Paul George may still have a year left in his contract before he becomes a free agent, but rumors are now going on that he will be exiting the Indiana Pacers.
Rumors began circulating about his departure from the Pacers when the team lost against the Cleveland Cavaliers last April 23. When asked by a reporter if he plans to stay with the team during a press conference after the loss, the player said, "I ain't even at that point yet, Bob. Next question."
The buzz is that George is interested in transferring to the Los Angeles Lakers, his hometown team. He has made several comments in the recent past about his dissatisfaction with the Pacers, with references to fighting within the team and how good they "used to be." He received a lot of criticism for these comments, with some saying that he threw his teammates under a bus. Others, however, opined that what he said was justified given the team's performance in the previous season.
Magic Johnson, who is the president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers, has openly stated that he wants George on his team. The player, meanwhile, has openly told his Pacers teammates that he wants to play for his hometown team for quite some time, according to Sporting News.
Some sports analysts have also commented on George leaving the team. SBNation said that George deserves a better team compared to the Pacers. It also commented that he cannot be blamed for exploring greener pastures, considering that he is one of the best players in the league now and wants to win against the Cavaliers, but finds himself in a team that does not have high enough ambition.
Basketball Insiders, on the other hand, questions what reason does George have to stay in the team.
Given George's talents on the courts, it will not come as a surprise if the Lakers, or any other team, will pursue him should he leave the Pacers.
