With reports on Paul George already informing the Indiana Pacers of his intention to become a free agent next summer and his preference to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, his current team is wasting no time to plan ahead and prepare for their future without him.
Possible trade scenarios centered on George have emerged along with speculations on what their front office will do with their lineup.
One of them is to have Lance Stephenson play point guard during their rebuilding stage. This comes after the 26-year-old swingman has apparently lost 10 pounds so far this offseason, which made General Manager Kevin Pritchard consider having him as their playmaker.
Back in March, the 6-foot-5 Cincinnati product returned to the franchise that drafted him and immediately made an impact for them in their last few games of the regular season, and in the playoffs. Although they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, Stephenson gave them a lot of positives which they can build on next season.
Should George ultimately get traded, it could mean more playing time for Stephenson whether at the small forward or point guard spot. He may not be the same type of player as the four-time All-Star, but he can fill in the void left by him and allow the Pacers to field in more combinations because of the versatility he brings to the table.