That's a killer for any trade talks for George, and any hope he would end up in Houston some day. Amick is money.
So he doesn't want to re-up with Indy because he wants to contend for a title so chooses his next destination to be LA where he has to go through the gauntlet that is the Western Conference?
According to Amick he wants to win rings in Indiana but if that can't happen he wants to go LA. He doesn't want to chase rings outside of Indiana.
Larry Bird be like ... Save your back-handed slap of confidence and loyalty, thanks for tanking your trade value. Magic be like:
It's too bad for these small markets... And once again, the NBA wants to add more teams in the future?
This pretty much sums it up. Durant is an example of a guy chasing rings. The Lakers are in a world of hurt thanks to the implosion of Kobe Bryant, and it's going to be years before they're contenders again. I'm shedding so many tears for them. Well, I think fans in untapped markets (and Seattle) would rather have a team of whatever they can get. It's the fans with long-time teams
He grew up a Clipper fan. Maybe this is just the media's way of embellishing hype towards another star wanting to go to the Lakers
Maybe he knows something we don't know...another player going to the Lakers that would like to play with him. Like Westbrook.
Or Cousins. Cousins Randall George Ingram Russell If those kids in LA can become just above average replacement players that's a pretty solid team right there.
Sounds like a leverage play from Paul George to control who he gets traded to, honestly. Taking this at face value makes little sense.
Listening to the latest Lowe cast at ESPN, and they are also repeating that Paul George's people are out there making it clear that he wants to go to the Lakers. It's unclear whether he is doing it to try to scare people from trading for him in the hopes he can become eligible for the super-max in Indiana. However, he apparently idolizes Kobe.
Woj: Pacers examined offers for Paul George. They did talk to Boston. Denver made a bid, not fearful of taking him on with FA looming. He's made it clear if he's leaving Indiana, going home to LA, grew up in Southern Cal, big Kobe fan, dad is a big Magic fan. Lakers weren't going to gut their team. They're going to sit back & wait to sign him. If they try to trade for him, they'd have to give up their core & George would have no one to play with. Indiana knows George would rather be in LA, all things equal. Denver was warned he'll go to LA. They were willing. They didn't put in Jokic. They'll need to get direction from George here. Bird & their FO had discussions with teams & didn't necessarily keep him or his agent in the loop. Some communication but Bird will do it his way. ... Indiana had conversations on Taj Gibson. They're like a lot of teams. Are we giving up a first for an incremental improvement? Are you going to mortgage your future & give away picks to try & please Paul George when he's gonna leave anyway? Until he commits to staying, it's tough for Indiana to start making moves based around what Paul might want. The media voting on all-NBA...No way we should have any impact. These votes are going to determine maybe the balance of power in the league. If he doesn't get 3rd team all-NBA, the Lakers go "All the sudden it's a smaller gap for him to leave & come here." You can imagine the motivation to campaign to get votes that are needed. We need to stay out. This is the NBA's league. They should have to do it themselves. George better make that. If he doesn't get all-NBA, it's easier to walk to the Lakers.
@J.R. thanks for that. The reports are piling up now that George wants to go the Lakers. Optimistic fans always ignore these and they end up being right. WOJ is also correct that the All-NBA team vote being such a decider on the super-max is crazy. Indiana basically NEED George to get all NBA or they have no chance to keep him.
Paul George being hellbent on Lakers is comparable to Melo being hellbent on Knicks some years ago. At least George is not dumb enough to demand a trade to the Lakers like Melo did that depleted the Knicks talents.
