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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 way-too-early bold predictions for 2017-18

By Gil Alcaraz IV

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers shares a laugh with 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, CA - JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers shares a laugh with 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) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 26: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 26, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

All of the Paul George rumors quiet down

It’s official — Paul George will not be a Laker during the 2017-18 season. He will, however, be a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. So why not just let him do his thing this season and worry about his future plans when next offseason rolls around?

Sticking with that concept, I’m predicting that all of the buzz about George being a Laker will die off. A trade already went down and he landed elsewhere, so that’s no longer an option. Free agency is still almost a year away, so talk of signing him in 2018 is moot, at least until the end of next season. So why keep blabbering on about it?

That doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t happen. In fact, I believe him landing with the Thunder helps Los Angeles’ cause. As great as playing with Russell Westbrook should be for George, it’s not going to be enough to get him to the Finals. He’s not going to spurn the Lakers for a team that isn’t a true contender.

This could even be an opportunity for George to recruit Westbrook to join him in L.A. The Thunder’s star guard played his college ball at UCLA and grew up in Long Beach. Although it’s extremely unlikely, maybe Brodie could return to his roots as well by joining the Lakers when he hits the open market in 2019.

Either way, look for the George-to-Lakers talk to calm down. Let’s focus on the season at hand, and let the speculation begin once the 2017-18 campaign is in the books.

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