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NBA Trade Grades: Thunder scoop Paul George from Pacers

By Gerald Bourguet

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 6, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 6, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NBA Trade Grades
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at the team training faculity in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Lakers

In a perfect world — you know, the world that the Los Angeles Lakers had lived in until the last four years — the Pacers would’ve been unable to find a trade partner this summer. As the end of the year crept closer, more and more potential suitors would stay away, for fear of PG-13 being a playoff rental.

Then, being unable to move him for more than peanuts, the Lakers would be the clear favorites to sign him in free agency.

Instead, PG-13 joins the reigning league MVP on a very sound defensive team, giving him a full year to compete and most likely make a run in the playoffs.

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That’s bad news for the Lakers, even if the prospect of joining more legitimate contenders like the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers would’ve been more frightening.

Perhaps Russ and George will never mesh. Maybe PG-13 will resent being the second-best player on his team for the first time since he rose to stardom. Perhaps a run to the second round of the playoffs won’t stop him from heading to L.A. next summer, which would validate the Lakers’ decision to hold off on trading for him now.

But for a team that just shipped off D’Angelo Russell for the sole purpose of clearing Timofey Mozgov’s contract and keeping cap space open for Paul George next summer, things just got a little more real.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

There’s a scenario where the Lakers scoop both George and either LeBron or Westbrook next summer, but that dreamy outcome just got a little hazier thanks to Thursday night’s highway robbery.

Grade: B-

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