Paul George
Rumors are already flying around George — he reportedly told teammates he wants to play for the Los Angeles Lakers (more on that here) and the Celtics put everything on the table to get him in February. If George fails to make an All-NBA team, meaning the Pacers can’t offer him a super-max extension, the rumors will get even louder.
If the Pacers are smart, they’ll do one of two things this summer: rework their team to contend now — shedding draft assets for short-term gain and spending as much money as need be in free agency — or trade George before the draft. Either do what George wants: contend, or trade him now before his value drops. Otherwise, the Lakers will sit pretty and wait for free agency next summer, when they can corral George without giving up any of their young studs.
We already know what the Pacers would demand from Boston. They turned down a godfather offer in February and one can discern what that entailed: the Brooklyn pick, Crowder, Bradley, perhaps Brooklyn’s 2018 pick or Marcus Smart.
A Laker offer, however, would be a different animal. Los Angeles is playing for the future, and trading for George would be a move for the now — one that’s tough to justify given the makeup of their roster. However, Brandon Ingram, either D’Angelo Russell or Julius Randle, and their 2017 pick (if they hit on the 48 percent chance of keeping it) would be a logical starting point.
That would signal a massive reversal in the direction of the Lakers’ franchise, but George is a star who would draw attention in L.A. and one Magic Johnson has already signaled interest in. If the Pacers can put enough pressure on Johnson and GM Rob Pelinka by talking with other teams — especially L.A.’s arch-rival — the rookie duo could cave.