Yes, but PG13 has said he is leaving. Something >> nothing. Can we beat the other best offers out there? It really depends - we would first have to convince George that he wants to be here. Once that is done it is a simple matter.
But it seems to me people are vastly under estimating the "rental" price for Paul George. Last year, the Pelicans give up the #6 pick for that year + a lottery pick next year for basically a 1 year rental for Boogie. Last year, the Jazz give up the #12 pick for 1 year rental of George Hill.
We don't have to convince George. He is not going to give anyone assurances - nor should he. He gains nothing from it. And he doesn't have to give us assurances for it to be worth the risk. It's certainly worth the risk, if for no other reason than it will fast track the acquisition of a 3rd star. If we end up with George and Millsap, we could very well end up a top 3 defensive team and the 2nd best offensive team. Now we're talking. That's significantly better than the Spurs or Cavs - the Spurs were 8th offensively, and the Cavs were a joke defensively. The Lakers are sooooooooooooo incredibly far from putting together that type of team. George would have to be really indifferent to winning to leave that, and if after a respectable WCF appearance he bolts, then good riddance. It was worth the try.
I think at this point I'd be willing to send out Anderson and our 2018 first just after the draft. That's about it. It gets us a "chance" to convince him at the expense of a late 1st rd pick and sheds our most difficult contract providing flexibility. If pg13 walks next year so be it we are arm with salary cap space again to target a star and if he doesn't walk great.
Boogie didn't say he was going to LA, nor did he say that he was definitely leaving Sactown. Pelicans 'rented' him on the assumption they would keep him. Same situation for the Jazz with George Hill. They are looking to get someone who will fit in the longer term. Has Hill bolted from them? Had he ever said he wouldn't stay in Indiana? When a player states they are leaving, it is then up to the club being left to collect whatever scraps they can. The Rockets couldn't even find a trade partner to take Howard off our hands - no doubt someone would have given us a steaming pile of crap contracts, but to get some value wasn't possible.
There's no way the Pacers would agree to something like this. If a 1 year rental of George Hill was worth the 12th pick last year. Paul George can definitely net more than a late 20th pick + a bad long term contract. Also I'm under the impression that a team can't trade picks from consecutive years.
BIG difference between seeking an assurance of re-signing, and convincing him to request that Houston is his spot for 17/18. If we can do the 2nd thing, he still has freedom to go where he wants when a FA, and we don't have to beat someone else's offer.
I don't think this is gonna happen, we don't have enticing assets another summer of role player shopping
If we have the chance to get him we could find 2 first rounders by sending out PBev and Lou Williams (PBev to Chicago? Lou to the Wiz for that bench scoring they desperately need? Take back a future first there) Then a deal with Gordon and Ariza plus the 2 firsts isn't an awful offer for a guy who is leaving. Throw in Dekker too?
So basically bev, Gordon, Ariza, Lou Williams and Sam Dekker for one year of Paul George with no depth
If Indy trading PG, then they're blowing up the team. They either want picks or young stars without any long term bad contracts. I don't think the Rockets have anything to offer Indy
Boogie did threaten that he will not resign with whatever team that traded for him. The Pelicans went through with the trade anyways. Because of their cap situation, the Jazz definitely knew there's a decent chance that they will not be able to resign Hill. There's a good chance George Hill will not be a Jazz this season. The Dwight Howard situation is completely different. Howard was a declining player & not expected to draw much interest in free agency. Teams weren't exactly lining up for the prospect of signing Howard to a max contract, so why would they want to trade asset for a player they don't even want to sign. On the other hand, there's no shortage of teams interested in signing George to a max contract.
How hard is it to get depth for a guy like Morey when he has a bad team? He can find depth without a problem when people are queuing up to play with Harden/George combo. IF we are pursuing George, then surely we are also clearing space to make a run at a Millsap/ CP3 (etc)? So those contracts I mentioned would need to be dumped anyway.
Gordon/ Lou Williams /Harrell, Dekker are all decent assets imo. Won't be surprised if a Gordon/Lou Williams deal gets it done
