Lakers Trade Rumors: LA Won't Move Brandon Ingram, No. 2 Pick for Paul George

While he'd represent a significant upgrade to their roster, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly aren't willing to part with their best assets in order to acquire Paul George. 

The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on his podcast (via RealGM) the Lakers are steadfast in their desire to keep Brandon Ingram and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft this offseason.

Wojnarowski reported George informed the Indiana Pacers he won't re-sign with the team in 2018 and that he prefers to play with the Lakers in the future. As a result, many fans are formulating trades that could see George move to Los Angeles.

ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne first reported of the Lakers' reluctance to trade "any of their young assets."

Lakers Nation's Ryan Ward speculated Julius Randle could be included in the deal:

Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus added Jordan Clarkson as a possibility as well, noting Indiana could hold out for more:

The Pacers don't have much leverage at the moment. The rest of the NBA is assuming George is out the door in a year, so Indiana can't demand a king's ransom for the four-time All-Star. Otherwise, general managers will just wait and take their chances on signing George in free agency.

The Lakers are also uniquely poised in that they've been identified as a favored landing spot for George. This is the time for Los Angeles to play hardball with Indiana.

How the Lakers handle the George trade negotiations will help set the tone for general manager Rob Pelinka as he embarks on his first full season with the team.