Too steep. I would offer a choice of 2 DLo/Clarkson/Randle in exchange for PG13. Or Pacers can just wait for PG13 to become an FA and get nothing for him.
After a week of Free Agent period, Indy will know with 100% confidence that PG13 is leaving. Every other team will know they can't get him (or keep him more than a year). Bird will have 2 options: 1. Trade him this summer for whatever we offer or 2. Lose him for nothing in 2018. Common sense says to get what you can, while you can. But Indy has to think of ticket sales, merchandise, and just giving away an All Star is never good for job security. And keeping PG another year gives him another year to try and convince him to stay. It's another way of calling PGs bluff on turning down $200 million. I don't know what Bird will do, but it'll be fun.
It may be too steep, but Bird isn't getting fleeced. Boston is also in mix and has the Brooklyn pick to offer up. Does Ainge take a chance and put together a package for George while running the risk he might join us as a Free Agent? I don't know. However, if Boston does get George, they're a top 2 team in the East and may convince him to stay. I don't think the Lakers want to miss the PO's next year again. The pressure to win is now. You keep the pick (if you're the Lakers) and you start talks with George, IMO. I feel relatively certain we make a play for him this summer. Plus, summer 2018 is stacked with FA's. You can start building a team earlier around George and your potential cap space. Just makes more cents in my mind to go after him this summer.
Assuming no All NBA. The max for PG is $180MM/5 from Indy or $132M/4 from Lakers. Yes 1 more yr $48M more but on a per yr basis it's not that big of a difference $36MM vs $33MM
What's $40-50 million more to PG who's making $140 mil or whatever and being the next in line ALPHA on the Lakers where he idolized Kobe while growing up in Palmdale. Ever been to Palmdale on a hot or cold windy day? Hell he'll be giving the Lakers a hometown discount before he even gets here.
I agree with you totally, and it's been the point I've been trying to make, gutting the team of all our assets is a bad move. It's not NYK melo 2.0 but we are in the west and wouldn't be contenders. Especially considering George can just sign here in FA if he is so keen to come. The fact that rumours like Atlanta offering four 1st round picks just makes me think pacers are willing to gamble on keeping him with that big extension.
Why would every team know they can't get him? I think teams on the brink of contention would absolutely be willing to trade for him if the asking price was as low as people believe. Boston, Raptors, Houston, Clippers, Spurs, Nuggets, Knicks, Pelicans would all consider PG. Not to mention if he does go to FA, he will have a lot of suitors too. I definitely see the spurs making a run for him with Parker and Ginobili being gone. Kawhi and PG together is down right scary. But if it goes to FA we definitely have a great shot to get him. Just have to make the playoffs next season.
Paul George wants to win, as does every basketball player. Doesn't matter where they grew up or who their hero growing up was. At the end of the day it comes down to two things. Money and years on a contract, and chance to win. If a contender trades for him, they've got bird rights and can offer both. Not sure why the assumption is, he'd be a rental?
Unlike others before him (e.g. DeRozan, Westbrook) there's substance behind him really wanting to come home. So the assumption that he is a 1 yr rental seems more plausible.
^ That. We're operating under the assumption that George really, truly does have an operating threat to leave to LA. The facts as we know them, widely reported around the league, is that George will sign an extension with only two teams: Indiana and LA. This puts LA in the unique situation of having to either buy cheap, or trust the intel that he will walk to LA. Does that mean taking a leap of faith that he'll come here despite being traded to a contender? Yes. This is where Pelinka comes into play. His connections and ability to read the league are going to be crucial. If it's told to us that we better trade for him instead of letting him go to a contender, then that's when we'll have to really push the issue.
I believe all this as I too listened to the Podcast, but I just believe that some team is going to trade for George this off-season. I hope that I'm wrong and that other teams are scared off by all this talk about him wanting LA in FA 2018.
Yeah that's a complete possibility. I still think Boston blinks and takes this trade this summer despite the risk. George needs to come out publicly and demand a trade to LA.
I really think that's the plan. How else can he expect to reach the Lakers without us gutting the team in a trade, than sabotaging all other options for the Pacers?
