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The Los Angeles Lakers are biding their time until NBA free agency begins and the Indiana Pacers make third decision on what their plan is with Paul George. Trade chatter surrounding George has quieted down since Thursday, but the latest rumor regarding George, Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson and Cleveland Cavaliers megastar LeBron James should refuel them ahead of of July 1.
Former Golden State Warriors forward and current CSN Bay Area analyst Kelenna Azubuike joined 95.7 The Game to discuss what he’s heard on the Paul George front. Azubuike revealed that George has “definitely” called Klay to discuss a future together with the Lakers.
“He’s definitely put in a call to Klay Thompson, and obviously he feels like Klay Thompson’s a guy he would love to play with on the Lakers,” Azubuike said. ”For all we know, Klay could’ve said buzz off, I’m staying with the Warriors. It doesn’t really mean much that he put in the call, they probably had a nice conversation.”
The eyebrow-raising reporting didn’t stop there, though. George has also spoken with LeBron, and is apparently trying to gauge which star players would have interest in joining him on the Lakers.
“He’s definitely put in calls to Klay Thompson, he’s talked to LeBron James, and he’s trying to see if he can figure out who can come with him to the Lakers. I doubt, highly doubt that Klay Thompson will end up leaving the Warriors,” Azubuike said.
That’s a huge bit of news to digest. Azubuike led with the jab that was George putting in the call to Klay, then launched a brutal right hook by following up with LeBron’s part in George’s Lakers pursuit.
Thompson won’t even be a free agent until 2019, which is a lifetime away in NBA years. LeBron, meanwhile, has been the floated Lakers dream target of next summer. It seems George is already scouting the field to see what kind of superteam he may be able to be the catalyst of if he ends up in a Lakers jersey by the summer of 2018.
*Quotes transcribed first-hand via 95.7 The Game