lakers look to play a small lineup with Randle at center. So many possibilities, and in a possible trade the heavy contracts of Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng should be expected to be dealt or stretch provisioned.

From a point like that, it doesn’t seem like the Lakers are losing much. Parting ways with the No. 2 pick might be the toughest part of such a deal, knowing Indiana would likely want picks to begin their rebuild. It just depends on if the Lakers want to intervene in trade talks, which reportedly might not happen until a team such as the Cavaliers becomes close to acquiring the All-Star forward.

A trade would benefit the Lakers as they would acquire George’s Bird Rights in the deal and be placed in a position to offer him a five-year max deal at around $178 million. Other teams would only be able to offer four-year deals around $130 million. A max deal with the fifth year might be enticing to George after he missed out on the super-max due to him not being selected to an All-NBA team this year.

Indiana holding onto George is highly unlikely and whichever team acquires him will be it in a position to offer him the most. The biggest contenders in a possible deal from the outside looking like would have to be Cleveland, and especially Boston.

Danny Ainge has stocked up enough assets to have the more enticing deal for Indiana, but they might be scared off due to George’a fascination of heading home.

It’s a confusing situation for any team out there. Take the risk of the one-year rental of superstar and fear the risk of a free agency departure? Or just let their ideal team pursue them. It’s weird, but intriguing. Ironically enough the Lakers made a similar gamble back in 2013 when they acquired Dwight Howard hoping to convince him into staying and he dashed for Houston.

Must Read: 2017 NBA Draft: 10 things I think will happen on draft night

There are an equal amount of pros and cons for the Lakers to make a trade or not to do so. Time will tell, and by draft day or so George will likely be elsewhere. For him, it’ll hopefully be with the Lakers.

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