Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting the team’s 2018-19 starting lineup
Small Forward: Paul George
Let’s be honest — things haven’t gone as Paul George had hoped with the Oklahoma City Thunder. There have been too many downs and not enough ups, and there’s too much competition in the Western Conference.
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Chances are, when the offseason arrives, George will decide to test the free agency waters instead of re-signing with the Thunder. That’s just the way it is, unless OKC miraculously gets it together and makes a run during the postseason. Based on what we’ve seen so far, though, I don’t see that happening.
If that actually ends up being the case, the Lakers must make a run at George. Seeing as they own more than enough cap space and (allegedly) PG-13’s heart, getting him to put pen to paper shouldn’t be too difficult. That allows him to play for the team he grew up loving, while stepping into the superstar role in Los Angeles.
George would then slot in as the starting small forward, pushing Ingram to the 2-guard role. He’s a terrific weapon on offense who will thrive as one of Ball’s main options. On top of that, he’d bring relentless defense out on the wing, allowing them to slow some of the West’s other top scorers.
This one has been about a year in the making. Folks have tried to shoot this down as a pipe dream, but it’s starting to look like the Lakers could go with George as LeBron James starts to seem like a long shot.