Despite early hopes that a deal could get done before draft night, Paul George was still a member of the Indiana Pacers when the NBA Draft wrapped up late Thursday night.
George’s decision to inform the team days before the draft that he would leave as a free agent after next season may seem like a best-case scenario for the Pacers and general manager Kevin Pritchard. The team won’t be stringed along by the will-he-or-won’t-he until the very end. George is leaving: get something of value out of his rental by another team.
But that’s not how it sounds now that the draft is done and a deal was not made. In fact, Pritchard’s post-draft press conference read more like he’s a jilted romantic partner trying to pick up the pieces and make the most of their newfound freedom.
https://twitter.com/MillerTimePod/status/878103042230497285
It’s clear Pritchard isn’t happy with the timing of George’s decision and feels it puts the team at a disadvantage in getting anything reasonable out of George from a potential trade.
"I know it's not ideal. But we didn't put ourselves in this situation – he did."
– Pritchard on Paul George
— Dave “Mortgages” Searle (@MillerTimePod) June 23, 2017
Despite all the rumblings of a desired move to Los Angeles, Pritchard certainly seemed to think there was a chance the team could find a way to keep George until last weekend.
Kevin Pritchard on Paul George's message: "For me it was a gut punch, a total gut punch."
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) June 23, 2017
A disappointed Pritchard was sure to say he wants players on the Pacers who “want to be here” but stressed that he’s not going to cast George aside in a bad market just because he wants out.
https://twitter.com/ByNateTaylor/status/878099362974511104
Now that Jimmy Butler is off the trade market, the field of interested suitors for George appears to be a bit more clear. Whether he ends up in San Antonio or the Cavaliers or Celtics can figure out a way to get George on their rosters, it’s clear that he’s leaving Indiana much sooner than the end of next season.
(via Yahoo Sports)
