INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Paul George has told the Pacers he wants to leave the team next summer to join the Lakers, but he could head to L.A. much sooner.
The Pacers and Lakers are engaged in trade discussions for George, according to ESPN.
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 report comes after previous trade discussions came to light on Monday.
In any potential trade of George, the Pacers will understandably want a substantial return in the form of young, talented prospects or draft picks or both. The Lakers, where George wants to wind up anyway, may not want to give much up now if they believe George will be theirs after one year anyway. However, they may bend to the Pacers’ desires if other offers for George come in from championship contending teams, which could potentially persuade George to stay there long term.
On Tuesday evening, Yahoo Sports reported the Lakers had indeed made a trade, but not for Paul George, sending center Timofey Mozgov and guard D’Angelo Russell to the Nets for the No. 27 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and center Brook Lopez.
Lakers are trading Tim Mozgov and D'Angelo Russell to Nets for Brook Lopez and 27th pick Thursday, sources say.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2017
Though that potential trade necessitates the Pacers will not get Russell or Mozgov from the Lakers in any potential deal for George, it may signal the Lakers are moving to create a more attractive deal for Indiana’s star forward.
Can the Lakers now land Paul George by offering Thursday's No. 27 and 28 picks and either Julius Randle or Jordan Clarkson? They're trying.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 20, 2017
