LeBron a big key in OKC’s future
Everyone wants to know what Paul George is going to do.
Will he stay with the Thunder? Will he bolt for the Lakers? Will he end up with some other team?
As it turns out, the key to unlock all those answers is actually identical.
And shaped like LeBron.
With Friday's deadline for decisions on player options rapidly approaching, all eyes are on LeBron James. He can decide to play out the last year of his contract and stay in Cleveland. He can opt out of that last year and become a free agent.
Both decisions could have vastly different ramifications on George's future with the Thunder.
Let's unpack.
For starters, if LeBron stays in Cleveland, it increases the chances that PG will stay in OK. It doesn't rule out a move, but it sure helps the Thunder.
If LeBron stays in Cleveland — a big "if" considering the current roster has serious deficiencies, but still — the Cavs could make a play for George. Cleveland tried to do a trade with Indiana to get George last summer, so maybe the Cavs make another run at him via trade with the Thunder (unlikely to work) or via free agency (more likely but still a difficult sell).
Additionally, if LeBron stays in Cleveland, that is one less super-team option for George to pair with in Los Angeles.
Clearly, the Lakers want LeBron in purple and gold, but according to an ESPN report Wednesday, LeBron is hesitant to be the first superstar to sign with L.A. Can't really blame him. The storied franchise has been a train wreck for the past five years. A revolving door of coaches. A hodgepodge of decision makers. A bevy of losses. It's not the type of situation that the greatest player in the game wants to face solo.
Because LeBron wants to make his decision
quickly — free agency officially opens Sunday — the Lakers are feeling the heat to make a move quickly.
That same ESPN report indicated the move the Lakers hope to make is the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard. The Spurs superstar doesn't want to play in San Antonio anymore and Los Angeles is his preferred destination.
The Spurs have talked to teams, including the Lakers, about a deal for Leonard, but the Spurs have also indicated they won't be forced into a trade or even a deadline for making one.
No surprise that a team coached by Gregg Popovich won't be bullied.
If the Lakers can't get Kawhi or some other superstar in the coming days, getting LeBron will
be difficult.
But the Lakers do snag Kawhi, then entice LeBron, that could have other George ramifications.
In doing a deal for Kawhi, it's likely that the Lakers will have to accept a salary dump. They're going to have to take a big, bad contract or two, and that's going to eat into their cap space. That would likely leave L.A. with one max salary slot for free agency.
And that would likely mean that it would end up with enough cap space for LeBron or PG. Not both. Maybe the Lakers pick George over LeBron in that scenario. George is younger, is still in his prime and could be signed to a longer deal.
But if the Lakers had a chance to bring LeBron James to Los Angeles, I
have to think the jersey-sale profits alone might sway them.
The Lakers, of course, aren't the only place that George could land if he decides to enter free agency.
But he has made no secret of his desire to one day play for his hometown team.
Still, it's unlikely he will go there by himself. Just like LeBron, George doesn't want to be a solo superstar in Los Angeles — or anywhere for that matter. You can't win your conference much less a league championships in the NBA today without a collection of superstars.
George has tried the Lone Ranger thing before, and he sure didn't seem to be having much fun in Indiana.
As hard as that was, the sledding would be even tougher doing it in L.A. in the Western Conference.
Listen, none of this is meant as an attempt to elevate the hopes of Thunder fans. Paul George may very well bolt.
But at the same time, what LeBron James does will be key for Paul George. It will be key for the Thunder.
It may well unlock lots of answers all at once.