Paul George rumors have Magic Johnson and Larry Bird battling just like old times

When Magic Johnson took over as Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations in late-February, he aimed to revive a franchise destined for its fourth missed postseason in as many years. But he also planned to use his standing as a five-time NBA champion and Hall of Fame player to attract marquee free agents in a post-Kobe Bryant era.

Johnson’s pursuit of star power could reignite a dormant, decades-old rivalry between he and Celtics legend Larry Bird, now president of the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers have reached out to teams to assess the trade value of superstar forward Paul George, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This comes after several attempts to add firepower alongside George, including rumored discussions with Philadelphia for Jahlil Okafor and Brooklyn for Brook Lopez.

George was born and raised in Los Angeles, and while the Lakers have not reached out about trading for the All-Star forward, there have always been undertones suggesting he may one day want to play for his hometown team.

Writes Wojnarowski:

As a free agent in the summer of 2018, he has considered re-signing with Indiana or joining his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell The Vertical.

Teams trading for George run the risk of losing the four-time All-Star to a Lakers franchise that will have the salary-cap space to sign him in 2018. The Lakers’ hiring of Magic Johnson as president of basketball operations will be an interesting twist to George’s free-agent recruitment, given that Johnson has been something of a George family icon going back to George’s childhood in nearby Palmdale, Calif.

The Pacers president has endured his fair share of criticism, specifically after hanging ex-coach Frank Vogel to dry after last season’s first-round playoff exit. Instead, Bird promoted Nate McMillan to head coach and re-tooled the roster trading for Jeff Teague and signing Al Jefferson and Thaddeus Young to free agent contracts.

That hasn’t worked, and with George set to hit free agency in 2018, winning a championship matters most, in Indiana or elsewhere.

”As I told (Bird), I always want to play on a winning team. I always want to be part of a team that has a chance to win it [all]. That’s important,” George told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein. “Say what you want; I want to compete for something. It’s frustrating just playing the game for stats or for numbers or to showcase yourself. Man, I want a chance to play for a chance to win a championship.

“I wanted to be the first and want to be the first to be able to bring a championship to Indiana. So that’s still on my mind ... and something I definitely want to achieve in Indiana.”

Should George make an All-NBA team this season or next, he could be in line for the new ‘designated player’ contract worth $219 million over five seasons. He isn’t a shoo-in for that contract, though, given the league’s depth at the top of both forward positions.

Under Magic, the Lakers are chasing stars once again, though it’s unclear if any will flock to Los Angeles. Johnson has talked a good game. It’s time to find out if he can play it.

Los Angeles is reportedly “in the process of trying to land George,” according to USA Today’s Sam Amick. That deal would likely involve moving rookie Brandon Ingram with additional players and draft picks. It would also signal Johnson’s first big win as Lakers president.

After all, it was Game 6 of 1987 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Celtics when Magic solidified his standing atop the Mt. Rushmore of league greats.

Johnson drilled an iconic sky hook over two Celtics defenders while Bird watched the series slip away with Magic’s made bucket. It was that moment that Johnson won the last battle between he and his Boston counterpart. But now, that rivalry will be rekindled as team executives.

And if Johnson can hook Paul George into playing for his hometown Lakers as a free agent in 2018 or sooner, it could settle the debate once and for all.