NBA Predictions 2018: DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George In Lakers Uniforms

Now that the Lakers have the salary cap space to accommodate free agents next season, there are two such players that Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka may be looking at to strengthen a young talented core and to solidify their chances of reaching the playoffs.

When Paul George joined the three-point shootout contest in the recent NBA All-Star weekend, which just happened to be held in Los Angeles, fans were so blatantly cheering for him.

Oklahoma (OKC) undertook that trade that sent Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers and saw George teaming-up with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony to form what many perceived to be a super-team.

Every team in the NBA, however, was aware that the OKC Thunder was merely "renting" George for this season and he may well decide to sign a maximum contract in his hometown in LA after the stint with Russ and Melo.

As for DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins, he was seen in crutches—and nearly in tears—as he was still introduced as a part of the LeBron team despite not being able to play in the All-Star game.

There is no guarantee that Boogie will get near to the same deadly form previous to his Achilles tear injury.

(Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Spangler|Wikimedia Commons) 8/6/2014 - DeMarcus Cousins on the USA Basketball Men’s National Team react after his teammate Paul George suffered a serious leg injury during the fourth quarter of an intra-squad scrimmage at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, August 1, 2014. After George was carted off the court, head coach Mike Krzyzewski addressed the arena stating the game would not continue out of respect to George and his family.

For him to land in LA, as Hoops Habit surmised, there are a lot of "ifs" to be considered — if he is willing to turn his back on New Orleans and the often-successful tandem he has had with fellow big man Anthony Davis; if he agrees to a one-year contract with the Lakers; and if he proves to have recovered from the said injury by the time he becomes a free agent.

It can be recalled that even when Boogie was being traded by the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers— under then-general manager Mitch Kupchak—participated in the trade talks. The talks only fell apart because the Kings wanted Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Times reported.

With one maximum contract and a one-year contract for the two players, the Lakers solve the dilemma of whether or not they should let go of rising star Julius Randle—a possibility that would have come up if they had to offer two maximum contracts to both players.