Los Angeles Lakers: Homegrown stars who should end their careers in L.A.

Paul George, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Place of birth: Palmdale

Let’s start off with the obvious choice here.

Since early this year, the Lakers have been trying to bring Paul George back to Los Angeles. While they failed to do so prior to the 2017 trade deadline and during the offseason, that doesn’t mean a reunion between PG-13 and his hometown team can’t happen somewhere down the road.

In fact, there’s still a chance he decides to join the Lakers next year when he becomes a free agent. Los Angeles’ odds of convincing him to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder took a sizable hit when they acquired Carmelo Anthony last week, but there’s no guarantee the team can keep him from making his triumphant return to the City of Angels.

Related Story: Free agent alternatives if PG-13 re-signs with OKC

In the end, it could come down to whether or not the Thunder can make a legitimate run at the NBA Finals in 2017-18. Overcoming the Warriors in the West won’t be easy, but the presence of Carmelo definitely helps. It’s still to be seen if three ball-dominant players can thrive in the same starting lineup.

So will we ever see George in the purple and gold? There’s a decent chance, but the Lakers are essentially in a holding pattern until next offseason. Even if he decides to stick with the Thunder for the time being, George is young enough to join his hometown team somewhere further down the line.