It’s not a secret: The Pacers are trying to get something in return for Paul George before they lose him for nothing via his unrestricted free agency next summer. But it doesn’t appear as though Indiana’s in any rush to get its All-Star forward out of town.
NBA Trade Rumors: Paul George trade reportedly not imminent before NBA Draft
The Pacers should still trade PG13 as soon as possible to save whatever value he has left on the trade market.
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A George trade doesn’t appear imminent, according to The Indy Star’s Nate Taylor, and the Pacers don’t feel any pressure to get a deal done before Thursday’s NBA Draft.
Indiana has several potential suitors for their All-Star forward, having engaged in trade talks with the Rockets, Cavaliers and Clippers, per Taylor. None of the offers, however, have intrigued Pacers’ president Kevin Pritchard enough to pull the trigger on a deal.
How’d we get here?
George let Pacers’ management know this week that he plans on leaving Indiana to sign elsewhere in 2018, preferably the Los Angeles Lakers. The rumblings were there all season long: He grew up near Los Angeles in Palmdale, Calif. and idolized Magic Johnson, who’s now Lakers president.
George maintained most of the season that he wanted to bring a championship to Indiana. But the Pacers failed to put the requisite talent around him to compete at a high level. Indiana tried to acquire Brook Lopez and Jahlil Okafor at the trade deadline.
George has said all season long he wants to bring a championship to Indiana. But ex-president Larry Bird put a supporting cast around his all-star that was good for zero playoff wins against LeBron’s Cavaliers. Now, with no direct line to contention in sight, George is ready to skate town.
The Pacers should probably still trade George before the deadline
The moment you drive a car off the lot, its value depreciates at least 30 percent. The same can be said of an All-Star who’s publicly made it known he wants out of your city.
George isn’t going to play in Indiana past next season and the longer the Pacers take to orchestrate a trade, the longer odds they have at flushing the 2017-18 season down the toilet.
The Pacers could send George to Los Angeles and end their misery early. They could send him to Boston, Cleveland or any team they choose. But the longer they wait, the less they’ll get in return for an All-Star the franchise has invested heavily in.
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