The National Basketball Association (NBA) trade deadline has just passed but it definitely did not pass quietly. The Cleveland Cavaliers have made numerous phone calls and successful deals that they were able to send out half of their team members. While this was seemingly done to revolve around LeBron James, he may just be moving to the Los Angeles Lakers together with Paul George.
Although this rumor is not quite new for fans, the trade moves of the Cavs — and thus, the Lakers — may have made the possibility of George and James ending up in Los Angeles. Between the two teams, the Cavs sent Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and their protected 2018 first-round pick to the Lakers, while receiving Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.
The Lakers played it smart by getting two expiring contracts and releasing their pricey ones especially Clarkson — two things needed for not just one, but two potentially big deals this summer. It was quite the timing since both James and George will be free agents this summer. Putting two and two together, the Lakers could get both of them to the team.
Actually, the team may have been planning for the 2018 free agency for a long time. The whole season for them was not about winning the championships but preparing for it in the next seasons by shedding off salaries. They traded D'Angelo Russell last June and now released Clarkson.
Doing all the math, the cap projection is at nearly $110 million having around $70 million to deal with this offseason. That definitely means that they will be able to get two max contracts by then. Max contracts that George and James would likely agree with.
Of course, just because the Lakers can make these trades does not mean they will be able to pull it off. A lot of things can still happen and Lakers fans just have to keep hoping that things will go their way.
