Paul George’s Interest Will Create Intrigue For Los Angeles’ Offseason

With Paul George’s interest in the Los Angeles Lakers high, does that change what the Lakers might do this offseason? I think so.

The 2016-17 NBA trade deadline will be most likely remembered for what didn’t happen. Jahlil Okafor remained in Philadelphia, the Brooklyn Nets’ picks remained in Boston and Jimmy Butler remained in Chicago. However, the Los Angeles Lakers came away with two moves and potentially more down the line.

Overall, it was a solid trade deadline for the Lakers, who were sellers rather than buyers at the deadline.

Moving Lou Williams for Corey Brewer and a first-round pick gave them another asset to use down the line — whether it be another young player to add to the roster, or another piece to complete a trade. Tyler Ennis is a fine shot in the dark. 

Outside of a potential Nick Young trade or finding someone who can take Luol Deng or Timofey Mozgov off the roster, the Lakers walked away with a quality asset and didn’t shake up the foundation of the roster too much.

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Acquiring a first-round pick wasn’t the biggest “victory,” however for the Lakers.

In the midst of the Paul George saga in Indiana, it was revealed by ESPN’s Zach Lowe that Paul George to the Los Angeles Lakers is “very,  real” and that George’s name will be discussed in the summer in more trade discussions.

USA Today’s Sam Amick also tweeted that George is “hell-bent” on heading to Los Angeles barring a title chance by Indiana. 

George can become a free agent after the 2017-18 season. 

Paul George is clearly one of the top 20 players in the league and one of the league’s best two-way talents. He combines excellent perimeter defense and ball denial with elite scoring and great playmaking from a non-point guard.

He’s also a great floor spacer, shooting 38 percent from three on six attempts per game. He’s an excellent player who will be sought after by several teams. 

He’s been one of the seven best players in the Eastern Conference since the 2013-14 season and continued to blossom until a gruesome injury during a Team USA scrimmage resulted in him missing almost all of the 2014-15 season.

All those questions were quelled the following season when George returned to play in 81 games and averaged 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, leading Indiana to the playoffs.

Los Angeles Lakers

George’s interest gives Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers staff an interesting position heading into their first offseason running the show.

Should the Lakers attempt to acquire George first or try to land another big name to further entice George to join Los Angeles the following offseason? 

Everything for Los Angeles rides on keeping their 2017 first-rround pick. The pick, as you may already know, is top-three protected and if the Lakers lose that pick, they also lose their 2019 first-round pick to Orlando. Two huge assets could be gone in just one night.

It’s imperative for Los Angeles to remain in position to remain in the top three of this lottery and they can only do that by continuing to lose.

Landing a top-three pick in this draft class ensures them one of Washington’s Markelle Fultz, UCLA’s Lonzo Ball or Kansas’ Josh Jackson. After those three, there’s a clear drop in talent in the draft.

Those three on a rookie deal could be a solid addition to any potential trade discussion alongside some of their talented young players.

If the Lakers keep their pick this offseason, they could certainly add it to a potential George trade to attempt to acquire him early. 

Or, using those assets to acquire a potential star player to entice George to join Los Angeles even more.

In making a George move, the Lakers would be shifting their window from a rebuilding team, hoarding and collecting assets, to a team trying to win and I’m sure George would be more convincing of joining Los Angeles if the Lakers could add another premier talent onto the roster.

Either way, George’s perceived interest will be a point of contention for the Lakers for the rest of the season, as well as this upcoming offseason.

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Seeing the success the young players is key because now you have to consider valuing them as a potential keeper or as a piece to use to reel in a big-name player.

And the Lakers are going to keep some of these young players, but I’m not sure if they’re keeping all of these guys. Keeping them now at the deadline allows them to continue to grow and develop under Los Angeles’ watch.

The departure of Williams will allow D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson to get even more minutes to work and grow on both sides of the ball.

The frontcourt will add recent trade addition Corey Brewer into the mix, but that shouldn’t deter head coach Luke Walton from using Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr., Julius Randle and Ivica Zubac as much as they can this season — whether it’s using them more to showcase them in future trades down the line, or to keep them.

The Los Angeles Lakers have different goals this season, namely, remaining in the top three of the NBA draft to add another young, top tier talent to their young core.

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If they keep their pick, the Lakers will have to consider making a move with Paul George and the next steps in mind, and that may involve making another move to help entice George’s potential arrival in the 2018 offseason.