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Los Angeles Lakers Trade Draft Pick For Paul George: Indiana Pacers Willing?
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off yet another dismal season, failing to advance beyond the regular season for the second year in a row. Making it worse is that the multi-titled franchise finds itself in the bottom part of the standings regularly which is unconventional for a team that has won NBA title 16 times.
Before the regular season ended, the Lakers were believed to be looking forward to the NBA Draft where they could possibly select top rookies like Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram. With a crop of young players from previous years, adding another young turk could complete the youthful roster which will now be handled by new head coach Luke Walton.
That was until recently when word came out that the Lakers are instead targeting high profile names. Such indicates that the Lakers are done and over with waiting and rebuilding meaning changes within will take a drastic turn.
One aspect that the Lakers need to address is their next franchise player. With Kobe Bryant calling it a career, the floor is now open for the next great Laker. For now, there is no one close to filling up that niche.
Kevin Durant is the top name in free agency though the Lakers are unlikely to be successful. Aside from the Oklahoma City Thunder likely at the top of the list, Durant made it clear that he wants to join an established team that has a chance at winning the NBA title as well as the one with good pay.
The Lakers bomb out immediately in that aspect meaning they have to target someone else. DeMar Derozan of the Toronto Raptors is another option though it looks like the Lakers are setting their sights on Paul George of the Indiana Pacers.
Piggybacking on what @ColinCowherd said about LAL - I believe the Lakers AND Celtics want to deal their lottery picks for impact players.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 4, 2016
Targeting George does come as a surprise and it seems a bit odd to see if the Pacers would bite. The Pacers recently dismissed Frank Vogel as their head coach, seen as unfit to implement the direction president Larry Bird wanted to see.
Speaking of the system that Bird wants, it is no secret that George was not too thrilled by it when he returned earlier this season. Despite that, Bird told George to embrace the opportunity, saying that it was something he was able to do during his playing days.
Right now, it remains to be seen if George has adjusted to that. If not, a trade may just have a bit of a chance for the “Lake Show”.
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