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Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George is not only trying to force his way to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he’s reportedly trying to see who he can get to join him there as well.
Former Golden State Warriors forward and current CSN Bay Area analyst Kelenna Azubuike went on 95.7 The Game and said that George had already called Klay Thompson and LeBron James to see if either of them wanted to join him with the Lakers.
That’s obviously a huge bit of news, but Azubuike did add that he "highly doubts" those calls would convince Thompson to leave the Warriors and the super team they've put together with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
That sounds about right, but some might try and brush off that disclaimer with the reality that Thompson grew up in Southern California and that his father Mychal Thompson is a Lakers legend as a player, broadcaster and radio personality (as well as having the best account on Twitter).
On his show, "Thompson and Trudell" on ESPN Radio, the elder Thompson said none of that stuff matters, because it's not Klay's "dream" to play with the Lakers.
"Its always been a dream of mine. But it isn't a dream of his. He's in a dreamy situation. Believe me he isn't moving at all." -Michael T.
— Donald Green. (@TheDonaldGeeNBA) June 27, 2017
The fans who are TRULY committed to seeing Klay Thompson in purple and gold might dismiss that by saying "of course a father is going to take that public pressure off of his son." At this point nothing may sway those true believers, but for what it's worth the incredibly plugged in Ramona Shelburne of ESPN also said she's hearing Klay Thompson isn't exactly Lakers-bound:
"They're not going anywhere. They all want to stay together for the next 5-7 years and be the best team ever." -Shelburne on GSW.
— Donald Green. (@TheDonaldGeeNBA) June 27, 2017
The Lakers moved D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to conserve "sacred" cap space, but from the sound of it they won't be slotting the sweet-shooting Southern California shooting guard into it any time soon.
Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen.