Imagine our defensive versatility with Butler and George while keeping Ingram! Dlo Butler Ingram George Zu
Jimmy Butler AND Paul George wouldn't mind playing here. That's been confirmed by Woj. We're getting one or the other, IMO. Their both very good pieces.
I would bet that Randle and Russell have clocks ticking right now. Randle's contract is coming up soon and Russell is probably the one with the second highest trade value. I'd gladly move both to bring in a star.
"dark moment" - thoughts about going to Boston. "in the loop a little more" - poor management by Indy not letting him know he was being shopped. Laker fans:
i know these guys are about money, but I think PG might genuinely want to be Kobe's heir. I wouldn't be surprised if the thought of playing for those guys makes him so sick that he leaves in FA if traded there. obviously I'm being a homer, but PG is the only star player i believed might have the same homer attitude as a player. i.e. Westbrook is an LA guy but he never gave the vibe that he was hellbent on being here.
Right there with you, my friend. I don't have an emotional attachment to the young players, but I do have an emotional attachment to winning.
Not to be a downer, cause I will run naked in the streets if it happens, but it seems like every year we talk ourselves into believing a marquee player is going to pick up and come here for less money, and IT NEVER HAPPENS. The FA realizes he can make more by re-upping with his current team, so he either extends there and stays, or demands a sign and trade, and then the teams with better assets swoops in and gobbles him up. So, yeah, it'd be awesome to have PG-13 on our team, but I don't waste any energy fantasizing about him coming here for free.
Durant moved and left westbrook...we just gota hope our core shows enough fight next yr and very least be in playoff picture
He's not coming here for free. The best case scenario (besides what just happened) would be: a) he doesn't make an All-NBA team which is possible. If he misses an All-NBA team this year, he's ineligible for the giant 200 million dollar contract, so staying in Indiana wouldn't matter as much. Sure, he'd be in a slightly better place than the Lakers are now, but he'd be stuck there for the next 5 years because the Pacers aren't going anywhere. b) he keeps letting the rumors of him wanting to sign either in Indiana or LA grow. We already know the Nuggets made a big offer and Paul George and his agent chased them off by saying he's not signing an extension there. He and his agent need to keep that up. There was an opportunity for that rumor to die today and it inexplicably didn't. In fact Sam Amick doubled-down on it. That's really the part that has me hopeful. b) we keep our pick. If we keep our pick, we can package that with Clarkson and one of our other players and call it a day. As soon as this season ends, Paul George becomes an expiring contract. Nobody in their right mind is giving away a ton of assets for George if he's an expiring and threatening to walk in FA. I would guess that Boston hesitated at the deadline in large part because of these rumors (as well as the exorbitant price tag). Larry Bird is loathe to give up Paul George, we all know that, but if Paul George is forcing his hand that changes things. That being said, yes, it's obvious we're getting our hopes up. There's a good chance Paul George makes third team All-NBA and his ability to get that 200 million dollar paycheck stays alive (he'd have to do it the following season too). I'm sure he could make up some of the contract he'd sacrifice coming here, but 200 million? That's hard to pass on. Still, there's a lot of ways this rumor could have been squashed today and it didn't happen. I'm going to remain hopeful.
In case you can't make out the audio. Honestly it really feels like Paul wants out and wants the Lakers. Call me a Homer but it's really, really starting to look that way.
