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

[max215]

Sense from teams talking to IND is that Pacers intend to move fast on a PG deal.

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/876612131680071680

Danny really, really should take advantage of this. People are seriously undervaluing how good George is all because of all of this LA crap. This is the EXACT reason you accumulate so many assets like this - to take chances just like this one. He's a PERFECT fit here.

There are many in the national media who also think that it's unlikely that he goes to a non-playoff bound Lakers team after being on a contending team for a year.

This is a moderately low-risk, tremendously high-reward move. I wouldn't give up significant assets for George, but he's not going to cost anything significant. This is a gamble worth making.

[Phantom255x]

Sense from teams talking to IND is that Pacers intend to move fast on a PG deal.

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/876612131680071680

Danny really, really should take advantage of this. People are seriously undervaluing how good George is all because of all of this LA crap. This is the EXACT reason you accumulate so many assets like this - to take chances just like this one. He's a PERFECT fit here.

There are many in the national media who also think that it's unlikely that he goes to a non-playoff bound Lakers team after being on a contending team for a year.

The LA narrative just doesn't make sense. He's always said he wants to win. Why the hell would he go to LA and be on the outside of hte playoffs in a West dominated by a historically good Golden State team??

I just wish it wasn't stated on the Woj tweet, "prefers Lakers"

Now EVERY media site thinks George to LA by 2018 is a done deal.

Doesn't matter what he does this upcoming season. He's LA bound 2018 it seems.

Pray I'm wrong.

[JOMVP]

Sense from teams talking to IND is that Pacers intend to move fast on a PG deal.

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/876612131680071680

Danny really, really should take advantage of this. People are seriously undervaluing how good George is all because of all of this LA crap. This is the EXACT reason you accumulate so many assets like this - to take chances just like this one. He's a PERFECT fit here.

There are many in the national media who also think that it's unlikely that he goes to a non-playoff bound Lakers team after being on a contending team for a year.

Couldn't have said it better myself... this has DA written all over it

Just look at what he did against that Cavs team this year with a pretty mediocre Pacers team. He is an incredible talent, and would relish at the opportunity to have deep playoff runs in a Celtics uniform.

[KGs Knee]

Not that I have any reason to believe PG would do this, but how much would people offer if he agreed to a three year extension with an opt out after two years?  Essentially we'd have him for at least the next three seasons.

[max215]

Not that I have any reason to believe PG would do this, how much would people offer if he agreed to a three year extension with an opt out after two years?  Essentially we'd have him for at least the next three seasons.

I'd definitely meet Indiana's asking price. Something like Crowder, 2019 MEM, 2019 LAC. I'd be willing to throw in 2018 BOS if necessary, but I'm still holding off on including any truly premium assets.

[SparzWizard]

Pacers asking teams for ideas on potential PG trades, per sources, as they have for a while. Ideally: 2 firsts+starter. Teams obv skittish.

https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/876602720987340800

So the asking price isn't all that high. 2019 Clippers and Jae Crowder seems like it would probably be the best they're going to get. Now, I'm generally not for trading for these second-tier stars, but that's a pretty reasonable price to pay.

Omg, if it's for a one-year rental for Paul George....give them two first-rounders that are non-BKN picks, and ship them that bum Jae Crowder for all I care lol.

[jpotter33]

Pacers asking teams for ideas on potential PG trades, per sources, as they have for a while. Ideally: 2 firsts+starter. Teams obv skittish.

https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/876602720987340800

So the asking price isn't all that high. 2019 Clippers and Jae Crowder seems like it would probably be the best they're going to get. Now, I'm generally not for trading for these second-tier stars, but that's a pretty reasonable price to pay.

Omg, if it's for a one-year rental for Paul George....give them two first-rounders that are non-BKN picks, and ship them that bum Jae Crowder for all I care lol.

Lol this gave me a chuckle. It also reminded me how frustrating he was to watch this playoff run.

[Phantom255x]

Pacers asking teams for ideas on potential PG trades, per sources, as they have for a while. Ideally: 2 firsts+starter. Teams obv skittish.

https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/876602720987340800

So the asking price isn't all that high. 2019 Clippers and Jae Crowder seems like it would probably be the best they're going to get. Now, I'm generally not for trading for these second-tier stars, but that's a pretty reasonable price to pay.

Omg, if it's for a one-year rental for Paul George....give them two first-rounders that are non-BKN picks, and ship them that bum Jae Crowder for all I care lol.

