Lakers Rumors: Paul George considering signing in 2018

The latest Lakers rumors have to do with signing their next superstar.

With the restructuring of the Los Angeles Lakers front office, the face of the basketball operations operations is undoubtedly Magic Johnson‘s.

Unlike in past years when the Lakers are trying to lure free agents Magic won’t just show up to meetings he’ll be a part of the organization.

According Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, such a scenario could be played out in 2018.  Quoting sources Wojnarowski asserts that the Indiana Pacers are currently exploring trading options for their star forward Paul George.

Citing these same sources that any team trading for George runs the risk of losing his services when he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2018.PA

As it stands, even if he’s traded now or next year, it is possible that George could re-sign with the Pacers and one other team.

The other team is the Lakers who are George’s hometown team, having grown up in Palmdale, CA.

Anything can happen from here until the summer of 2018, but if the Lakers start to make positive strives on the court signing an all-star caliber player like George is a more likely outcome.

The other course of action many have called on would be trading young assets now for George, but that comes with the same risks.

Trading away the future for a superstar won’t turn this season around.  Without any improvement in the team’s performance, George would be less likely to re-sign before or in 2018.

Since the Lakers need to finish in the bottom three of the Draft Lottery to keep their pick this year bringing George on now won’t help them in their process of keeping the pick.  If the Lakers keep the pick providing more young assets then the Lakers could be in a better position by 2018 to lure George.

The Lakers first test of a successful turnaround the franchise will come in the next two years, perhaps the first indication will be if Paul George comes home.