Woj: Paul George informs Pacers he plans to leave them in 2018 free agency, prefers Lakers.

[asitter]

Just for my understanding: LA has the cap space to sign George next year?

Moz and/or Deng need to be traded or stretched I believe.

[HartfordWhalers]

Pacers could have gotten out in front of this and moved the rebuild forward as many as three seasons.

but that assumes that a rebuild was required. as recently as last Friday, it seemed possible that a good selection at #18 would be enough to have us competing for a top four spot in the East and that a good playoff run would have made PG happy to extend for at least one and one. in fact, if PG wanted to make Pacer fans happy, all he'd need to do was say is "My agent was wrong. I won't be making a decision about 2018 until after my Pacer contract is over and I become a free agent."

I think you and I were on the same page when it came to strategy under the assumption PG was staying. But, as this thing is playing out it would appear that PG has moved from lacking confidence in the Pacer organization (understandable) to being pissed off and vindictive. I think it's hard to believe that under any circumstances he's a Laker next year. So much could happen the contention seems illogical. How did we get to a situation seemingly PG's camp is destroying any value he could have. Has this ever been done before?

Melo did the opposite and paid for it ever since.

Cousins did it, but last second and after a deal was on the way. Thats what cost the extra pick from New Orleans.

[Fotis St]

Bucks offer Jabari Parker, Henson,#17 and '19 1st lottery protected

[Andre Roberstan]

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[DK-All Day]

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Indy should take Clarkson, Randle and 28 then move on.

[pacers33granger]

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Indy should take Clarkson, Randle and 28 then move on.

I'm a huge Randle fan and really like his fit alongside Turner longterm, but he's repped by Mintz too. I just can't see it working out very well after this unfortunately especially considering he needs a new deal after this year.

[Asif16]

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Indy should take Clarkson, Randle and 28 then move on.

I don't even know if the Pacers are gonna get that much in return. Lakers have all the advantage right now. George has really put Indy in a bad spot

[Andre Roberstan]

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From the article: "Trading for George now would obviously come at a cost for the Lakers, but it would also insulate them from the possibility that another team gambles on a one-season rental with the highly coveted two-way swingman and uses a successful season to convince George to stay."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19689275/indiana-pacers-los-angeles-lakers-talking-trade-paul-george

So from this article, 2 things to unpack:

1) Lakers are open to getting him this season and George is probably open to going there this season
2) Lakers are worried enough about the prospect of another team convincing him to stay even if it's a rental that they're willing to give up some level of assets for him.

Which goes to prove one of Texas Chuck's favorite points about bringing in UFA rentals: they don't often leave.

[Andre Roberstan]

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EDIT:

FAKE NEWS I DIDN'T CHECK THE HANDLE

[pacers33granger]

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A much better return than Clarkson and 28, but, as with Randle, DLO is repped by Mintz...

Maybe he gets sent somewhere else for a pick or something.

[Andre Roberstan]

NVM NVM IT'S FAKE

[Birdie]

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A much better return than Clarkson and 28, but, as with Randle, DLO is repped by Mintz...

Maybe he gets sent somewhere else for a pick or something.

I'd suppose DET would probably give #12 for DRuss if they could find some sucker to take RJ off their hands.

But DRuss & #28 is hardly anything to sniff at. LAL must be real worried that Cavs sitting there with PHO's #4 got them spooked even though some tweets say PHO isn't confirmed on being in on that, so, who knows at this point.

All I know, at least we know PG13 def. gonna be moved up until at the very latest, when PHO is on the clock on Thursday. I don't know why LAL want to hold onto DRuss when they're drafting Ball but to each their own.

But if Indy takes that Clarkson/Randle #28 garbage, Pritchard should be fired on the spot.

[kalenclayton]

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EDIT:

FAKE NEWS I DIDN'T CHECK THE HANDLE

LMAO! I had to squint my eyes for that one.

[Andre Roberstan]

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2017/06/21/trade-involving-paul-george-before-thursdays-draft-no-longer-imminent/416120001/

Pritchard apparently doesn't feel too urgent.

[winter_mute_13]

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2017/06/21/trade-involving-paul-george-before-thursdays-draft-no-longer-imminent/416120001/

Pritchard apparently doesn't feel too urgent.

Well, of course he has to say that.

Unless the offers are really bad, I think KP will simply pick the best offer on draft day. Can't see what's to gain by waiting.

[Andre Roberstan]

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2017/06/21/trade-involving-paul-george-before-thursdays-draft-no-longer-imminent/416120001/

Pritchard apparently doesn't feel too urgent.

Well, of course he has to say that.

Unless the offers are really bad, I think KP will simply pick the best offer on draft day. Can't see what's to gain by waiting.

Agreed. This feels like an effort to reclaim some leverage.

[Boneman2]

If the offers are unacceptable we simply don't trade him. Who cares if this drags on into the season as long as it magnifies the position the Pacers have been put in for all to see. It would hurt the league far more than the Pacers as the damage has already been inflicted. There is no reason to give in to the pressure.

[pacers33granger]

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2017/06/21/trade-involving-paul-george-before-thursdays-draft-no-longer-imminent/416120001/

Pritchard apparently doesn't feel too urgent.

Well, of course he has to say that.

Unless the offers are really bad, I think KP will simply pick the best offer on draft day. Can't see what's to gain by waiting.

Agreed. This feels like an effort to reclaim some leverage.

Yup, and I think the media really pushed it the day the news broke and it got a bit out of hand with news that it was going to get done really soon. The team was fully planning on having him, to the point of shopping their pick for a vet, up until he told them he was gone.

I'd guess they would have taken a minute to re-assess the situation unless the offers were too good to pass up given the news. I mean they haven't really even had time to figure out if Clarkson or Randle would be a better fit based on the position they draft and if they bring Teague back.

[Birdie]

If the offers are unacceptable we simply don't trade him. Who cares if this drags on into the season as long as it magnifies the position the Pacers have been put in for all to see. It would hurt the league far more than the Pacers as the damage has already been inflicted. There is no reason to give in to the pressure.

Very true but the question is, starting at #4, assuming it goes Fultz/Ball/Tatum;

How much does IND value Jackson/Fox/Smith/Issac/Monk/Markenan/etc.?

Not saying #4 is on the table but for argument's sake, some pick between 4-10 "could" be obtained by Pacers, do they like any of those 6 players and start the Turner/lotto pick rebuild next year? That's the million dollar question?

[Wizop]

Wiretap says: "Kyrie Irving has been contacting some of his former Team USA teammates letting them know he might be willing to push for a trade from the Cavaliers."

I think my Pacers would gladly do Irving for PG13 straight up. I know I would. The deal wouldn't need a third team like the Love trades do.