Best Choices and Potential Landing Points for OKC Thunder Star Forward Paul George | Bleacher's report

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Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images

If purple and gold can land LeBron James (and / or Kawhi Leonard via an exchange), they would become an even more attractive destination for Paul George. He could have realistic visions of a superteam dancing through his head as well as thoughts of acquired rings while crossing the many obstacles contained in the ranks of the brutal Western Conference.

But even though he was the only star to surrender to the Lakers, we can not exclude them

He would still be very strong alongside Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Julius Randle, who would probably be brought back to a new case in this scenario that no longer concerns James or Leonard. Not only would he be able to gain the upper hand as a superstar who would create shots, but he would also be the defensive needed to complete Los Angeles' defensive rise. ranking.

And we can not forget the call of the hometown.

That's the reason George was perpetually linked to the Lakers, after all. Even when the franchise was still operating in an oppressed state and was trying to recover from their failed superteam efforts in the final stages of Kobe Bryant's career, the basketball world knew, if only in its collective spirit, that this swingman was always a risk of theft because of this LA temptation.

George was born in Palmdale, California. He did not leave the state until he finished his career in high school and broke into the state of Fresno. As he told Vigilant Sports & # 39; Scott Agness last July: "I grew up in a Lakers and Clippers fan, I idolized Kobe , there will always be a tie here, a link here. here, who does not want to play for their hometown? It is a dream come true, if you are a child growing up on the outskirts of Los Angeles, to be the man of your city. "

Of course The Lakers are the main contenders at this offseason, especially now that they are swimming in a juvenile talent.

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Ned Dishman / Getty Images [19659002] Who Said Something Should Change?

Paul George has reasons to stick to Oklahoma City Thunder, but he will first have to exceed a few negatives.

His last recollection of the 2017-18 campaign will be a lousy story in the hands of Donovan Mitchell and Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. "Carmelo Anthony opted for his contract and stumbled those who were upset by his decision, and the choice comes on the not-too-distant heels of his statement that he would not even consider accepting a bench role.

" Yes, I do not do not sacrifice role on the bench, "he said, by Royce Young of ESPN.com." That's out of the question. "

But Anthony's inability to read tea leaves out, George found quite a bit of success in his first season at OKC. Before Andre Roberson was lost for the year – an injury that should be more evoked as a change in the landscape – the Thunder seemed to be a legitimate contender to challenge the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors at the time. Western Conference.


In fact, the alignments of Russell Westbrook, Roberson, George and Steven Adams dominated the opponents by a whopping 14.2 points per 100 possessions, by PBPStats.com. This would make the No. 1 net score throughout the league, easily outpacing that of the Rockets (8.5) and the Warriors (8.0).

George and Westbrook may coexist. When they are surrounded by stellar defenders on the wings and in the painted zone, they form a dominant duo that unbalances the opponents on both sides. These two alone even posted a net score of 6.4 playing more minutes than all tandems in the league except two: Anthony / Westbrook (4.1 net rating) and Taj Gibson / Andrew Wiggins (4.6).

If this 28 year old man ends up leaving the Thunder, it will not be because the experiment has failed. On the contrary. He would simply search for greener pastures than he already knew in the Sooner State.

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Tony Dejak / Associated Press

It only works if LeBron James decides to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

If the MVP four times decided to leave northeastern Ohio, there would be nothing left to entice Paul George to get into a wine and gold uniform. He will not play alongside Collin Sexton, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Kyle Korver, JR Smith and the rest of the Cavs while they are joined by no other star.

Sorry. That's the truth.

But if James chooses to stick to his local organization, everything changes. The attraction of working in tandem with the best player in the game could seriously influence George's decision.

Imagine the attraction for both players.

James would have an as-defender who would join him on the wings, ready to take on the toughest tasks every night so that the senior striker is preserved for the most important time of the year. George could put his business in the spotlight, topple James' peak jumpers and be virtually badured of a legitimate path through the East Conference – note: not necessarily a trip to the finals, but at least a reasonable roadmap for them.

The Cavaliers may not have much space to attract a third star (and just to embark George, they would need to dump a significant salary or convince him to back off and sign a contract), but they could still remedy that in two different ways. First, they could shoot a Golden State Warriors and rely on helpful veterans like David West who wants bowling while operating on smaller deals. Secondly, they could shop Sexton and other young, attractive coins (Ante Zizic and Cedi Osman, perhaps?) For a more established contributor.

The advantage is palpable. It must be if George teamed with James.

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David Dow / Getty Images

No team makes more sense to Paul George than the Philadelphia 76ers.

Does he want an organization that can surround him with comrades able to push for an appearance in the NBA finals? Absolutely, and the combination of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid can deliver on this front.

Does he want youth in his support team so that he can consider this destination as a long-term home with a chance for dynastic dominance? Simmons is only 21 years old, Embiid is only 24 years old, and we have not even touched Dario Saric (24 years old), Robert Covington (27 years old), Markelle Fultz (20 years old) and new recruit Zhaire Smith (19).

