Paul George reportedly agrees to 5-year maximum contract with Pacers

But because he’s so good, the question is about how he can improve. He was the NBA’s Most Improved Player last season, and in a rare stroke of serendipity for the award, he was actually the right candidate. Can he improve a good deal again, or are the Pacers going to be paying for the version they got last year? (Which, incidentally, would be fine. Have I yet mentioned he’s really good?)

The one area where the Pacers could use more is an area where young scoring wings often improve as they age: scoring efficiency. George fell below league-average efficiency last season (.531 True Shooting) after one season at that level; his usage also grew from high-level role player (19.3 percent) to focal point (23.5 percent). (That inverse relationship between usage and efficiency always rears its head, doesn’t it?). George will likely maintain that higher usage level through the next few years, so he’ll need to find a way to make that 23.5-or-so percent of possessions he uses produce more points.

It was reported earlier in the week that the two sides were finalizing an agreement that could potentially be worth over $90 million. George will become the Pacers’ one “Designated Player” with this new contract, and he’ll also have the opportunity to qualify for the “Derrick Rose Rule.“

If George is named to the All-NBA Third Team or higher, the first year of his contract will be worth up to 30 percent of the salary cap rather than the standard 25 percent for max rookie scale extensions. George could also qualify for that hike by winning MVP.