Paul George wanted to save Pacers from OKC's fate

[boomershadow]

Per wiretap

The Indiana Pacers could wait through the summer and potentially into training camp before agreeing upon a Paul George trade.

George informed Kevin Pritchard that he intends to leave the Pacers as a free agent in 2018. George ultimately respects Pritchard, Larry Bird and Nate McMillan.

Another reason George was transparent with Pritchard is that he wasn't comfortable putting the Pacers in a similar situation as what happened with Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The difference, however, was the Thunder were one win away from The Finals in Durant's final season and wasn't settled on leaving for the Golden State Warriors until the summer.

George would be comfortable playing out the final season of his contract with the Pacers if no trade is made.

How much do you agree that this is part of Paul George's motivation?

Does anyone really think it is possible that we bring him back for this last year? Count me as skeptical on that issue.

[pacers33granger]

I think PG was naive to how bad the backlash would be, especially considering how brand conscious he is. Sounds like some damage control to me even if his initial intent was to help the franchise. He may not have expected the leak to come out like it did either.

[basketballwacko2]

He's a lying sack of excrement he's been lying for a year why believe a word he says now. He can get ready to hear a lot of boo's when he comes back here to play. The little ego maniac might as well take that night off. Of course that will be the only time there are more than 8000 spectators in the Fieldhouse. The only player I have a lower opinion of is Lebron James and that was because of his "Where's Lebron going show" he had on ESPN back when he left to miami.

[Pacersike]

How many times has he said that whatever team trades for him, it will most likely be a rental?

He is thinking of himself first, then the Lakers, then all other 28 teams and Pacers last. He seem to be more worried about teams giving up assets for him to the Pacers than about the consequences it has for the team that drafted him and invested in him, saying you only want to be a Laker.

As good or as bad as his intentions might be, it has damaged the Pacers franchise and could have been handled much better.
Bird was too obsessed with trying to be as good as we can be this season and next, that he didn't pick up the signals George was sending out that he wasn't going to stick around. If George really wants to win a ring, like he says he want to, the Celtics would have been a great team to try to win one or get closer to it this season and next. Apparently that hasn't crossed his mind when he was trying to save the Pacers.

Bird asks the Celtics to give up way too much assets for George, basically saying that he isn't trading him, George keeps quiet and just complains afterwards. George tells the world he is going to the Lakers in 2018. It could have been worse, but those actions have hurt the franchise and will not be forgotten as far as I'm concerned.

I remember few star players who have said I want to play for this team and this team only and the ones I remember were true superstar MVP caliber players. He might be thinking of saving the Pacers, but his thinking is also selfish and immature.
It has to be the Lakers and no other team and if you think like that, it is very likely that he was already thinking that before the trade deadline so he could have given the Pacers heads up. Or he has changed his mind again after the trade deadline and before Pritchard had a chance to improve the team this summer and next trade deadline. Doesn't matter which of the two, both are immature.

[8305]

My best guess Paul hanging with his family in LA, everyone telling him how nice it would be if he played in LA and what a cool guy Magic is. Maybe his agent is there and Paul says get me to LA now. We all know how he says stuff without thinking things through. Meantime Lakers have been playing whatever games to make him and his family think getting him to LA is feasible. Agent and Lakers know what's got to be done to get him to LA now and have it make the most sense for the Lakers. Drive his value down to where the Lakers can make a half assed offer that might actually be the best Indiana can get.

PG the brand owner sees whoops that small Pacer market absolutely hates him now and guess a lot of other basketball fans see this as a pretty low play. The Brand will take a hit (not life altering by any means) but still.... As someone said earlier time to do some damage control.

[Skiptastic]

This is slightly true but also major damage control.

Other than leaving with no indication, his actions since last week are literally the least he could do to help the Pacers.

[basketballwacko2]

PG is the kind of guy who ties you down takes a dump in your face and then expects you to thank him!

[ram8]

I don't think PG is concerned about the Pacers getting value back for him nor is it his job to. My guess is he decided he wants to play in LA and would rather put it out there hoping for a trade now vs signing as a free agent next summer. If I made up my mind to go elsewhere I would prefer to get it done and over with too.

I get people being upset that PG isn't staying but I think that is where the angry comes from...that PG doesn't want to be a Pacer.

He hasn't done anything wrong. He doesn't owe it to the Pacers to protect his trade value. Even if he wants to no team is going to give up serious trade assets for a guy in the last year of his contract that will not commit to an extension with a prospective team. There is no hiding his intentions even if he wanted to.

It's a business. Players get traded and cut even after they stay loyal to a franchise. I am glad that PG made his intentions clear because it's better to find out now vs next summer when he walks. The situation sucks but I think fans would be pissed at PG no matter how he handled it.

[GlenRiceARoni]

He's a lying sack of excrement he's been lying for a year why believe a word he says now. He can get ready to hear a lot of boo's when he comes back here to play. The little ego maniac might as well take that night off. Of course that will be the only time there are more than 8000 spectators in the Fieldhouse. The only player I have a lower opinion of is Lebron James and that was because of his "Where's Lebron going show" he had on ESPN back when he left to miami.

Yeah screw Lebron for donating all the proceeds of his ESPN special's $5 million in advertisements to the boys and girls club. What a jerk!

I can only hope you are as charitable as you are self loathing.



"Get Out the Way, Let the Real F. Ballas thru" - Juvenile