Woj: Paul George has informed the Pacers that he WILL LEAVE in free agency

[Dino Pitino]

http://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/876526299371589632

Nate Jones sees this Indy/George situation a lot like the KG situation, yet we still traded for KG and convinced him to stay here long term. I think it's even stronger for us this time, though, because you're comparing the 2nd worst team in the league, who is also in the West with GS, to the number one seed in the much weaker East.


PG has long said he wants to be contending; that's not happening anytime soon in LA.

They'll be legitimately contending before us.  Once Lebron heads to LaLa land it's on for them

Once Lebron leaves the EAST is ours to take

If we have Isaiah-Bradley-George-Griffin-Horford it could be ours next year. Why not go for it now, see what happens, anything is possible, etc. Maximize the win-now core for a year without denting our premium future assets.

[jpotter33]

http://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/876526299371589632

Nate Jones sees this Indy/George situation a lot like the KG situation, yet we still traded for KG and convinced him to stay here long term. I think it's even stronger for us this time, though, because you're comparing the 2nd worst team in the league, who is also in the West with GS, to the number one seed in the much weaker East.


PG has long said he wants to be contending; that's not happening anytime soon in LA.

They'll be legitimately contending before us.  Once Lebron heads to LaLa land it's on for them

Since when was it a given Lebron was going to the Lakers?

These LA rumors come out every single year, yet people still believe them every single time, even if there's no basis for them.

But they never had Magic running the show

That doesn't matter one bit. You realize Magic's track record with evaluating draft talent and trades is abysmal, right?

[CelticSooner]

I think it's possible that there's a deal already in place to trade George, and Indy has leaked this as a way of bracing their fans for it as well as win the PR battle. Not that it isn't the truth that he told them he wants out, necessarily.

Something tells me this is the case as well.

[tazzmaniac]

http://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/876526299371589632

Nate Jones sees this Indy/George situation a lot like the KG situation, yet we still traded for KG and convinced him to stay here long term. I think it's even stronger for us this time, though, because you're comparing the 2nd worst team in the league, who is also in the West with GS, to the number one seed in the much weaker East.


PG has long said he wants to be contending; that's not happening anytime soon in LA.

They'll be legitimately contending before us.  Once Lebron heads to LaLa land it's on for them

Since when was it a given Lebron was going to the Lakers?

It's the only way he can win another title.  Build his 3rd super team.  With PG in place, he'll roll in, probably with some of his banana boat brothers

How exactly are the Lakers going to free up enough cap space to sign both George and Lebron? 

[jpotter33]

I think it's possible that there's a deal already in place to trade George, and Indy has leaked this as a way of bracing their fans for it as well as win the PR battle. Not that it isn't the truth that he told them he wants out, necessarily.

Something tells me this is the case as well.

Yeah, I don't think this is coincidentally coming out right after we trade the number one pick.

[BitterJim]

http://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/876526299371589632

Nate Jones sees this Indy/George situation a lot like the KG situation, yet we still traded for KG and convinced him to stay here long term. I think it's even stronger for us this time, though, because you're comparing the 2nd worst team in the league, who is also in the West with GS, to the number one seed in the much weaker East.


PG has long said he wants to be contending; that's not happening anytime soon in LA.

They'll be legitimately contending before us.  Once Lebron heads to LaLa land it's on for them

Since when was it a given Lebron was going to the Lakers?

It's the only way he can win another title.  Build his 3rd super team.  With PG in place, he'll roll in, probably with some of his banana boat brothers

How exactly are the Lakers going to free up enough cap space to sign both George and Lebron?

Don't worry, they'll get Westbrook and Harden to take paycuts. That should leave plenty of room

[ETNCeltics]

We're going to trade a high pick(s) for PG right after he says he wants to play for the Lakers.

Makes sense.

[Dchuck]

http://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/876526299371589632

Nate Jones sees this Indy/George situation a lot like the KG situation, yet we still traded for KG and convinced him to stay here long term. I think it's even stronger for us this time, though, because you're comparing the 2nd worst team in the league, who is also in the West with GS, to the number one seed in the much weaker East.


PG has long said he wants to be contending; that's not happening anytime soon in LA.

They'll be legitimately contending before us.  Once Lebron heads to LaLa land it's on for them

Since when was it a given Lebron was going to the Lakers?

It's the only way he can win another title.  Build his 3rd super team.  With PG in place, he'll roll in, probably with some of his banana boat brothers

How exactly are the Lakers going to free up enough cap space to sign both George and Lebron?

Don't worry, they'll get Westbrook and Harden to take paycuts. That should leave plenty of room

Lebron, communicates he's coming.  Lakers move Mozgov and Deng by adding some of the younger assets as part of a package.  Stop acting like this would be hard. 

[Ilikesports17]

http://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/876526299371589632

Nate Jones sees this Indy/George situation a lot like the KG situation, yet we still traded for KG and convinced him to stay here long term. I think it's even stronger for us this time, though, because you're comparing the 2nd worst team in the league, who is also in the West with GS, to the number one seed in the much weaker East.


