Los Angeles Lakers: Four-step guide for LeBron James-Paul George team
By Jason Reed
1. Conduct a sign and trade for Paul George
The biggest hurdle in bringing in both LeBron James and Paul George is the salary cap implications. While the Lakers do have $61 million in practical cap space this summer, it still is not enough to sign both guys to a max deal. Paul George would make $32.4 million next season on the max and LeBron James would make $37.8 million.
Of course, the Lakers could have to two take a pay cut to make this work. George receiving a max deal is questionable and with all of the marketing benefits of LA can make up the lost money. George at $28 million and LeBron at $32 million seems doable.
However, this still ties the Lakers’ hands when it comes to bringing in pieces around these two. While the Lakers do have a solid young core, the roster is in a depleted state and this trade would limit the Lakers to a six or seven man rotation all season.
Thus, Paul George can pull the Chris Paul move and demand the Thunder to trade him to the Lakers. For the Thunder, this trade makes sense as it would allow the team to at least get something out of George instead of letting him walk for free.
The trade?
Sending away two draft picks is scary, however, the Lakers are set on young talent. By adding LeBron and George, the Lakers need to look to fill those roster spots with experienced role players, not more young talent. LA is just fine with the young core of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and potentially Julius Randle (we’ll get to that).
By doing this, George is missing out on one year of money but allowing the Lakers to add pieces around him and LeBron and also gives the Lakers Bird Rights for next offseason.
Most importantly, it maintains the cap at a similar level due to Luol Deng’s contract being thrown in the trade.
Remaining cap space: $60.6 million