As we approach NBA trade season, teams around the league are keeping an eye out for star players who could hit the market before this year’s deadline. That search has led multiple teams to check in with the Pacers about the potential availability of Paul George, but the Pacers are strongly rebuffing those clubs, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
“I know teams have been calling Indiana, and they’re going to ask about Paul George, and the answer is absolutely, positively no,” Wojnarowski said in a conversation with Bobby Marks on The Vertical’s podcast. “He is not available. There is no conversation to be had. Don’t even make offers to us, we are not moving Paul George.”
According to Wojnarowski, the Pacers’ current plan is to build their roster around George and second-year big man Myles Turner. The goal is to find complementary players who will fit in with those two core pieces and who will make George want to stay in Indiana when he becomes eligible for free agency in the summer of 2018. Woj’s report is similar to one from ESPN’s Zach Lowe last month — Lowe suggested Larry Bird would likely “take it to the end” with George, avoiding a trade at all costs.
George is eligible for a contract extension, and Indiana has expressed interest in locking him up to a max deal, but there’s little incentive for him to get something done this early, as I noted when I explored his extension candidacy. George’s contract runs through 2018/19, though that final year is a player option.
While George and Turner aren’t going anywhere, the Pacers are “open for business” on virtually anyone else on their roster, says Wojnarowski. Indiana was expected to vie for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference this season, but has been up and down so far, and currently sit just a game above .500 (13-12). Of course, with several other Eastern teams struggling, that record puts the Pacers just a game out of a tie for the No. 3 seed, so it still makes sense for the team to explore win-now moves.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Indiana needs help defensively. Jeff Teague and Monta Ellis in the backcourt is not a good combo. I’d consider letting Monta and Thaddeus Young come off the bench. Their defense on the bench may become an issue, with those guys plus Al Jefferson, but I think it still gives them a little more balance. They also have too many small combo guards that can’t play defense. With that being the case, they need Paul George to defend the way he is capable of, more than they probably need him to carry them offensively
The Pacers need PG’s offense and defense equally; he is the lone player on the team that actually makes other players better. Teague is an inefficient ball stopper that is a sieve on defense. Thad Young is a diminutive power forward that is a liability on the boards and struggles to defend. Monta is gassed and needs to be packaged with a current player and draft picks for a PF. Myles needs to work with a Bill Walton or Kevin Mchale on footwork, passing out of the post, and on ball defense…it’s evident he’s behind Porzingas and KAT in that aspect of his game. Also Teague should not be resigned; he plays for himself and not the team.
Not sure Nate is an upgrade of Vogel…I would have preferred Mark Jackson
I believe the Pacers should bench Monta Ellis and start Rodney stuckey to give the bench an extra push. This would also help our starting defense because Rodney Stuckey is a good defender and is way bigger than Monta Ellis.
Teague, Stuckey, George, Young, Turner
Brooks, Ellis, Miles, Allen, Jefferson
Pacers have too many insufficient players….including PG. Package ELLIS,YOUNG ..Young is a undersized PF that does nothing well plus he can’t defend,probably more suited to come off the bench…as for ELLIS bench no,trade this guy for whatever you can get,Stuckey won’t pan out for this team as well. As for the so called star player Paul George doesn’t play like a star max contract player….if you questions this look at his performance so on the road,yes he leads us in scoring…but at couch time in the 4th he doesn’t play like a star…pretty much all of this boils down to McMillan is past his prime as a head coach.
You need to rethink what you said, because it makes no sense.
Nerlens Noel for Monta
Haha and the Sixers do that why?
I agree Mark Jackson would be a better choice for most NBA teams minus a few. Hope he gets another shot and soon. He built that Warriors team and deserves much credit. Pacers have too many ball needy ball donlminant players. They need to bench/trade Monta or Young. Teague is unselfish and a good fit with PG and Turner. They need a sharp shooter who can run off screens and be a knock down shooter. With that being said not too many 4s like that around which leaves the 2 guard spot and Monta. Let him run 2nd unit which gives them 3 dynamic scorers off the bench and find a shooter for the starters. Korner, Reddick style 2 guard would really make this team pop!
Teague, Robinson III, CJ Miles, Paul George, Miles Turner
Monta, Thad Young, Stuckey, Al Jefferson? Pacers need another 3/4 and a bigger 2 guard, preferably one that can defend and/or shoot. Too many small combo guards that cant defend, and too many 5s that are mostly interchangeable
They gotta find a way to get rid of Monta Ellis. They need defense. Tony Allen or Thabo Selfolosha would fit the bill.
I don’t think either of those guys will be moved considering their importance to their current teams.
True that.
I still cant believe they declined Solomon Hill’s option, but they barely used him the last couple of years for some reason, even after he played so well the year Paul George was hurt.