Paul George trade rumors: 5 teams that should deal for Pacers’ star
4. Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to shed salary and unload one (or more) of their three first round picks in this year’s draft, according to Sporting News. A Paul George deal with Rip City might be a slam dunk for both sides.
The Blazers have $132.9 million in guaranteed money on the books for next season — well over the projected $101 million salary cap and $121 million luxury tax line. Getting money off the books and avoiding even the tiniest of contracts for three new rookies is a priority for general manager Neil Olshey, especially after locking in a young core that only won 41 games for the long haul.
The team’s prime salary dump candidates include Evan Turner ($17.1 million next year), Allen Crabbe ($19.3 million), Meyers Leonard ($9.9 million) and Maurice Harkless ($9.7 million). To match George’s $19.5 million salary, Crabbe and one or two of Portland’s 2017 first-rounders might be enough to satisfy Indy:
A deal like this would give the Blazers the upgrade they need on the wing, especially since George’s ability to play multiple positions would help a porous defense that ranked 21st in defensive rating last season.
Covering for Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum would be a boon on that side of the court, and he’d form a dynamic three-man star tandem on the offensive end.
The Blazers would risk losing George for nothing after one season, and they wouldn’t be good enough to contend for a title in 2017-18, but those fans are crazy about their team. Perhaps a return to winning, two of the game’s bright young stars and Portland’s rich basketball culture would be able to convince him to stay.
Even if he left, Rip City would still get one absurdly large contract off the books, avoid adding a couple of unnecessary rookies and enjoy at least one year of a top-15 player.
From Indiana’s perspective, Crabbe is a decent role player and the team pockets one or two additional first-rounders to go with its own selection at No. 18. Ideally the Pacers would get two, though it’s difficult to say which picks Portland would be willing to give up with George’s trade value being so depleted and the Blazers owning the No. 15, No. 20 and No. 26 picks.
Assuming they’re not interested in part two of the Evan Turner Experiment (a safe assumption), the 25-year-old Crabbe shot 44.4 percent from three-point range while averaging 10.7 points per game this year. His contract is massively inflated, but shooting and defense are premiums in today’s NBA, and additional picks in a talented draft class would aid the rebuild around Myles Turner.
However, the Pacers might be able to do better from the three more desperate teams ahead of Portland on this list, which is why this sensical and realistic deal for both sides only comes in at No. 4.