Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers can’t afford to miss on Paul George

The Los Angeles Lakers certainly have big aspirations this upcoming free agency, but those dreams could fall apart if Paul George isn’t in LA next year

Yes, LeBron James is a free agent. Yes, he’s linked to the Los Angeles Lakers. And yes, Kawhi Leonard wants out of San Antonio and wants to be a Laker. So it makes sense that Paul George would be viewed as just an add-on by the Lakers front office, right? Absolutely not.

We’re not debating who’s the best among the three, we know Kawhi and LeBron are head and shoulders above a player even as great as Paul George. But that isn’t the point.

The Lakers appear as frontrunners for literally everyone, but they could easily end up empty-handed this offseason. Paul George is imperative to creating the foundation for reinstalling the winning culture within the Lakers organization.

It’s easy to lose sight of a plan when bigger and better things appear to be available along the way. For the Lakers, the original plan was to land Paul George, then capitalize on a stacked 2019 free agency class the next offseason. But, enter Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James into the conversation and everything changes.

La La land can’t be a city of stars without getting Paul George first.

While Kawhi wants to be a Laker, it’s possible he won’t be there for a year, if not at all, considering the great Gregg Popovich just might be able to change his heart. LeBron is at a point in his career where he has zero patience when it comes to winning – whatever team he joins will have to be ready to contend immediately.

As stated by Colin Cowherd, Paul George has already been on record exclaiming his love for LA and his desire to play for the Lakers. Now that he’s a free agent, Magic Johnson and company need to realize George has to be the first domino to fall to approach a championship roster.

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There is no way on Earth LeBron James is looking at the current Lakers roster and thinking to himself he wants to play with those guys. I like Ingram, Lonzo, and Kuzma a lot, but they’re in NBA infantry. Paul George is a proven 2-way star, perhaps a borderline superstar player.

There’s no guarantee LeBron will be a Laker, and there’s no guarantee Kawhi is dealt to LA or even ends up leaving San Antonio. But if the Lakers were to only land Paul George, it’ll likely put them in playoff contention for the 2018-19 season, then blow the doors open in the 2019 free agency.

Paul George is the key to potentially adding LeBron this free agency. Even if LeBron goes elsewhere, it puts the Lakers in a great position for the next upcoming season and free agency with George and a great young core intact.

We’re assuming the Lakers young core will continue to grow. Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma are guys with star potential and Lonzo’s potential may be knocking on the door of that as well. Add at least Paul George to that group and you now have a very young team that’ll be winning games this upcoming year.

Now carrying that momentum into the 2019 free agency, the Lakers can make serious pitches to guys like Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, and current Laker lover Kawhi Leonard. Guys will want to play with a competing young core, just look at Boston and Philadelphia. Also, consider that guys want to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, especially when there’s a chance for title contention.

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Paul George is the security blanket for LA if this year’s free agency doesn’t land them LeBron and/or Kawhi. Prioritizing George and landing him will not only make the Lakers a more enticing destination for LeBron, but it also gives the Los Angeles Lakers a just as potent backup plan if he goes elsewhere.