The Washington Wizards’ backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal is one of the best and most exciting backcourts in the NBA. Otto Porter Jr., who is about to hit restricted free agency, is a great piece as well. Outside of those three, the Wizards are a pretty weak team. You know what that team could use? Paul George! Most teams could use Paul George, really, but the Wizards will be one team recruiting him, Wall tells ESPN’s Marc J. Spears:
Washington Wizards All-Star guard John Wall told ESPN’s The Undefeated that he is recruiting Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George, in hopes that George will push for a trade to the nation’s capital.
It’s become common knowledge that George has no intention of re-upping with Indiana after this season; by all accounts, he desperately wants to play for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers. That fact reduces his trade value significantly, but also incentivizes the Pacers to trade him so as not to lose him for nothing in free agency. However, the Lakers are younger and won’t be contending for a while. George would have a better chance at winning sooner on teams like the Wizards, Celtics or Cavaliers.
Wall and George have a good relationship, and Wall is trying to recruit his friend to the nation’s capital:
“I am talking to some guys — Paul. I know his ultimate goal of where he wants to be. I’m trying to see if we can make something happen,” Wall told The Undefeated before the NBA awards show on Monday night.
“Look at our team. We are one piece away,” Wall said. “We have the point guard, we have the shooting guard, we have the center, we have the power forward. Our 3-man [Otto Porter Jr.] did great for us. You can’t take nothing away from what he did. But [George] is a guy that can guard LeBron and go back at LeBron. It’s a piece that you’re going to need to win. If you don’t have a guy who can do that, you don’t have a chance. …
“You got to add another star. You got to add another piece. You got to have three guys. And that’s what it’s looking like.”
That last bit may be a tad inaccurate. Yes, George is a significant upgrade over Porter. But for Wall to say that the Wizards have their power forward and center of the future but not their small forward is disingenuous; Markieff Morris is pretty good, but by no means a star. Marcin Gortat is… not particularly good. He’s a fine offensive player, awful on defense, and at age 33, isn’t getting any younger.
