In breaking news first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, Paul George has officially told the Indiana Pacers he’s intending to leave in free agency in the summer or 2018, likely to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Paul George is not intending to be with the Indiana Pacers once he has the opportunity to opt out in the summer of 2018, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The rumor of Paul George leaving the Pacers for LA has been present for a while, starting as whispers in the dark and eventually becoming a daily question for him and the team. While the truth of the rumors has been hotly debated on Twitter, there’s no need to wonder anymore.
Paul George won’t be with Indiana Pacers once he has the opportunity to opt out in the summer of 2018.
Sources: All-Star Paul George tells Pacers he plans to leave franchise in 2018 free agency, prefers Lakers. https://t.co/anP4bvbwir
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2017
PG telling the Pacers this up front has both positive and negative consequences for the team. The team can avoid making “win-now” moves that would be a detriment to the future in order to try to please PG, which is great. The Pacers are much more likely to invest in youth and the future of the franchise knowing that.
The downside to this is that it’s been reported by Woj; this means other teams are well aware of his plans, and the Pacers may lack leverage in any potential trade talks to Los Angeles or otherwise.
It’s impossible to tell just yet how this all plays out for Paul George and the Indiana Pacers, but the Pacers can now plan for the future absolutely without the huge hanging questions of what Paul George will do.
Next: What Does This Rumored Trade Mean For Paul George?
The Paul George era is now all but over, the only question is what’s next for both Paul George and the Indiana Pacers.