Everything that could happen Paul George this summer

3. Trade to somewhere else

There are 27 other teams that we haven’t talked about yet, although you wouldn’t know it from talking to Lakers or Celtics fans. Any GM with half a brain will be calling Kevin Pritchard to inquire about George at some point this summer. Maybe someone comes up with a package he likes.

The Denver Nuggets have more young assets than they know what to do with, and they clearly want another star to put next to Nikola Jokic. Pritchard would probably want Jamal Murray to be included in any deal, and that might be a deal breaker for Nuggets GM Tim Connelly. However, maybe the market for George is surprisingly tepid and Pritchard wants to move George before the season. It’s unlikely, but maybe the No. 13 pick, Gary Harris and Emmanuel Mudiay would be enough to make Indiana pull the trigger. There might be riots at Bankers Life if that happens.

Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers have also been doggedly chasing after Paul George as well. It’s surely encouraging for Blazers fans to see their stars so active in trying to improve the team. The problem is, the Blazers are very low on cap space and young assets. Ironically, the only way the general manager Neil Olshey could land Paul George in a trade is if one of Lillard or McCollum is involved, and that might be too crazy.

The San Antonio Spurs could probably somehow get him for $50 and then also get the No. 18 pick from the Pacers. I don’t have specifics, but I’ve learned to not doubt the Spurs when it comes to things like this.