But even beyond these surface criteria, his skills would harmonize perfectly with the talents of the incumbents. George's bi-directional skills allow him to integrate seamlessly with almost any organization, but his main gifts are those that are constantly being sought by head coach Brett Brown: the development and defense of the perimeter .

Even without George, the Sixers were one of the most stingiest teams in the NBA in 2017-18, which allowed for a paltry 102.0 points per 100 possessions. After the All-Star break, that number dropped to 100.8, which left them behind Utah Jazz (96.0). Everything clicked, with the wings, guards and fronts changing interchangeably because Embiid contained everything inside. Throw George's wide offside defense into the mix, allowing him to side with Simmons, Covington, Saric and Embiid, and it might be impossible to score against Philadelphia.

Offensively, it may still be a better fit.

Not only can George serve as a creative shooting presence, the young Sixers have missed out in situations that call for a bucket generated out of the rebound, but he scored 1.22 points per possession spot-up to fall into the 93rd percentile during his year with thunder. He can fulfill the role of JJ Redick and do so much more, further diversifying an offense that sometimes stagnates despite the presence of generational talents.

If George wants to win now and in the future, knowing that he is sacrificing a bit of spotlight, he knows who to call. First, you must sneak past Jrue Holiday, who is ready to welcome you to the point of attack and continue to operate as one of the NBA's most deadly defensives. Then you have to watch Paul George, making sure that the hitchhiker of the wing can not jump into a pbading lane and add to his remarkable number of deviations. If all goes as planned, it is still wrong to Anthony Davis, who now serves as the last defender of the New Orleans Pelicans around the basket.

Good luck.

The Pelicans were already a strong defensive team in 2017-18 with Holiday and Davis on the field. With only 104.9 points per 100 possessions, by PBPStats.com, they would have ranked No. 12 in the league all season. And it is with a limited badortment of wings helping them, none of them is widely known as locking advocates.

In fact, DeMarcus Cousins ​​(3.6), Davis (2.3), Emeka Okafor (1.3), DeAndre Liggins (0.7), Solomon Hill (0.6) and Holiday (0.3) were the only members of the pelicans to display Positive notes in the defensive box over / under last year, and the three non-stars combined to record only 784 minutes. George would be a game changer, even though the acquisition of him would need other sacrifices.

If George comes to the Pelicans, Cousins ​​probably disappeared. The organization can not afford to keep it alongside the high salaries of Holiday, Davis, Hill and Nikola Mirotic once this new acquisition on board. Just adding the swingman alone might require moving Hill or a combination of lower quality pieces like Alexis Ajinca and Darius Miller. But that would be perfectly fine, because it meant engaging in a different identity – that of imbuing the feats and talents even more complementary to those of the centerpiece aligned at 5.

Stop and think of a holiday composed programming, E & # 39; Twaun Moore, George, Mirotic and Davis.

You're welcome.

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Ron Hoskins / Getty Images

This scenario may have become a bit more unrealistic at the start of the 2018 offseason. After the Indiana Pacers turned down the option of the game. Lance Stephenson's team for 2018-2019, Paul George took Instagram to share his feelings, not hinting that the organization, not him, should have been considered the villain when he left the company. ;last summer.

As Chris Barnewall later wrote for CBS Sports, the hurt feelings persist even though everything worked for both parties:

"George is still a bit bitter about how his breakup with the Pacers decreased Not everything in life can be clean and their situation certainly was not, but it seems like it worked best for everyone. George did the playoffs, and now has the opportunity to go where he wants to be.The playoffs allowed the Cavaliers to play seven round-robin matches and to have a future star in Oladipo, no need to get angry at one another. the others, even if they are 100% still angry against "

But what would happen if animosity could be put aside?

A meeting with the Pacers would have a lot of meaning to George now that the team has a co-star in Victor Oladipo, a center rising in Myles Turner and plenty of other intriguing pieces. Even if Thaddeus Young chooses to leave, Indiana may have to release a salary for his former player to earn a maximum salary, but ship players such as Al Jefferson and Cory Joseph into cost-cutting operations. will not damage the team.


Moreover, setting up an Oladipo-George suit would be worth it. Not only would this duo blossom on the defensive side and help Indiana to move up the points standings, but it would give head coach Nate McMillan a chance to prepare hits for two markers capable of Explode for a total of 30 points. given the night.


In the first seven years of George NBA's career, Lance Stephenson (3.0 in 2013-14), David West (3.3 in 2012-13), and George Hill (3.4 in 2012-13)) were his only teammates to have a value of 3.0 instead of the replacement player (VORP). However, none of them could compete with the 2017-18 Oladipo VORP 4.5.

Quality teammates would no longer be a concern.

Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @ fromal09 .

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