Paul George keeps finding his name circulating among NBA rumors. The Los Angeles Lakers are interested in acquiring Paul George in a trade with the Indiana Pacers , according to several NBA rumors. The Lakers are one of many teams rumored to be keen on the idea of adding Paul George, who has rumored to be going to the Oklahoma City Thunder as well.
Speculation is beginning to stir about the availability of Paul George. Much of the talk is just that — talk.
The Pacers have not put out an official word confirming any desires to trade Paul George to the Lakers, Thunder, or any team for that matter. It does not stop the NBA rumors from building up.
Bleacher Report details some of the overtures for Paul George in a story published prior to the NBA draft. The Lakers and Boston Celtics were the teams rumored to have offered the Pacers their lottery picks for George.
The Lakers and Celtics had the No. 2 and No. 3 picks. A tweet from Boston native Bill Simmons suggested that the Lakers and Celtics wanted to pursue impact players, using those selections as bait.
Piggybacking on what @ColinCowherd said about LAL – I believe the Lakers AND Celtics want to deal their lottery picks for impact players.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 4, 2016
The Celtics have become quiet about their hopes, but the Lakers do not seem to be wavering. The Los Angeles Lakers want a star to step in and fill the void created by the retirement of Kobe Bryant. According to ESPN’s Nick Friedell, Paul George is viewed as a younger version of Bryant in the eyes of Toronto Raptors coach Duane Casey.
“I tell you what, I remember trying to prepare for a young Kobe Bryant. And this young man reminds me of trying to prepare for a young Kobe Bryant back in the Laker days, like I was back in Seattle… I think he’s back and I’m happy for him. Now that we’re finished with him, I’m happy for him because he’s a super young man. He represents everything basketball should be about. And he’s back to his… All-Star form.”
If Paul George is seen as the next Kobe Bryant, it is only fitting that the Los Angeles Lakers want him in the purple and gold.
NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Trading for Paul George, Willing to Offer D’Angelo Russel Or Brandon … https://t.co/qdWAAVF8n8 #NBA
— Fresh NBAnews&Rumors (@GetNBAUpdated) September 7, 2016
The Lakers will have to convince the Pacers to trade George to them. The most prominent of the NBA rumors regarding the Lakers pursuit of George have them offering the Pacers one of their two young stars.
Sportsrageous is reporting that the Lakers are willing to part with either D’Angelo Russell or rookie Brandon Ingram. The Lakers believe they can entice the Pacers with a package centered on one of them, which will not be enough to get the Pacers excited.
If the Pacers are even entertaining the thought of trading a top-15 player such as Paul George, the Lakers will have to do better than D’Angelo Russell or Brandon Ingram. The Lakers likely will have to offer both young players in return for George.
The Pacers will not trade Paul George to the Lakers or any other team. Here is why a trade for the star will not happen.
Look at the landscape in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers are right there with the Celtics and Raptors for a claim to be the conference’s second-best record. On paper, no other team has improved as much as the Pacers.
The Pacers added forward Thaddeus Young and center Al Jefferson to help with the scoring rebounding load, and they have secured a traditional point guard in Jeff Teague, who can pass and score. Barring a playoff collapse, the Pacers will not trade Paul George. The small-market Pacers will likely receive an increase in visibility with George’s performance in the Rio Games. At times, Paul George was Team USA’s best player, and that helps the Pacers.
If nothing else, the Los Angeles Lakers will have to wait a year in order to ponder a move for Paul George. Their patience could pay off at some point, but for now, any dreams the Lakers have of acquiring George will have to suffice.
The NBA rumors of the Los Angeles Lakers willing to offer D’Angelo Russell or Brandon Ingram may be true. Before anyone gets excited about the talk of the Lakers adding Paul George with either them, be mindful that it is all just talk.
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