Report: Pacers feeling out trade market for Paul George

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:14 a.m. ET

Sports Illustrated, SI Wire/Sports Illustrated

The Pacers are feeling out the trade market for Paul George, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

According to Wojnarowski, Indiana is determining whether it plans to add talent around their star forward and hope to sign him to a long-term deal, or make a trade and rebuild around center Myles Turner.

George, 26, is averaging 22.3 points this season for the Pacers, who are a game over .500 and in sixth place in the East going into the final stretch of the season. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2018, and could be eligible for a maximum designated player extension with Indiana. The Vertical reports he is also considering his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.

There’s reportedly “no urgency” on the Pacers’ end at present, with less than 24 hours until Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. But as Indiana assesses its competitive window and chances to re-sign George, a team like the Boston Celtics likely has the pieces to make a tempting offer. Any team moving to acquire George will have to weigh their odds of re-signing him long-term.

- Jeremy Woo

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