Indiana Pacers guard Paul George exploded onto the scene this past season, especially with his phenomenal playoff performance. George and superstar LeBron James traded highlights multiple times during the Pacers showdown with the eventual champion Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the 23-year old guard seems to be an integral part of the Pacers bright future.

However, George, a Los Angeles native, is due to be a restricted free agent after this season, and with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers clearing cap space, George was asked recently in a radio interview with ESPN’s Colin Cowherd how he would feel about suiting up for the legendary Lakers, and George, while reiterating his loyalty to the Pacers, certainly didn’t rule out playing for the Lakers:

“My heart is still in Indiana,” the 23-year-old said [in an interview with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio on Tuesday.] “… I’m still a Pacer, and hopefully I remain a Pacer. I’m happy where I’m at.” George said that him hypothetically joining the Lakers would certainly be a “family-favorite team.” “Of course it would be tough (to say no to Kobe). You’re talking about playing [at] home.”

George is one of my favorite players in the league, and has the ability to be one of the superstars in this league. It is obvious that the Lakers will be looking to reload on talent after Dwight Howard’s departure, and have positioned themselves to be a major player in free agency. On the other hand, the Pacers have the ability to match any offer made to George, and if he continues to grow as a player in this league, there is no reason the Pacers wouldn’t match any offer made from another team.

The only wildcard in this scenario is the fact that the Pacers have just paid Roy Hibbert and David West handsomely the past two off-seasons, and if they try to low-ball George, or not match a max offer, the Lakers will have the means to scoop him up. While I don’t see this happening, it is yet another example of why the Lakers won’t struggle for long, if at all. This may come as a shock, but players want to play in LA. I know, crazy right?

By: Frank Santos- Pass the Pill Manager