Don’t Expect the Indiana Pacers to Trade Paul George, Jeff Teague, and Myles Turner
By Ben Gibson
The Indiana Pacers are planning on holding on to the core of Paul George, Jeff Teague, and Myles Turner while exploring other trade options.
The Indiana Pacers want to make a move, but they don’t want to give up some of the best players. They are looking to upgrade the bench more than revamp the starting lineup.
If the Pacers do want to make a trade, their greatest asset is their first round pick in this year’s draft.
According to the Indianapolis Star’s Nate Taylor, the Pacers don’t plan to trade Paul George, Jeff Teague, or Myles Turner.
"Don’t expect a blockbuster. Multiple sources told IndyStar the Pacers would not consider any trade discussion that involved Paul George.The Pacers also do not plan to move Jeff Teague, their starting point guard, or Myles Turner, their 20-year-old phenom center. The Pacers want to see how this trio can build chemistry over time, and Bird wants to re-sign Teague, who is playing on an expiring contract, to a long-term deal this summer.With those players off the market, the Pacers’ best asset is their first-round pick in June’s draft. Bird is willing to trade the pick if it allows him to add another veteran who could help the Pacers in the playoffs.“If we can do something, we’ll do it,” Bird said last month. He added: “We do have our draft pick. We’ve been a team that if we can get the right guy, we would entertain maybe moving our pick. Other teams like that.”"
Taylor noted that rival executives have asked about Glenn Robinson III, Rodney Stuckey, and Aaron Brooks as well. Al Jefferson is also part of the rumors coming out as the deadline approaches. Those are the players’ names have come up in reports, but nothing has passed the inquiry stage as far as we know.
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One problem for Indiana is their more valuable trade pieces tend to also have the skills they are hoping to acquire in a trade.
C.J. Miles has value to teams looking for a shooter — knocking down 41.9% of his shots from 3-point range and 43.4% from the field — but considering one of Indiana’s issues is having too many wings that can’t shoot, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to move him. Another thing Miles doesn’t get credit for is his defense. He can at least slow down smaller guards while not being overwhelmed by the average small forward.
If they did, the only thing that might make sense is in a deal for a big that can grab rebounds but you now have a bigger problem with lacking shooting. In the right situation — say a contender in need of shooting — you get a first round pick out of this. But the Cleveland Cavaliers already traded for Kyle Korver (and got a 2019 first round pick out of it), so that’s one less team that could have wanted Miles and given the Pacers.
Miles has a player option after this season — one I imagine he will turn down in favor of a bigger contract — so his contract also holds some value as an expiring deal.
A similar thing could be said about Thaddeus Young. He may not grab rebounds like Indiana needs, but he also scores enough and stretches the floor, both things Indiana would want if they make a trade.
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The other players that are floating around in rumors have value but are more likely to end up in a deal to match salaries if the Pacers decide to trade their 2017 pick.