I hate him, but he's talented and would be a draw for another star. It always circles back though to... how do we convince a young star in their prime to join us at this stage?
That's a question for one Jerry West and how he lured Shaq away from a Finals Magic team, to a up and coming Lakers team with a brash rookie.
I agree. While I argue that Butler/George can play together, it's not really my primary approach. I agree that adding PG and then chasing a star point guard or big man would be preferable. Honestly, I've always liked Blake Griffin and would be thrilled to have him on the Lakers. If the Lakers can trade Randle, Clarkson and Top 3 pick and then sign Blake, that roster is stacked. Russell-Ingram-George-Griffin-Zubac Nice.
I honestly believe we don't need to include our pick to get George this off season. If PG is truly hell bent on leaving to join us, no team will trade for a rental, heck we may be able to just offer Houston's pick, 2nd round pick, JC, black and Brewers expiring contract for PG. At least they'll get something from us than nothing and let him walk. WE HAVE ALL THE LEVERAGE. Dlo/Ennis Ingram/fa George/loul Randle/Nance Zu/mozzy Plus a hopeful top 3 pick, we could use that as trade bait for a star to join us
I think in order to get Blake here, I would go after a star PG in a trade using Russell and the Top 3 pick. My target? John Wall: Throw Russell+Randle+Top 3. I know they're competing this year, but I think that might be enough to get Washington to consider it. Question is, if we have a said two stars on our team, would we have enough money for PG in 2018? Wall George Ingram Griffin Zu
Okay so I was listening to Woj's podcast today and he said interesting things that give me pause. 1. He absolutely corroborated that Paul George wants to come to LA. It's no secret. There's 100% mutual interest in George to LA. 2. George has said he'll stay in Indiana if they can improve the team around him, but they didn't and don't seem to have much avenue to do so. 3. George has told (or hinted to) the Lakers that they should not gut their team to get him and that he'll come in FA. This is something Woj said on his podcast. It's not something that we as fans have said "oh we should wait", this is what Woj says that Paul George has told us. That to me is extremely interesting. Let's look at the facts: Sam Amick has said in two tweets and a separate article that Paul George WILL NOT sign an extension anywhere besides Indiana and Los Angeles. Half a dozen media personalities backup this claim ranging from Woj to Stein to Ding to even Tania Ganguli one of our beat writers. Because of this rumor, Boston flinches at the deadline and the Nuggets deal wasn't enough. Woj says in the podcast that Denver offered basically everything they had besides Nurkic and Indiana said no. Denver was willing to do this despite being told that Paul would not re-sign there. On the other hand Boston offered a good package, but were unwilling to empty the tank in order to possibly watch Paul George leave. Boston must think the threat of George walking is 100% true DESPITE the fact that Boston is so close to competing if they add George. This is a HUGE step in our direction. If Paul George is hesitant to commit to a team like Boston out East, that gives the Lakers basically complete bargaining power. With all of this being said, the onus now is on the Lakers to prove that the young players are worth playing with. Is Russell more than a flash in the pan? Is Randle someone to keep around? Is Larry Nance Jr. going to continue to develop into a Draymond-esque player? Is Zubac anything? Is Clarkson valuable? What can Ingram be? If they look half-way competent to end the season, things could get interesting this summer. If we keep the pick on top of that, then there's a wide open door for the Lakers to get through to go get Paul George. One of the best parts of this though is that if George signs here as a FA, we don't have to worry nearly as much about Mozgov and Deng. In the summer of 2018 the two of them will only have two years left on their deals. Those deals become much easier to trade or buyout or even stretch if we have to. I know we've been burned a bunch and I readily admit we could easily get burned again this time around, but this one actually has legs. This isn't "Oh Kevin Love went to UCLA he must want to be a Laker". This isn't "Oh Russell Westbrook likes Los Angeles, I bet he wants to rep our colors". This is a legitimate chance that we have. It's on this new ownership to make something happen. The pressure is on.
In an ideal world, sure, we can low ball the Pacers and get PG for peanuts. In the end, the Pacers do still have some leverage with PG for the simple fact that he is still under contract next season. Teams will be willing to trade for PG even if he is most likely a rental because he is still a star player who can help them next season and the GM/Ownership may think they can convince him to re-sign at the end of the season if they are a strong squad. A team like Boston fits here. Plus PG actually has said he is willing to re-sign with the Pacers IF they are winning. So if LA is just offering a substandard package, the Pacers could instead just try and re-load around PG this summer and develop a winning team and then convince him to stay. Worse comes to worse and they feel like they will lose him in summer 2018, they can just trade him at the deadline and accept a peanuts offer then. The idea that the Lakers have "all the leverage" and can just toss a peanuts offer at Indy and they have no choice but to accept isn't really true. Would I love to keep the Top 3 pick? Sure, but if it came down to it, I'd give it up.
What this does do is weaken their position though. Where the #1-3 pick could be maybe even all we have to give up if George makes an outright demand. Or maybe even something like Clarkson/Nance Jr./Hou 1st would be a good package for them if George makes the outright demand. That would leave us with a lot of room to play with. The message is clear though: George doesn't want the Lakers to gut themselves to get him.
