Paul George (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Rumors about the Indiana Pacers trading Paul George are starting to resurface around the league, and this time, it could be the right timing for the Los Angeles Lakers to strike a deal for the All-Star forward.
The Lakers have long been intrigued of adding a proven star on their roster since losing Kobe Bryant to retirement. The team has done all its convincing powers to land a top free agent in the past two summers, but LA has failed miserably to do such task, with free agents considering one of the most storied franchise in the NBA as an unattractive destination.
However, the Lakers may finally have a chance to acquire a young veteran who could become the face of the franchise, with Paul George rumored to be available in the trade market.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical quickly crushed speculations about a Paul George trade happening anytime soon, claiming that the Pacers are not moving their star forward. But it may not stop the Lakers from pursuing George, especially if the timing is right.
The Lakers could be on the verge of getting back to title contention in the next few years. The team has an intriguing mix of veterans and young talents, who have been showing upsides of becoming perennial All-Stars in the league. Luke Walton's addition has also helped the Lakers get back on track to compete in the postseason.
But despite any of the Lakers' promising displays, they still lack a proven star to carry them past top teams in the league. And if the Lakers wish to continue their progress, trading for a player like George should be on top of the team's list, even if it would cost them the likes of Brandon Ingram, D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle.
George, a California native who played college basketball at Fresno State and grew up rooting for the Lakers, would not only give Los Angeles an All-Star caliber player, but his presence would also help the team attract top free agents next summer. Considering the Lakers' current lineup, it would be difficult to see the team competing for a title in the next few years. But adding George and potentially top players in free agency would speed up their process.
Trading for George now would also help the Lakers iron out their blue print towards winning their 17th NBA championship. George is in contract with the Pacers until 2018-2019, which means acquiring him now would give the Lakers plenty of time to see how he would fit in LA and look for suitable supporting cast for George.
Any potential deal for the 26-year-old forward would surely be expensive for the Lakers. A hypothetical trade scenario that works under the NBA salary guideline would include Ingram, Russell and Lou Williams as trade chips for George.
However, the Lakers seem content in keeping their core intact, especially their young players. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has insisted he is loving how the team plays, although it is possible to consider deals if there are any.
"We're going to have to be a little patient. We're going to have to do our job, which is to look at opportunities that may come up in the next month or two. And if there are none-which is fine with me, because I like the young guys on the team-then during the offseason, we'll have to look at opportunities," Kupchak said, reports Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
Whether the Lakers are planning to trade for George before the deadline remains to be seen, but now could be the right moment to make some moves for Los Angeles to help in their transition to become great again.
Video courtesy: YouTube/FreeDawkins
