Los Angeles Lakers: Free agent alternatives if Paul George re-signs with Thunder

Following the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony, the Oklahoma City Thunder appear to be in good position to re-sign Paul George in 2018. If that happens, what other players could the Los Angeles Lakers pursue in free agency?

The Oklahoma City Thunder made another huge offseason splash on Saturday, making a trade for superstar Carmelo Anthony. While it’s a great move for Billy Donovan and co., it puts a damper on the Los Angeles Lakers‘ future free agency plans.

The thought has always been that the Lakers would sign Paul George during 2018 free agency, bringing the elite two-way wing back to his old stomping grounds. However, some have speculated that he could decide to re-sign with the Thunder if they make a real run at a championship this season.

It already seemed plausible with Russell Westbrook, the reigning MVP, alongside George. With Anthony now in the mix, Oklahoma City has its own bonkers Big Three that’s going to be difficult to deny. They’ve suddenly emerged as contenders in the West, making it a real possibility that PG-13 decides to stay put and see how things play out with the Thunder.

If that’s that case, the Lakers need a backup plan. They’ve been saving/creating future cap space in the hopes of signing a superstar or two next offseason. With George potentially out of the picture (which could also make Westbrook unavailable), they’ll need to look for another player to spend an exorbitant amount of money on.

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That’s why we’re here today — to look at potential alternatives for the Lakers if George remains with the Thunder. I’m sure Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have a plan, but let’s flesh it out a bit and examine a few options for when 2018 NBA free agency arrives in July.

Keep in mind that I kept my options limited to wings since they’d hypothetically be filling the role that George would have.