Paul George has been a hot name on the trade market. But if the Indiana Pacers star is going to be moved, he’s reportedly only interested in one destination, the Los Angeles Lakers.
I repeat: Paul George – barring a title chance in Indy – is hell-bent on heading for Laker Land. This message has been sent throughout NBA.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 23, 2017
Growing up in Southern California, George was reportedly a Clippers fan, but looked up to Kobe Bryant. So, it makes sense that he’d want to return home and help restore the Lakers to where they were in Bryant’s prime.
The good news for George is that the Lakers are reportedly interested in him, which you can read about here.
Although he has a player option for an extra season, George is set to become a free agent following the 2017-18 season. It’s hard to forecast any realistic title hopes for Indiana in that time.
The Pacers were a tough rival for the LeBron James era Miami Heat teams. Even then, Miami defeated Indiana in three straight postseasons. LeBron is in Cleveland now, but still dominates the Eastern Conference.
What’s more problematic is that the Pacers have gotten significantly worse since those battles. They’re at least a tier below the second tier Eastern Conference powers.
With that in mind, the Lakers look like a realistic destination for George in the not too distant future.