Despite an unexpected start to the season and a mere seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers (13-12) are not ready to move their core of players just yet.
The team made important acquisitions, letting go of now Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel and hiring Nate McMillan for the position, bringing along point guard Jeff Teague, lefty forward Thaddeus Young and veteran centers Al Jefferson and Kevin Seraphin.
Regardless of the shortcomings from the team, the organization isn't planning on moving core players in Paul George and Myles Turner.
“I know teams have been calling Indiana and asking about Paul George and the answer is absolutely, positively no,” said Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical about a potential trade.
“‘He's not available, there's no conversation to be had, don't even make offers to us. We're not moving Paul George,'” he said echoing the team's mindset.
“Their mindset in Indiana is to continue to try to build around Paul George and Myles Turner and try to find a combination around them that will get Paul to want to re-sign and stay there.”
Besides the two, the team is open to experimenting in order to find a winning combination that can propel the Pacers into a deep playoff run.
“That being said, I think the Pacers are very much open for business with almost everybody else. I think they're in a place where they're willing to go out and try to find some guys to put around him.”
Paul George will earn $19.5 million next season and will likely try to secure a large contract for his services. The 26-year-old is averaging 21.8 points per game in 45 percent shooting from the floor and 39.3 percent from the line while burying free-throws at a 92.3 percent clip.
Follow Us
Subscribe