Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld heard from an executive who said Danny Granger was no longer untouchable, and could be dealt before the deadline. Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard responded with a strong denial, saying that executive has it wrong, as Kennedy notes via Twitter.
Most of the talk surrounding Granger of late seemed to indicate a deadline deal is unlikely, with a greater probability that the Pacers would move him in the offseason. That sentiment was echoed by ESPN.com's Chad Ford as he chatted today and shared that rival executives believed the Pacers would likely stick with Granger through the deadline. Ford speculated that the Pacers could trade Granger by tomorrow if the right deal came along, but it appears Indiana is standing pat.
Granger has yet to make his season debut, but appears close to coming back from an injury that the Pacers have called patellar tendinitis. Kennedy hears that Granger actually had a small hole in the cartilage on his knee, which is why he's been unable to return all season. He's due $14MM next season in the final year of his deal, so any team that thinks about taking him on in a trade this summer will no doubt want to see Granger demonstrate he's 100% before the end of the season.