NBA Free Agency 2017: One trade every team should make

May 21, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts after a three-pointer during the first half against the Boston Celtics in game three of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 24, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA: Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) reacts during overtime of a NBA game at the Staples Center. LA Lakers won 130-119. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana front office needs to wake up and smell the creamed corn…Paul George is absconding the Hoosier State as soon as his contract is up. It would behoove them to get something before he bolts, and the longer they wait, the further his value drops.

The Pacers are a team in limbo, stuck in the purgatorial intermediary of the Eastern Conference. Outside of George or Myles Turner, they don’t have much in the way of top-flight talent or high-potential youngsters. So they need to find a team that does…

Pacers Get

PF, Julius Randle; G, Jordan Clarkson; F, Larry Nance Jr.; C, Ivica Zubac; G/F, Corey Brewer

Lakers Get

F, Paul George; SG, Monta Ellis

While George depressed the Pacers’ leverage by making his wishes to be in L.A. crystal clear, the Lakers don’t want him getting a taste of playing on a contender and having a change of heart. Indiana takes every non-core young piece in the Lakers pantry and insists on swapping Monta Ellis’ contract for Corey Brewer’s expiring.

Los Angeles doesn’t mess around and gets its man for elements they don’t view as imperative. Indiana starts their rebuild on the fly with a bunch of solid young players to put with Turner, and probably end up with the ripple effect of a mid-lottery pick in 2018.

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