Lakers News: Latest Buzz on Pursuit of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony
For the Los Angeles Lakers, the lead-up to free agency isn't as wild as it could be.
Team president Magic Johnson and the Lakers have already made most of their gigantic moves—highlighted by the drafting of Lonzo Ball at No. 2 overall in the 2017 NBA draft and the dismissal of D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the basketball purgatory known as Brooklyn.
It sounds disappointing, but the Lakers have their eyes on the long-term prize. Accelerating the process now doesn't seem like something the front office will do when it can groom prospects for a year and stand a chance at major names such as Paul George and LeBron James in 2018.
Of course, fans have been down this road before when planning for big names in a year or two. The Lakers, at least, have options this time, as explained in the latest bits of news below.
PG13 Update
For those somehow out of the loop, the Lakers could probably strike a deal with the Indiana Pacers and call it a day. But why surrender more assets when PG13 wants to come to town anyway?
George will hit the open market in 2018, barring a miracle, and he'll weigh superteam options and his hometown Lakers. At 27 years old, he's still right in the middle of his prime, so he'll have seemingly unlimited options.
That makes it sound like the Lakers could have a hard time convincing him to come to town, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
According to Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler, talks of a trade went south around the June 22 draft:
That makes sense. Why would the Pacers want to help the Lakers acquire their star at less than he's worth? Adding to that tension, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, Paul told the Indiana front office he's leaving and wants to go to Los Angeles.
The Pacers would want to hunt for the best deal, which likely means a trade with the Boston Celtics and president Danny Ainge, who has acquired numerous assets.
Brandon Ingram, the No. 2 overall pick in 2016 and the one piece the Pacers seemed to want from the Lakers, wasn't someone L.A. was willing to give up, according to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Patience might be the chosen route here, even if it means flirting with the chance George goes to another contender, competes for a title and never leaves said contender.
PG13 Putting Out L.A. Feelers?
Look, it might not work out with George. Maybe he goes to Boston or joins the Cleveland Cavaliers and wins a ring, looks at his rebuilding, hometown Lakers and shrugs.
It happens. Lakers fans know it. But it sure is hard to ignore all the connections.
Like one here that says Paul has reached out to Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors to ask about Los Angeles, according to former NBA player and NBC Sports analyst Kelenna Azubuike on 95.7 The Game:
Thompson, as expected, has already denied this, according to The Vertical's Nick DePaula:
But players talk, and this buzz isn't the most ridiculous thing to happen this offseason.
What About Carmelo Anthony?
Remember when it seemed like a good idea for the Lakers to acquire Carmelo Anthony?
Anthony has been lost in the background given the organization's links to George. And the more that leaks to the media about his odd situation with the New York Knicks, the more it sounds like he won't be making it to Los Angeles.
The man has been through the ringer lately, with Phil Jackson openly discussing how he doesn't fit in the team's rebuilding plans. (Jackson is now out of his job as Knicks president, which the team announced Wednesday.)
Anthony might want a buyout so he can choose his own future, and Lakers fans aren't wrong to think he might want to join their team.
Just don't get the hopes up too much, as Frank Isola of the New York Daily News pointed out: "According to a person familiar with Anthony’s thinking, Carmelo is no longer enamored with playing in Los Angeles if it means having to be away from his son for an extended period of time."
In other words, Anthony seems like a candidate to stay in the Eastern Conference and maybe join a contender like the Cavaliers. Staying local for family makes sense, as does seeking a contender at the age of 33.
This is probably for the best considering the Lakers want to keep building around Ball and Ingram. It'd be nice to finally see Anthony donning purple and gold, but he doesn't fit the plan regardless of his asking price.
So while it's right to monitor the situation in New York, keep expectations in check—which is a fitting way to approach this summer and the next.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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