Los Angeles Lakers: Constructing the perfect offseason

2. Sign Paul George DeMarcus Cousins

*Editor’s note: This article was written before the news that Paul George would re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Instead of completely changing the article, we thought we would have some fun. 

DeMarcus Cousins has a much deeper connection to the Los Angeles Lakers than LeBron James yet his status this summer seems more unclear than James’. While James seems to be inevitably out of Cleveland,

George

Cousins has to make the decision between giving it one more go with the

Oklahoma City Thunder

New Orleans Pelicans or jumping ship to LA.

Bringing in LeBron James will make the decision easier for

George

Cousins, who can come to the Lakers and be on a better contending team than the

Thunder

Pelicans. Not only that, he would be leaving a superstar he didn’t mesh well with,

Anthony Davis, for a superstar that makes his peers better in LeBron James.

The Lakers have just enough salary cap space to bring in both James and George Cousins if both superstars take a slight pay cut. There is also the opportunity to extend Luol Deng‘s contract, which would open up enough space for two max contracts and then some.

Suddenly, the Los Angeles Lakers would have a big-two that could compete with Steph Curry and Kevin Durant and a great core that could easily compete with the Golden State Warriors.

Depending on how the young players progress, the Lakers could theoretically have their entire starting five make the all-star team next season. While it is a longshot, especially because it would take everyone progressing, it would be possible.