Will 3rd team have to help Cavs facilitate Paul George trade?

If the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers are to work out a trade for Paul George, a third team is almost certainly going to have to get involved.

The Pacers have reached out to the Cavs about a possible trade for 27-year-old star Paul George.

This is news, but it shouldn’t be. Indiana’s new basketball boss is just doing his due dilligence after George informed his current team that he has no intentions to stay in Indiana.

George, through his agent, made it clear he prefers to sign with the Lakers after he opts out next season. This could mean George would be just a one-year rental in Cleveland.

But even with an uncertain future, the Cavs are willing to engage in trade talks, even if its for one season of PG-13, according to ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin.

Getting George to Cleveland presents a huge problem though, as pointed out by The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Cavaliers are devoid of the kind of young players and future picks that Indiana might want in return for George, and George has never mentioned the Cavaliers as an intriguing destination.

The Cavs do have some leverage here because George is only on a one-year contract and teams are likely to be entering trade talks with the knowledge George will sign the Lakers next season.

Ultimately, the Cavs are going to move an asset, and there’s only three guys on this team that everybody wants: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. James isn’t going anywhere and Irving probably isn’t either. That leaves Love, who three years and about $72 million let on his current contract. It’s a lot of money, but by today’s standards, Love’s affordable.

If you’re the Pacers, though, Love doesn’t do much to help you win three or four years down the road, which is what Wojnarowski is saying.

The Pacers want draft picks, so they can start building for his future. By the time Indiana is ready to win, Love’s current contract will have run out.

So if the Cavs are to move forward with a trade, a third team will almost certainly have to get involved, and former Factory of Sadness site expert Jared Mueller pointed out potential partner in the Phoenix Suns.

In terms of assets, the Suns have other teams’ first rounders to move in 2018 (Miami) and 2021 (Miami). The organization also owns second rounders in 2017 (Toronto) and 2018 (Toronto). Of it’s own picks, Phoenix has the No. 4 overall selection in this year’s draft.

On the roster, the Suns are loaded with young players. Devin Booker isn’t going anywhere. Marquese Chriss is a young, promising front-court player. Pending draft night results, T.J. Warren could be Phoenix’s starting small forward. Alex Len‘s still there, too. Remember him? He’s already got four years under his belt and he’s only 24. The Suns also have last year’s No. 4 overall pick, Dragan Bender.

Phoenix has players the Pacers wouldn’t be interested with an eye on contending three years down the road.

Perhaps the Cavs and Pacers find a different third partner, but from Cleveland’s perspective it doesn’t matter. They probably don’t have enough of their own goods to facilitate a trade.

Next: NBA Draft: 5 players the Cavs must target

Maybe the Pacers don’t get a lot of nibbles because of George’s expected future with the Lakers. If that’s the case, it’s not like Love is some jobber of the street. He’s an All-Star with a great contract by NBA standards. Stay tuned, Cleveland.