Paul George (Photo : Twitter)
The recent trade rumors involving the Los Angeles Lakers had a different target from the usual suspects of the summer.
Paul George was named as the next player that the Tinseltown team fancied and the price for him may be steep as Ben Dowsett of Basketball Insiders mentioned in his chat. When he was queried about what it would take to pry Paul George out of Indiana, he noted that the pick has to be top 2.
"My answer here would probably depend on where within the top 3 said pick fell - too many smart draft folks have insisted to me that the gap between 2 and 3 is real for me to believe otherwise," Dowsett explained.
He continued: "If I were actually offered the #1 overall pick, D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle for Paul George, I'd have to consider it - think the value is getting close in that case, and it might come down to what direction my franchise was attempting to move in."
The Pacers are usually not a free agent destination and with the competition this year becoming fiercer than ever, it's unlikely they can sign a game changer. They can always make the playoffs-as they barely did this year at 7th place, but they may not have enough to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers.
George is a superstar but he and Myles Turner will not bring the Pacers into contention anytime soon. A package of Randle and Russell fills the point guard spot and with Russell's size, he can play alongside smaller shooting guards like Monta Ellis and George Hill.
Randle will offer them flexibility at the four spot and push Turner at the five. If they get either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, they become young and deep. Even Larry Bird would have to explore the possibility at the very least.
Why did the Lakers shift their focus on George who was not even in the rumor mill? Perhaps because they have confirmed that their main target will not be traded at least this summer according to a Kings reporter quoting GM Vlade Divac.
Kings GM Vlade Divac was asked about trading DeMarcus Cousins today after the presser. 'He's not going to be traded - this year for sure'
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) May 10, 2016
Lakers team site Silver Screen and Roll confirmed that the Kings are indeed locking up Boogie for the next season, at least.
However, SSR does not close the door beyond the season. For someone as volatile as Cousins, there is always hope. "Divac's phrasing does indicate that Cousins may be available in the future if things don't work out though, a scenario in which the Lakers may be tempted to jump back in on the bidding."
