Lakers Rumors: Possible trades to help prepare for Paul George

Despite being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Paul George still remains the most polarizing figure among the latest Lakers rumors.

It is very understandable why fans of the Los Angeles Lakers were disappointed to see Paul George dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder. For months now the talks of George heading to the Staples Center have intensified, growing exponentially when George made it clear to the Indiana Pacers that he planned to pursue free agency after this season.

This created a split in the Lakers fan base. One side promoted the idea of waiting for George. Los Angeles could have one more mediocre season, free up some cap space, and sign George in the 2018 offseason. This method was smart for several reasons, but it doesn’t capture the entire picture.

Then there is the stance that the team should have traded for George. If Los Angeles acquired George via trade, they could then utilize his Bird Rights next offseason. This would allow the team to go over the salary cap on George, giving them much more flexibility to bring in another star such as DeMarcus Cousins.

The Indiana Pacers recognized that this was the right move for the Lakers, yet did not want to do business with them. Not wanting Paul George to ultimately get what he wanted, the Pacers opted to sell low on George and trade him to the Thunder.

Now, the Lakers do have that extra season to wait for the arrival of George. The team should not settle, however, and must plan for their future. Therefore, what are three possible trades the team can pull the trigger on to prepare for Paul George?