Since the Lakers' first-round playoff exit, there has been a lot of gossip about their offseason operations, and some media outlets have been very eager to give them advice on how to do it. For example, the well-known website BR suggested that the Lakers could push for a 5-for-2 trade to bring in Clippers forward George.
The specific trading plan is as follows:
The Lakers sent Reaves, Hachimura, Russell, VanVleet, and a 2024 or 2025 first-round pick
The Clippers sent out - George, Tucker
As a city team, the Clippers also stopped in the first round this season, and since the team introduced the combination of George and Leonard, the team has only reached the Western Conference Finals once in five years, and even the deep-pocketed Ballmer has gradually lost patience with it. In the past period, there have been continuous media reports that the Clippers and George have been unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension, which undoubtedly gives the Lakers an opportunity.
As a Californian, George has repeatedly stated that he wants to play for his hometown team, and if he can't stay with the Clippers, then joining the local team Lakers is undoubtedly an excellent choice.
The Lakers don't have enough salary space to sign George, but they can get the All-Star forward by signing and trading. Whether it's Reaves, Hachimura, Russell, or VanVleet, for the Clippers, accepting these players is equivalent to breaking them up at once, creating a more reasonable and balanced roster, not to mention, they can also get rid of Tucker's final year of his 10 million contract and get a first-round pick in this deal.
For the Lakers, James has made it clear that the premise of his willingness to return to the team is to be able to get the chance to compete for the championship, so the Lakers have no choice but to do their best to bring in All-Star players. George is considered one of the league's most versatile offensive and defensive forwards, still averaging 22.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this season, and his arrival will make the Lakers the biggest championship favorite in the West.
So the question is, what do you think of this trade plan as a fan? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area and say your opinion!