The Paul George saga continues. The 2017 NBA Draft has come and gone with George still a member of Indiana Pacers. Although the Pacers were unable to make a deal before or immediately after the draft earlier this week, trade talks appear to be ongoing with the Cleveland Cavaliers making an aggressive push for the superstar forward.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Cavs are trying to acquire George in a three-way deal involving Kevin Love and the Denver Nuggets:
League sources: Cavs, Pacers and Nuggets have discussed a three-way deal that would land Paul George in Cleveland and Kevin Love in Denver
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 25, 2017
It seems as though Love is not a player the Pacers desire in return for George. That being said, three-team deals may be the only way Cleveland has a shot to land the perennial All-Star with the Nuggets potentially intrigued in bringing in Love.
At this point, there’s no telling what will happen in the George sweepstakes with the Pacers clearly not willing to give him up with substantial value in return. The Los Angeles Lakers were said to be engaged in trade talks to acquire George ahead of the draft, but Indiana seems to have balked at their offer.
With George making it abundantly clear that he intends to sign with the Lakers next summer, these trade talks have been seemingly difficult for new team president Kevin Pritchard. Los Angeles has all the leverage with George desiring to come to Los Angeles once free and able in July of next year, but they run the risk of a team in a win-now situation like Cleveland trading for him and convincing the veteran forward to stay beyond next season.
If this current three-team deal is plausible, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka may begin to work the phones once again in an effort to land the Los Angeles native sooner rather than later.
