The Indiana Pacers have continued to be one of the most active teams in the NBA ahead of the trade deadline, and rightfully so. On paper, it seems Indiana should be a top tier team in the Eastern Conference but that hasn’t been the case as they’ve instead barely mustered a .500 record of 29-28.
With the team struggling, two-way superstar Paul George hasn’t held his tongue about how frustrating the campaign has been for him on multiple occasions. Just recently over All-Star weekend, George couldn’t give a conclusive answer as to whether or not he planned to stay with the Pacers long term, sparking trade rumors to get the 6’9″ wing some additional help, or even trading him away.
Teams like the Boston Celtics have been rumored to be very interested in the Fresno State product’s services, and surely any team would love to have George aboard as players with his talent level don’t get traded often. Despite the rumors flying, all Paul George wants to do is contend for a title, and if the Pacers can give him that opportunity, he’d like to stay. Following from Sam Amick of USAToday Sports:
Paul George wants to stay in Indiana.
But like so many things this time of year, when the phones are ringing off the hook in NBA offices as the trade deadline nears, the situation between the four-time All-Star and his Indiana Pacers is racked with nuance. So when George met with team owner Herb Simon in recent days and told him that the Hoosier state was still the place for him, how he would love nothing more than to eventually go down as the greatest Pacer of them all, it came with one qualifier.
If they can contend for a title.
According to a person with knowledge of the meeting who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, that is the crossroads that Pacers president Larry Bird now faces. If the Thursday deadline comes and goes and the Pacers roster remains the same, the pressure rises in a significant way.
At this point, it’s obvious George doesn’t object staying with Indiana, the bottom line for him is whether he gets the opportunity and necessary supporting cast to contend against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers atop the Eastern Conference.
If George were to be on the market, it would behoove plenty of teams to gauge his market as he is one of the elite young talents in the game today, capable of taking a team over the top.
Whether George is in fact on his way our out not, the Pacers need to decide whether they want to build around the talented forward, or cut ties and start fresh. Either way, Larry Bird and his front office have plenty of work cut out for them over the next day or so until the trade deadline.
