Los Angeles Lakers: Imagining the rumored dream lineup with Kawhi Leonard

Small Forward: Paul George

Ingram may be gone, but the signing of Paul George would more than make up for it.

This has been discussed for the better part of the last two years. George has not-so-subtly expressed his interest in joining the Lakers time and time again, and it’s not like his one-year stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder went as planned. The door is now wide open for his highly anticipated return to Los Angeles.

Even after trading for Kawhi, the Lakers have more than enough cap space to strike a deal. George signs a max contract, becoming the second piece to the puzzle. As one of the league’s best two-way players, he slots in as the starting small forward in place of the departed Ingram.

I like this situation for him, because he steps into a lineup that doesn’t consist of any big-time ball hogs. Unlike with the Thunder, he’s now got a point guard who prefers to pass. That’ll give George the ability to get open looks while using a spaced-out floor to also create points for himself with his dangerous offensive skill-set.

This has been years in the making. It’s almost as if George was destined to join the Lakers, even if none of us knew it prior to his last season with the Indiana Pacers. Him coming to Los Angeles would certainly mean big things for PG-13 and the franchise.