Trade Rumors: George, Bucks, Centers, Lakers, Murray

Although Paul George tops our list of the top 50 free agents of 2024, there is a chance that Clippers the forward will not become a free agent this offseason. George could sign an extension to stay in Los Angeles before free agency begins. There’s also another scenario worth watching in the next week or so, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has mentioned during several recent podcasts and TV appearances that an option and trade could be an option for George (hat tip) to RealGM).

George has a $48.8 million player option for 2024/25, and if he decides he wants to join a team that doesn’t have the cap space to sign him as a free agent, he could pick up his option along with a trade . deal to allow the Clippers to get something back for him while taking him to his preferred destination. A former Clipper, Chris Paultook this route in 2017 to accommodate a trade from Los Angeles to Houston.

Although it sounds more like speculation than hard reporting, Windhorst repeatedly referred to Knicks as a suitor that would make sense in this scenario as he could offer a strong combination of rotation players and draft assets in a trade package for George (Twitter video link).

If George opts for free agency, a sign-and-trade deal in which the Clippers acquire multiple players for him likely wouldn’t be possible, as a new CBA rule prohibits second-tier teams from taking back salary in exchange for a signed contract. .player and traded.

Here are more NBA trade rumors:

• Windhorst said during an appearance on Friday’s episode of First Take (YouTube link) that USD could try to shake up their core this offseason, though neither Giannis Antetokounmpo ANY Damian Lillard is considered a trade candidate. “There are rumblings that (Bucks head coach) Doc Rivers look for a change or two to some of their staples,” Windhorst said. “Not Dame or Giannis, but we can look at another move he could make to change his team.” Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported earlier today that the Milwaukee center Brook Lopez is viewed as a possible commercial candidate.
• The Lakers, Grizzliesand The Pelicans are some of the teams “closely monitoring” the center market this offseason, according to SNY.tv’s Ian Begley, who took a closer look at whether New York will consider moving. Mitchell Robinson. Like Lopez, Robinson has been cited as a potential trade candidate.
• Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show ( Twitter video link ) Friday, Shams Charania of The Athletic suggested that Lakers they can renew their tracking for a hawks guard in the following days. “They have to be aggressive” Charania said. “One name they pursued last season at the trade deadline that teams around the league expect to return to in trade conversations next week that makes sense for the Lakers is Goodbye Murray of the falcons.” Atlanta is expected to trade either Murray or Trae Young this summer — Young has previously been mentioned as a possible Lakers target.