Paul George Forces Trade to the Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G/F Paul George, PF P.J. Tucker

Los Angeles Clippers Receive: G Austin Reaves, F Rui Hachimura, G D’Angelo Russell, F Jarred Vanderbilt, 2024 or 2025 first-round pick

Paul George has some big decisions to make this summer.

Staying home in Los Angeles should be the priority, but the Clippers consistently losing Kawhi Leonard in or before the playoffs year after year has to be wearing on him.

George, 34, can become an unrestricted free agent and sign with a contender like the Philadelphia 76ers, yet injury concerns surround Joel Embiid as well.

With leverage since he can walk out the door and leave the Clippers with nothing, George should request a trade to the Lakers instead.

The combination of LeBron James (who would be more likely to re-sign with the Lakers himself), Anthony Davis and George would become one of the best Big Threes in all of basketball, improving L.A.’s outside shooting and overall defense in the process.

The Lakers would still have first-round picks in 2029 and 2031 to try to fill in the roster around their stars. 

Trading George isn’t the Clippers’ first choice (especially not to the Lakers), but it would be far better than seeing the nine-time All-Star leave in free agency with nothing in return.

With Leonard and James Harden (free agent) left to build around, the Clippers would still have a competitive core with the additions of Reaves, Hachimura, Russell (who would need to pick up an $18.7 million player option), Vanderbilt, Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Terance Mann and Russell Westbrook ($4.0 million player option).

They would be younger, deeper and more athletic overall and also get the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2024 or 2025, whichever the New Orleans Pelicans choose not to take.

Although not common trade partners, the Lakers and Clippers have actually agreed on a pair of deals in the past five years. Pressure from George (who would need to pick up his $48.8 million player option) could get this trade done.