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Los Angeles Lakers: News Flash — there’s no reason to hate Paul George

By Jason Reed

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of game three of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 19, 2019 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of game three of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 19, 2019 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Clippers were responsible for the biggest NBA news of this summer on Friday night and Los Angeles Lakers fans found their new rival.

Kawhi Leonard did not follow the countless number of reports that he was going to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, he urged the Los Angeles Clippers to get him a superstar teammate in Paul George, and if they did, he would sign with the team.

Spoiler alert, in case you spent the night in an earthquake bunker after Friday’s 7.1 seismic shift, the Los Angeles Clippers did just that and now have both Leonard and George, two players that have heavily been connected to the Los Angeles Lakers in the past.

The Lakers were left hanging in this entire ordeal. The team forewent the serious role players in free agency to save the cap space for Leonard. Obviously, in hindsight (which is always 20/20), this was a bad move.

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The Lakers still brought in some pieces immediately after the Leonard news hit. Danny Green was brought on for two years and $30 million, signed Quinn Cook to a two-year deal, already signed Jared Dudley and Troy Daniels and re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and JaVale McGee.

The front office managed to piece together a decent rotation, albeit it could have been better with other options.

Not getting as good of a rotation as they could have gotten is obviously sending some negative feelings towards Kawhi Leonard. This is fine, every fan is going to fan how they want (although I think legitimately hating a player just for sports reasons is ridiculous).

Surprisingly, Leonard has not been the star that has seemingly gotten the bulk of the criticism as a lot (not all) of Laker fans are expressing their distaste with Paul George. Again, you are going to be a fan however you want and I commend that, but hating George really is a waste of energy in my eyes.

The distaste towards George started when he decided not to follow the reports of going to the Los Angeles Lakers and instead decided to stay in Oklahoma City with Russell Westbrook. Many Laker fans who already expected George to be a for-sure thing then turned sour on the star.

That obviously did not last long as George’s relationship with Westbrook soured, which honestly is not that surprising. Now, in something he literally had no control over, the Thunder decided to take a historic trade package for George; a trade package that is much larger than the Anthony Davis package that the Lakers sent.

So George is in his hometown of LA and will have a majority of basketball fans hating him, not just because he is playing on the other side, but because he somehow left the Lakers hanging.

Because he did what HE wanted to do at the time and did not sign with a team that he literally owes nothing to. This was not Kevin Durant joining a super team or a long-term player leaving his team out to dry.

This was a guy that decided against being LeBron James‘ sidekick, which really is not all it is made out to be, to run in back in OKC.

Paul George owed the Los Angeles Lakers nothing. Kawhi Leonard owed the Los Angeles Lakers nothing.

Next. Winners and losers of Kawhi's decision. dark

Instead of hating these guys because they did not do what you wanted them to do, you should appreciate the epic LA rivalry that is about to take place, because I sure am.

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