The Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers are engaged in trade talks for Paul George according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Romona Shelburne.
It seemed like Kevin Pritchard was doing everything to avoid talking to the Los Angeles Lakers about a trade for Paul George, but finally, the front office of the Indiana Pacers has reached out.
ESPN’s Marc Stein and Romona Shelburne first reported the news, but it appears Pritchard and the Pacers are still talking to other teams as well. The Lakers are a favorite, but the according to Stein the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, and Cleveland Cavaliers are still in the hunt.
League sources tell @RamonaShelburne and me: The Pacers and Lakers have engaged on Paul George trade talks in advance of Thursday's draft.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 20, 2017
The Clippers, Rockets, Wizards and, yes, Cavs are among the teams that have also talked Paul George trades with Indiana, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 20, 2017
One wrinkle in a possible trade to the Lakers comes from Sam Amick, who reports Paul George and D’Angelo Russell’s shared agent, Aaron Mintz, would like both to play together.
That’s not the biggest concern of the Lakers, however.
While the Lakers want everyone to believe they can wait out the Pacers and get Paul George, they know a contender is a threat to steal Paul George from them. George may prefer the Lakers, but a conference or NBA finals run with another team could sway him to stick around. If nothing else, there is more value in them having him now. They start building around him instead of the idea of him if they pick him up now.
Following up @ESPNSteinLine + @ramonashelburne report, LAL would rather acquire Paul George now than FA '18, BUT wary of giving up too much.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) June 20, 2017
The Lakers might not want to offer much, but they also don’t want to watch another team ruin their offseason plans once again. It seems Pritchard is smartly creating a tiny amount of leverage by keeping other teams active in talks as well.
As @ESPNSteinLine & @ramonashelburne reported, Lakers want Paul George. But complicated with Lakers wanting to keep No. 2 pick + Ingram
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 20, 2017
The Lakers might get their man eventually, but Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka want to make their presence known as the new faces of Los Angeles’ front office. One thing they would like to avoid is a misstep in their first season in charge.
Next: 8p9s roundtable: What do you want for Paul George?
Indiana and Pritchard don’t want to settle for a lukewarm offer either, as both front offices have their egos at stake. This may just be a game of chicken, the question now is who flinches.