Cavaliers Continue To Pursue Paul George In Trade Talks; May Also Sign Carmelo Anthony If Bought Out
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Superstar forward Paul George has expressed his desire to be traded by the Indiana Pacers. The perennial All-Star let the Pacers brass know that he won’t be re-signing with the long-term after the upcoming NBA season and that he prefers to land with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.
Although Los Angeles is his preferred destination, George may have to play somewhere else first. The Cleveland Cavaliers might end up being that team that grabs him with the reigning Eastern Conference champions wanting another star playing alongside LeBron James next year.
It appears that the Cavaliers haven’t been able to work out a deal in which it is an even swap with Kevin Love. As a result, the Cavaliers have had to get a third team involved in trade talks, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein:
Sources told ESPN that the Cavaliers engaged in serious three-way trade discussions leading up to the NBA draft on a deal that would have brought them George from the Indiana Pacers and landed Kevin Love, George’s fellow Eastern Conference All-Star, with the Denver Nuggets.
One thing is for certain; the Pacers aren’t giving up George for anything less than a trade package that blows them away. Indiana is determined to move George and get value in return.
Along with trying to trade for George, the Cavaliers may also be a landing spot for Carmelo Anthony if he’s bought out by the New York Knicks this summer, via ESPN:
The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to pursue a trade for Paul George and will be leading contenders for Carmelo Anthony’s services, should Anthony secure an offseason buyout from the New York Knicks, according to league sources.
It began abundantly clear to the Cavaliers that they’re no match for the Golden State Warriors and all these potential moves are an effort to get on an even playing ground in perhaps LeBron’s last season in Cleveland.
LeBron will likely opt out of his deal with the Cavaliers next summer and leave the franchise, especially if they’re still unable to contend with the Warriors. That being said, Cleveland is pulling out all the stops in trying to upgrade the roster.