He doesn't want us to do that. That means he wants to come here with something on the team. Right now though, we suck...bad. I think that means we DO need to at least trade a couple of our young assets to get someone in here that would provide immediate help. I know it's a season and a half away, but whoever we pick (granted we keep that pick) this year and Ingram and Zubac probably won't be ready to compete on his level. Russell and Randle may never be good enough. I think we have to unload a couple youngsters (making sure the contracts match so we still keep that max slot available) to get a guy in here around his age ready to help him shoulder the burden.
Oh no doubt it does weaken their position and why I fully believe we can get a deal done without including BI or DAR. George wants to come to LA..... but he also wants to stay in Indy if they are winning. So he is still leaving the door open for them to consider options that don't involve trading him to LA for a substandard offer - and obviously Indy's preference is going to be whatever it takes to keep him. If George outright demands a trade to the Lakers and says he won't re-sign with Indy in 2018 period, then that door is shut and swings the leverage wildly in the Lakers favor and then you can start talking about offers like JC/Nance/Hou 1st. Until then though, I do think Indy needs to get something viable to part with George because of what I said above. Is Randle, JC and the Top 3 a lot given the situation? Perhaps but it's not gutting the team. Not with the team still keeping BI, DAR, Zubac and still having Nance, Deng, Moz, Brewer, the Rockets 1st rounder and having cap space.
It sounds like PG wants 1) To be the number one guy. Lead a team. He doesn't want to be 2nd fiddle. 2) Wants to win. 3) Play at home (he grew up in Palmdale) if #2 isn't possible yet. 4) #1 takes priority over #2 and #3. Some veteran teams could clear some space in the next two years to sign him in 2018 too. So why choose LA? There's a clear pecking order here with all the young guys we have.
But it's still too much in my opinion. Randle and the Top 3 pick is a hell of a haul for someone with one foot out the door, let alone Clarkson. The situation is too fluid to keep trying to predict how it'll all work out, but this one feels different than the last few times. We need to focus on these young kids finishing strong and then see where the landscape is after the lottery.
George does have one foot out the door but it's that he still has one foot in the door that still makes prying him away from Indiana a costly proposition. As long as Indiana still feels they have a chance to keep George -which they obviously do - they are going to prioritize keeping him over trading him. So we can suggest low ball offers all day long but in the end, Indiana is not only not going to give him away but they will want a price that on the surface sounds ludicrous. That's generally what the team with the star does - unless you are the Kings. Anyways, a lot of this really is all a moot point until we actually see how Indiana closes the season and whether or not the Lakers keep their pick. With the Nets certain to have the worst record, the Lakers will obviously at best (or worst depending on how you look at it) finished with the 2nd worst record and a 55.8% chance of keeping their pick. Lakers right now are 3rd worst and a 46.9% chance of keeping their pick. That said, they are only 1.5 ahead of Orlando and 3 ahead of Philly, both of whom dumped talent at the deadline. So things could change. So I agree, we need to see where the landscape is after the lottery to really flesh out this discussion.
Well, if George is aware that he can control his situation, which I believe 100% he and his agent know this, he knows that the Lakers have young potential stars that would more than likely materialize right when he is available to make the choice to come to LA in 16 months. He can have a chance at not only making max money but coming into a team that will contend and the team management will do anything to make that happen. If this is indeed the case, Lakers need to play this smart. Why give away parts of the farm if you dont have to. Now, if Mitch and Jim were still at the helm, I would be all for taking a plunge because it was obvious their recruiting skills were not good. But this summer, the big fish is Blake Griffin. I know a lot of you dont like him but I don't give a s*** about liking players. Blake is a 20-10 guy who can leap out the building. this would help Russell develop even more if he can throw it 15 feet in the air and have someone not only catch it but throw it down on a consistent basis. And this time it's Magic leading the pitch with guys who know how to communicate and have the cache needed to close the deal. If the Lakers keep their pick, then they will have some leverage but that doesn't mean they have to trade it for a big name. Not yet anyway. I think they should keep the players, picks, etc, and than see what happens with someone like Griffin. If Griffin doesn't sign, than you probably have to make a trade. If you get him, than you hold on to your players and you wait to see who develops into the star, etc. Than, a year from now, you sign George. There is a lot of ways this can go but it will depend on how the kids develop first. With Magic, Pelinka and the new regime, I do feel more comfortable with them going into a room and pitching the deal so standing pat until you have to do something is a little less risky.
Unless George qualifies for the 35% super max and pacers can offer him 200m+. At that point, leverage is decreased because we'd be offering him 130m (there about?) as an alternative to sign here.
The Magic didn't want to pay him the money he demanddd to resign and his ego got offended. When they finally upped their offer it was too late. Also Shaq believed he was the best player in the league and any team he went to would be an instant contender. In today's league you have everyone just trying to team up and make big 3's and 4's and 5's and 10's etc etc. just look at the cavs and warriors stacking 3/4 all stars to compete, there are no players left who back themselves.
