Was Magic Johnson rejoicing over reports of Paul George leaving Pacers?

The Los Angeles Lakers' prayers for a superstar may have been answered.

Just 23 minutes after reports initially surfaced that Paul George informed the Indiana Pacers he's leaving at the conclusion of next season and prefers to join his hometown Lakers, L.A.'s team president Magic Johnson tweeted the following:

George has two years remaining on his contract with Indiana, including a player option for 2018-19 that he seems intent on using to terminate the deal. He's averaging 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 steals over seven seasons in Indy.

The Lakers reportedly aren't willing to surrender assets to acquire PG13, which suggests they'll try to lure him as an unrestricted free agent next summer. As is, L.A. doesn't have the cap room to sign the premier two-way swingman to a max deal outright, but could do some maneuvering.

The Lakers are expected to try, with Johnson making his interest in recruiting the All-Star forward as clear as possible without violating the league's tampering rules.

Related - Magic: I can't ask Paul George to join Lakers, but I'll be 'wink-winking'

But then again, that tweet was sandwiched between a couple others about Father's Day, so the timing could merely be a coincidence.

Or is it? We're on to you, Magic.