After a disastrous playoff run, there’s a good chance LeBron James will leave the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason. If this happens, Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Paul George may be the best guy to fill his shoes there.
George first made waves in the NBA when the Indiana Pacers selected him using the 10th pick in the 2010 Draft. Over the following years, the talented wing established himself as the franchise player by leading the team to consistent playoff appearances, even reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014.
The All-Star forward was later traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 to play with point guard Russell Westbrook, but eventually hit their ceiling in just their second season together. He would later be traded again to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 for a package headlined by eventual MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
However, his time in L.A. playing with Kawhi Leonard has never materialized in any playoff success. After three seasons with the team, George has the freedom to opt out of his contract and become a free agent this year. If he does so, expect a number of teams to go after the All-Star forward.
Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George Seen as LeBron James’ Replacement in Free Agency
Along with George, LeBron James also has a choice to opt out of the final year of his contract. As it stands, George may be the ideal replacement for the King if he leaves the Lakers, as explained by Chris Herring’s article for ESPN.
“If the Lakers lose James, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them move extremely quickly to hold things together. The clearest way to do so would be maxing out George, who, even at 34, still stands out as one of the NBA’s best two-way players. At three deflections per game on defense, he ranked among the league’s top 10 in that regard, while also logging a career-best mark from three-point range at 41.3% on nearly eight tries per game,” Herring wrote.
It should be noted that George is younger than James and can still play at a high level for the Purple and Gold. If given a larger role with the Lakers, there’s a good chance he can produce consistent results on a nightly basis.
It remains to be seen where George will land when free agency begins. If he does end up with the Lakers, he’ll have a better situation than the one he has with the Clippers.
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