After a puzzling trade to really kick off the NBA offseason, it appears as though the Los Angeles Lakers are not ready for a break. According to NBA.com’s David Aldridge, the team engaged in talks with the Sacramento Kings in order to trade down in Thursday’s draft:
Lakers, per sources, engaged Sacramento in talks that would have sent the 2nd pick to the Kings for Sac’s two 1st-rounders (5 and 10) (1/2)
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 21, 2017
According to Aldridge, the Lakers’ plan was to use one of those picks in a package to trade for Paul George. The Kings, however, turned them down:
Lakers would have then packaged one of the Kings’ picks w/27 & 28 along w/player in offer to Indy for Paul George. But Kings said no (2/2).
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 21, 2017
This is another puzzling attempt by the Lakers. After trading away D’Angelo Russell in a salary dump, most expected that Lonzo Ball’s future as the team’s point guard was set in stone. This report indicates the exact opposite.
Now with fewer assets than they started the offseason with, the Lakers don’t have much to gain from giving up a large number of players and picks to trade for George, who has indicated that he will join them in free agency as a free agent.
The Lakers are likely afraid that another team may trade for George and persuade him to re-sign but they must be wary of overpaying for him.
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