PG has long said he wants to be contending; that's not happening anytime soon in LA.

They'll be legitimately contending before us.  Once Lebron heads to LaLa land it's on for them

Since when was it a given Lebron was going to the Lakers?

It's the only way he can win another title.  Build his 3rd super team.  With PG in place, he'll roll in, probably with some of his banana boat brothers

How exactly are the Lakers going to free up enough cap space to sign both George and Lebron?

Don't worry, they'll get Westbrook and Harden to take paycuts. That should leave plenty of room

Lebron, communicates he's coming.  Lakers move Mozgov and Deng by adding some of the younger assets as part of a package.  Stop acting like this would be hard.

Stop acting like it's a given. It possible but it's sure as hell not likely.

Lebron is gonna cost upwards of 35 million and George will cost upward of 30 million.

The cap will rise, but right now they've got 10 mil in space and it is so far from a given that LBJ is gonna go to the Lakers.

[Dchuck]

http://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/876526299371589632

Nate Jones sees this Indy/George situation a lot like the KG situation, yet we still traded for KG and convinced him to stay here long term. I think it's even stronger for us this time, though, because you're comparing the 2nd worst team in the league, who is also in the West with GS, to the number one seed in the much weaker East.


PG has long said he wants to be contending; that's not happening anytime soon in LA.

They'll be legitimately contending before us.  Once Lebron heads to LaLa land it's on for them

Since when was it a given Lebron was going to the Lakers?

It's the only way he can win another title.  Build his 3rd super team.  With PG in place, he'll roll in, probably with some of his banana boat brothers

How exactly are the Lakers going to free up enough cap space to sign both George and Lebron?

Don't worry, they'll get Westbrook and Harden to take paycuts. That should leave plenty of room

Lebron, communicates he's coming.  Lakers move Mozgov and Deng by adding some of the younger assets as part of a package.  Stop acting like this would be hard.

Stop acting like it's a given. It possible but it's sure as hell not likely.

Lebron is gonna cost upwards of 35 million and George will cost upward of 30 million.

The cap will rise, but right now they've got 10 mil in space and it is so far from a given that LBJ is gonna go to the Lakers.

I'm not acting like it's a given.  I'm saying it's not as hard as you make it out to be.  They have enough assets to move Deng and Mozgov.  They would be happy to clear the deck knowing they could have PG, Lebron and any other banana boat brother. 

What is a given is Lebron wants to win another one.  And with GSW as constructed his chances are slim.  He knows it.  Cavs can't do much to change, so he will.  The coward will be gone after next year.  THAT....is a given.  He will leave again.  The question is where to?   Where better to assemble Superteam 3?  LA.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

We need to pounce on this. Give Indiana an offer to try and trade PG to us. An offer that doesn't involve our best assets, but assets Indiana can use none the less.

Jae Crowder, James Young, Celtics 2018 1st round pick, maybe a 2nd rounder or two.

We try and convince PG to stay with us, we will have a year to do so. If not, we don't lose a ton of assets as far as value is concerned.

This is assuming the Lakers don't trade the #2 for him.

[jpotter33]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/876562610350694402

Looks like Indy is already searching for trades, but not contacting Lakers for now.

If it's a decent price, we should do it. That kills two birds with one stone: 1) you get an MVP-level wing to try and convince to resign here long-term, and 2) you assure yourself of a good chance at that Lakers pick next year.

He may prefer to play for the Lakers over Indy, but it's HIGHLY unlikely that he turns down more money in Boston to go to a losing situation in the West that has no chance of competing anytime soon.

[RJ87]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/876562610350694402

Looks like Indy is already searching for trades, but not contacting Lakers for now.

If it's a decent price, we should do it. That kills two birds with one stone: 1) you get an MVP-level wing to try and convince to resign here long-term, and 2) you assure yourself of a good chance at that Lakers pick next year.

He may prefer to play for the Lakers over Indy, but it's HIGHLY unlikely that he turns down more money in Boston to go to a losing situation in the West that has no chance of competing anytime soon.

JP, I feel the need to remind you of All-Star weekend. Remember the Demarcus Cousins trade?

I just don't want you to feel that disappointment again, buddy. I don't think Danny & Co. are even considering going after Paul George.

[Phantom255x]

I'm truthfully not so worried about PG13 to LAL.

Does anyone really expect this Lakers team + George to legitimately contend vs. Warriors, or Spurs, or even Rockets?

Now if they add Lebron, that's a different story, but when they add him he will be age 34 and if he shows some decline, it doesn't matter. (Lebron will stay this season, go to an LA team after next season).

[playdream]

I'm truthfully not so worried about PG13 to LAL.

Does anyone really expect this Lakers team + George to legitimately contend vs. Warriors, or Spurs, or even Rockets?

Now if they add Lebron, that's a different story, but when they add him he will be age 34 and if he shows some decline, it doesn't matter. (Lebron will stay this season, go to an LA team after next season).

How about Westbrook+LBJ+PG+Cousins?