Report: George hopes to be with the Lakers next summer

The Cavaliers might have to go to Plan B for finding a way to dethrone Golden State if Plan A involved trading with the Indiana Pacers for Paul George.

George can be a free agent next summer. According to The Vertical, he plans to complete his obligation to the Pacers and then sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2018. If the Cavaliers are thinking of only next season, they could still try to acquire the 6-foot-9 small forward/shooting guard. But they would likely have to trade Kevin Love to get him.

The Pacers would be open to that trade because if they don’t trade George, he will walk next summer and they would get nothing in return. Such a deal would be short-sighted for the Cavaliers because Love is under contract through the 2019-20 season.

According to The Vertical, George, through his agent, Aaron Mintz, is telling the Pacers of his plans now so they can plan for the

future. He can sign a fiveyear extension with the Pacers for $177 million or sign with the Lakers next summer for four years and $130 million.

George announcing his intention to sign with the Lakers next summer could impact the Cavaliers in another way. LeBron James can become a free agent next summer. As noted here last week, rumors continue to simmer of James’ plans to leave the Cavaliers and play for the Lakers or Clippers to be near his business interests in California. James has a home in

Los Angeles.

George is from southern California and would be playing for the team he followed as a youngster. He has played for the Pacers since being selected by Indiana with the 10th pick of the 2010 draft.

He averaged 23.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the just completed season.

The Cavaliers swept the Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs largely because they double-teamed George throughout the series.

Despite battling two

Cavaliers most of the time, George still scored 29, 32, 36 and 15 points in the four games.

The Cavaliers’ interest in George, now dim at best, would stem from the fact he is a premier defender as well as an excellent scorer. George would be asked to guard Kevin Durant if the Cavaliers and Warriors meet in a fourth consecutive NBA Finals.

The Warriors eliminated the Cavaliers in five games largely because the Cavs had no answer for Durant, who was named the Finals MVP.

George