[festar35Participant]

Hands down favourite player and it’s even better he is on my favourite team, but I think it is time for them to part ways.
I can see Larry going into the offseason trying to get a guy like Paul Millsap, trading their pick for probably another older “star” who is starting to decline to put next to PG in the hopes they re-find some form and help PG compete for a Championship. Personally I don’t think that deal or those players are out there to truly make Indiana competitive.

I think they should let PG go and I think the Lakers are the team for him, couple of trade scenarios:

#1 – Lakers miss pick in top 3 goes to Philly (PG and Ellis for Ingram, Clarkson, Randle and Brewer)
*Pacers – Get a young stud in Ingram who can be a 20ppg scorer one day soon, Randle who is a big bodied PF with a creative offensive game and can rebound (fits well next to Turner), Clarkson is a young PG in the mold of George Hill who Indiana loved and thrived in Pacerland and Brewer to make contracts fit)
*Lakers – They get PG13 immediately making it a hot destination for upcoming free agents, if CP3 left in FA to say join NO or Chicago then I can see Blake Griffin swapping into the Purple and Gold to join George. Ellis is to free up some cap.

#2 Lakers get the top 3 pick (PG for Pick, Ingram and Brewer)
*Pacers – Again I think Ingram being included is key for this trade to happen and all though who have the likes of Russell, Randle and Clarkson not asking for all of them allows Indiana to build a new identity, not a Lakers/Pacers mash up. I would see Fultz, Fox or Ball in that order as the likely choice for Indiana. I like Fox over ball as I think he would be more motivated to play in a smaller market, Ball may drag his lip and to me Fox has unbelievable upside and I like his game the best in this draft. Brewer is expiring deal again.
*Lakers – They give up Ingram and a top 3 pick which is quite a bit, but you get PG13!!! (Look what he is doing in the playoffs) The lakers could use Russell/Randle to pair with those terrible Mozgov/Deng contracts to create cap space and go after a big free agent.

[highflyer0Participant]

 As a Lakers fan, I’d only trade Ingram as an absolutely final resort.  I’d offer Clarkson, Randle, and Russell and see if that’s enough (probably won’t be).  I assume Indiana wants Ingram though, since Bird is smart.  In that case, I’d trade Ingram for George but there’s no way I’d give them a top 3 pick as well.  Ideally, I’d trade the top 3 pick and Russell rather than Ingram by himself.  

I’m not sure if I’m in the minority or majority here, but I really think Ingram is going to be a bigtime star, and I expect him to improve quickly.  He has the work ethic, the phyiscal tools, the mindset, and the ball skills that lead to superstardom.  I think you’re going to see him evolve into an elite-level athlete with strength training, as he already has the raw vertical explosion; he just needs more strength so that he can utilize it more effectively in games.  If Indiana can get Ingram for George they should do it now.  There are few better young prospects in the league, and I think he would flourish in a market like Indiana, as he is a quiet, reserved kid.  

Again, as a Lakers fan, here is my thought process:

If top 3 pick is retained-

PG for Russell and any combination of Randle, Clarkson, Nance= Immediate yes
PG for top 3 pick and any combination of Randle, Clarkson (no Russell)= Immediate yes
PG for top 3 pick, Russell = Yes, but would not be as enthusiastic
PG for Ingram, Russell= Maybe, leaning toward no
PG for top 3 and Ingram= Definite no

If top 3 pick is NOT retained-

PG for Russell and any combo of Randle, Clarkson, Nance etc= Immediate yes
PG for Ingram and filler (no Russell, maybe one of Randle or Clarkson)= yes
PG for Ingram and Russell= no, would rather wait and see if he comes in free agency at that point

Overall, I’d rate the Lakers’ assets as such (including top 3 pick)
1. Ingram
2. Top 3 pick
3. Russell
4. Zubac
5. Randle
6. Clarkson
7. Nance

With Magic leading the front office and the franchise seemingly desperate for star talent, I would not be surprised if they traded Ingram and the top 3 pick for George, but I would not be in favor.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The Lakers could get PG13 for nothing next summer so I don’t see them giving up Ingram and a top 3 pick for him. 

One might be possible if Magic and Walton wanted him there ASAP but I could see Russell perhaps being more the guy they offer up.

 

[festar35Participant]

Scenario – Larry does care where PG get he just wants a good package in return. Boston/Phoenix/Philadelphia come to the party offering there pick(s) and some players.

PG goes to one of these teams and starts winning a few games and sees real progress in the team he is on so signs an extension.

The Lakers are PG’s preferred option but don’t get that confused with them being Indiana’s only option.

A team of Thomas, George and Harford or Bledsoe, Booker and George or George, Simmons and Embiid (Scary if healthy a legit threat) are all options. Lakers will want him early to secure him, he gets traded to a team that looks like it is succeeding why wouldn’t he stay. It’s not like the Lakers are any better than these teams (especially Boston) so they will need to create a package that is better than other teams. Bird is a hard nosed old school guy why would he offer a discount to Lakers?

[HitsterParticipant]

 Are there that many teams out there who could trade for PG and have a better shot at keeping him than the Pacers may have. I could see Boston being one of these perhaps.

Teams who PG may not look at during FA may come sniffing too and Pacers can easily create an auction.

PG doesn’t have a no trade clause so if any GM came calling with an offer that the Pacers liked then Bird and Pritchard could trade him to that team.

If he is likely to move on then the Pacers probably hope a team with a legit chance of retaining him comes in and creates a bidding war which Lakers may feel they have to enter if they want PG as any team that gets him has the advantage of being able to offer the best deal.

Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh know the value of PG but I think they will have a point whereby they will want something in return rather than risk him walking in FA. Bird and Walsh are quite conservative Executives and I would not see them as risk takers. The Pacers also have Kevin Pritchard who is a renowned deal maker and between them I could see them enguneering the best outcome for the Pacers.

One thing which they could do is extend PG like Westbrook and Harden were as I think he is eligible for that type of deal and they have cap space to do it. Even if they only say give us another guaranteed year then PG might be prepared to as he’ll get a nice salary bump up too.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Lakers need to be very careful how they play this if they are indeed serious about trying to acquire George. I immediately think back to the Carmelo trade in 2011. The Knicks gave up way too much for a player that probably had his mind set on going there anyway. As a result, they ended up with a roster that was just never really strong enough to really compete despite Carmelo’s presence. I’d argue that they are still feeling the ramifications of that trade.

I know magic and pelinka probably want to make a splash in their first offseason, but they have to be careful that they are doing it with a plan in place to make the team competitive long term and not just to reel in a big name player. The Lakers have 3 really valuable assets right now ( Russell, Ingram and the top 3 pick if they keep it). In my opinion, they must keep at least​ 2 of those assets in any deal. If that’s not enough to get a player like George ( which it very well might not be) than you ride it out and wait until next summer and let the chips fall where they may. The last thing I would want to see is them trade for George out of desperation. You have to remember that no matter what happens he will be a free agent next summer anyway.

 

 

[Author]

Posts