Efforts are on to land LeBron, George, Paul et al
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 Jun 2018
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? The first NBA event towards the 2018-2019 season ? the drafting period -- is over. And next in the calendar is how to improve the franchises respective lineups through the coming free agency.
As everybody knows, the most sought after talents on the market are LeBron James, Paul George and Chris Paul, who have been reported, even before the 2017-2018 Finals won by the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers got started, have signified their intentions out of their respective clubs.
The trio, certainly, can dominate the market although many would also be available in the free agents pool ? key role players capable of altering the landscapes of certain teams if they choose to join or reject them.
Take the case of Lebron, for instance. Potential suitors are lining up as the free-agent process approaches and one team, the Philadelphia 76ers, are pushing hard for him.
The Sixers have an attractive collection of young players who could partner with James to become the Eastern Conference's team to beat with the potential to become the top challenger to the Warriors from the East.
While the Sixers and Los Angeles Lakers are intriguing options for James if he leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers, there's still a chance he stays in Cleveland if everything goes right in discussions with the team he's already left once.
Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman told ESPN?s Dave McMenamin Thursday the team has a good dialogue with James. "We continue to have good dialogue with his management team," Altman said.
The Cavs though don?t have most enticing option available to the 33-year-old to move out to the Western Conference. The Sixers appear to be the best fit for the superstar to sign with them.
What George will do over the next few weeks bear watching and reports are that there are some around the league supporting the thought of the Oklahoma City Thunder keeping the 28-year-old.
The fact that he went to school at Fresno State and is a California native, moving to the Los Angeles Lakers seems logical, especially if James decides to move to the West for the first time in his career.
If the Thunder improve the back end of their roster, they could move up to the top of the West next season, which is why it would be wise for George to stay.
Paul's status is a bit less complicated than that of James or George because he is an unrestricted free agent.
The 33-year-old moved to Houston from the Los Angeles Clippers last offseason, and there's a chance he could remain in the Rockets lineup alongside James Harden.
Paul, therefore, should stay in Houston, regardless of what the situation with ownership is like, because the Rockets have already given the point guard his best chance to win a championship last season.
If Paul goes elsewhere, there's no guarantee he'll be able to team up with James or George in the first place, or have a competent supporting cast around him to earn a ring.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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