Paul George confirmed what most NBA fans had suspected for a long time when he said this week that was planning to sign with the Lakers before a trade to Oklahoma City changed his mind. George was expected to be among two max-level free agents headed to L.A. over the summer, but he liked the Thunder and his new city so much he elected to re-sign there.
“It was 50-50 on deciding whether I wanted to come back home or if it was smarter to be in the situation I am in now,” George said in an interview with Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “But it wasn’t overstated. I wanted to play in L.A. That is where I wanted to go. Had that trade never went down, had I played one more year in Indy, I would have been in a Lakers uniform.”
We know now that if George had chosen the Lakers, he would have joined LeBron James to form a one-two punch that’s as good as any in the league. It also would have cost the team about $130MM over four years and would have eliminated the chance to lure another free agent from an extremely talented class next summer.
As it stands, L.A. has roughly $65.8MM committed for 2019/20, a number that moves closer to $69MM if the team opts to make a qualifying offer to Ivica Zubac and keep Svi Mykhailiuk on what is now a non-guaranteed deal. That leaves more than enough to make a max offer to Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler or any other upcoming free agent.
Durant and James would be a historically great combo if they decide to join forces, but it would be a difficult decision for him or Thompson leave the perennial champion Warriors. Leonard and James would also be formidable, but he reportedly doesn’t want to be a second banana and is leaning toward the Clippers if he comes to L.A. Butler might be a good running mate for James, but given his injury history and overall abrasiveness, he seems like the riskiest proposition. It’s laughable to think of Kyrie Irving traveling west to rejoin LeBron, but the other stars are at least plausible.
So which is better, Lakers fans? Would you rather have George in place for a run at the title this season or the financial flexibility to chase a big name next summer? Please leave your responses in the space below.
Magic should have kept his mouth shut when he was on Jimmy Kimmel. Now the Lakers aren’t favorites to get Durant,Thompson, Butler, Irving, Kawhi, Porzingas, or Kemba. The Magic has worn off.
We literally just got Lebron. Wtf are you talking about
And who else? These guys are saying they don’t want to play 2nd fiddle to LeBron. LeBron went to LA for Hollywood, not the Lakers.
Who cares who else man? Best player in the league. Lakers in great position in the future.
The Athletic has article talking about Cavs management secretly saying LeBron is showing signs of the treads coming off his tires. He has missed games in the past because of his back, and he is 34. The Cavs didn’t play uptempo. There are several teams in the west in good shape. New Orleans has started real well.
Oooo, referencing an article behind a paywall.
Bron can bounce with anyone. Cavs, or any, management would have un-secretly signed anything he put to them.
Chris, ptn is a hater troll who doesnt post any credible information on here. He is a troll dont mind him.
Only a Lakers fan can complain about not signing anyone, after signing the best player in the league.
Lakers will get Kris Middleton, Demarcus Cousins, or Goran Dragic. Will Magic step down?
Getting any of those 3 guys is a win. Khris Middleton is without a doubt in my mind one of the most underrated players in the NBA. We all know what Boogie can do. Dragon is getting old, but can still get it done.
Why would the Lakers want Dragic
Lonzo ain’t no Magic.
Magic doesn’t even need to get Klay,Durant, or Kawhi. The Lakers already have 3 future killers in Ingram,Kuzma, and Hart. Don’t sleep on Mykhailiuk either, Magic knows what he is doing.
I hate LeBron but I got to admit he’ll win at least 1 ring over the next 4 years with that team. The Lakers have too much talent to not win 1 at least. Hart,Ingram, and Kuzma will carry LeBron in all clutch moments while LeBron pads his stats.
Only if the Warriors split up.
Ingram is a thug. He proved that last night when he got ejected for starting that fight before the Rockets put the Lakers down.
Lakers have Bron, and I think theyll end up with kawhi or butler. Kyrie isn’t leaving Boston, if Klay or kd decide to leave I think Klay would go Philly and kd would go NYC, but they aren’t gonna lose both. I think there’s a good chance kawhi stays in Toronto tbh. And for the most part, it has nothing to do with how the Lakers are running things. They’re doing it right.
This is coming from a diehard Celtics fan. But I’d rather see the lake show hit the playoffs and sweep their way to a game 7 loss to the celtics.
Lakers aren’t getting Butler unless they trade away pieces they need to get him.
Kawhi has said the Clippers are his first choice. Toronto his 2nd. and Lakers 3rd. Butler has said Heat. Knicks. Nets. and Clippers. Heat have dropped out for now. so have the Clippers because of his attitude. Butler hasn’t talked about the Lakers for awhile. Kawhi and Butler don’t like the social media. That’s the problem these guys have with the Lakers, Durant too. It’s the reason LeBron chose LA. he thrives on it.
Damn Kawhi said that? When did you talk to him?
You definitely need to learn how to read.
“Kawhi has said the Clippers are his first choice. Toronto his 2nd. and Lakers 3rd.”
When did he say that?
I don’t know why I bother wasting my time on you. Ramona Shelbourne said this on ESPN September 14 I Googled Kawhi Leonard has Clippers. Raptors. then Lakers as his favorite next summer. It was on Hoops Hype. If you had any intelligence, you should have been able to figure this out.
Sorry but ramona shelbourne isnt adrian woj. Please stop posting uncredible news on here your sounding kinda dumb lol.
After Rajon landed the punch to CP3’s face tonight. LeBron escorted CP3 to the sidelines tonight with his arm around him. LeBron said, on NBCSports that he didn’t see the fight. lol
Lmao at “second banana”.
Not a Lakers fan but any team should be happy having guys there that buy in to the team and not guys who are unsure. They still have their max salary slot for next year and they can give it to a guy who’s committed to the Lakers, not a guy who says he’s committed to the Lakers and commits to another team. It does set a precedent for teams trading for a player with an expiring contract being able to keep said player though. If Kawhi stays in Toronto after this year, I believe more teams will be willing to go after players who are pending free agents and Paul George will have been the one that started the trend.
Durant, Thompson, Leonard, Butler or Irving would be nice, but there are other great targets. I think Kemba Walker the most likely. Ptn mentions Middleton, Cousins, & Dragic, Dionis mentions Ingram, Hart & Kuzma already on board.
I can’t say the Lakers made the right choice with Butler because they did not make one as FA and we don’t know if a trade offer to the Pacers would have worked.
Their choice was with Randle and that could be looked at skeptically, esp if they barely fall short this year… and esp to the Pelicans!
Drafting well and focusing first on James is working so far… & There’s good pickings for ’19.
James is the new Randle, but with good 3-range! (even if he falls off)
BTW Lakers & Sixers rank 28 & 29 out of 30 in salary, and they could meet in the finals!
Errs. Firstly, I said “Butler” instead of “George”, at the start of para.2;
also I did not answer Arthur’s question. Are the Lakers better off withOUT Paul George?
No. Paul George is roughly equal to the best of 2019 FAs, and would be already on board. And if James is a 4 now, George would be a better fit than previously thought.
So, too bad LA, although their future looks bright.
Next moot-point question: If Lebron had already committed to LA by party-time at the Oklahoma House Party, would that have changed PaulGeorge’s mindset? I don’t recall hearing about second fiddles then, just players recruiting each other.