Lol this gave me a chuckle. It also reminded me how frustrating he was to watch this playoff run.

To me, he's a guy on a bargain contract, who is a great 3 and D guy OFF THE BENCH.

He can co-exist with the likes of Hayward and play small ball 4 in situations.

Having him start games and trying to defend Lebron was just brutal... 

[crimson_stallion]

So who is going to trade for a guy that will most likely walk after the season? Cleveland?

I don't know, man. I look at this scenario, and here's how I see it.  Lets say the following happens:

1. Boston trades down from #1 to #3 in the draft - saves $1M in cap space.

2. Boston trades Bradley, Rozier, Zeller, 2018 Brk 1st, 2018 Lakers 1st (total $19.4M) to Indiana for Paul George (total $18.3M back) - saves $1.1M in cap space

3. Boston drafts Jayson Tatum.

4. Boston Signs Blake Griffin in free agency

That gives Boston a starting five of Thomas, George, Crowder, Griffin, Horford.  I feel that lineup can legitimately compete with both Cleveland and GS, and a key part of that is George - since he is probably the only guy in the league (aside from Kawhi) who is capable of defending Lebron / KD while also dropping 30+ on them on the opposite end of the court.

So as much as George wants to go to the Lakers, if you put him in this scenario, and you beat the Cavs, and you give the Warriors a real fight (and lose in say, 6 or 7 games) all with a young team that's still developing...then I think it it'd be incredibly hard for him to run away from that to go to  a Lakers team who (being out West) has to go through the likes of Utah, LAC, San Antonio and Golden State.  On the other hand if he stays in Boston he'd be all but assured a shot at the finals for the 2-3 years at least. 

[MattyIce]

Kevin O'Connor‏Verified account @KevinOConnorNBA  2m2 minutes ago
More
 Two NBA sources expect Lakers to parachute into Paul George talks if the Cavs are closing in on a deal. Unclear if #2 would be on the table.

https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/876641304612143104

[jpotter33]

Now it's being reported by several reliable sources (Amico and Bulpett) that the C's might indeed still be in on the Paul George front. Also, there's reports that a Cavs/Pacers trade might be too complicated for both sides to come to a deal due to the specific needs and wants of each side.

http://amicohoops.net/nba-rumors-paul-george-cleveland-cavaliers-indiana-pacers-kevin-love-nba-free-agency/

There is also the matter of the Boston Celtics, who seem prepared to offer some of their many first-round draft picks in a quest for George. The Celtics own the No. 1 overall pick this year — although a reported swap with the Philadelphia 76ers is expected to move the Celtics’ selection to third.

The Celtics also own multiple first-round picks in the 2018 and 2019 drafts.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2017/06/bulpett_waiting_for_other_shoe_to_drop_and_make_sense_of_celtics_trade

According to league execs, there is no trigger waiting to be pulled that will turn the Celts’ assets into a veteran star, but the talks begun in the past will continue. It’s important to note that when the C’s made the Allen deal in ’07, they had no assurance they would get Garnett, so Ainge, although he insists the Ray Allen move would have been good with or without KG, was making a reach. In fact, the No. 5 pick had been an important part of the Celts’ negotiations with the Timberwolves.

Now Ainge is in a resembling position. The Celtics are far better off than they were coming off a 24-58 season in 2006-07, but, as with Pierce then, they have a leading scorer in need of stars to fill out a constellation. And it would be nice if they could do it before Isaiah Thomas becomes a grandfather.

So no doubt the Celtics are searching the NBA galaxy for a deal — and that’s in addition to the efforts they’ll be making in free agency in a couple of weeks. In the trade department, Jimmy Butler is still an attractive name, but with Paul George letting the Pacers know he’ll opt out next summer and leave, most likely for the Lakers, the C’s might want to take a stronger flyer on bringing him to Boston with the hope that a year in the system can make him want to stay.

There's lots of other goodies in Bulpett's article, too, including the fact that AD is nowhere close to being attainable for Boston and some discussion of the Philly trade.

Bulpett seems to suggest that he thinks this deal is really similar to the Allen deal in 2007 with another shoe to drop yet, though what that shoe will be is unknown.

[CelticsElite]

If the Lakers get George, kiss next year's pick goodbye

[playdream]

If he intend to win then he should agree on the extension!, otherwise i say he is lying