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Kevin Pritchard backed out of a PG to the Cavs deal via text

By Hunter Kuffel

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 01: Kevin Pritchard speaks during a press conference where the Indiana Pacers introduce him as the new President of Basketball Operations at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 1, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 01: Kevin Pritchard speaks during a press conference where the Indiana Pacers introduce him as the new President of Basketball Operations at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 1, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/Getty Images) /
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A new story from ESPN.com says that a three-team deal with the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers was practically complete before a Kevin Pritchard text message shut it down.

In a new story containing a lot we already knew but some new tidbits, Brian Windhorst, Ramona Shelburne and Dave McMenamin report that the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets were not once, but twice on the precipice of a three-team deal that would send Paul George to Cleveland, Kevin Love to Denver and some combination of Gary Harris and other pieces to Indiana. Both times, Kevin Pritchard wasn’t satisfied.

We knew already that the Pritchard had turned down a deal like this once just hours before the Oklahoma City deal was finalized. However, apparently such a deal was also very close to happening on draft night as well. This had only been rumored after the draft.

"On draft night, as the Chicago Bulls were finalizing a deal with the Wolves to move Butler, the Cavs were feverishly trying to assemble a three-team trade with the Pacers. The Denver Nuggets had a strong desire to acquire Kevin Love and became a legitimate trade partner with Indiana. The Nuggets were willing to include wing Gary Harris and the No. 13 pick in that night’s draft to get Love, and the Cavs would reroute the assets to Indy for George, sources said.But they couldn’t complete the deal. Indiana was working on another option with the Portland Trail Blazers, sources said, as they were offering a package with three first-round picks for George. Eventually, everyone moved on and the Nuggets traded the No. 13 pick to Utah in a package for Trey Lyles."

That No. 13 pick turned into Donovan Mitchell, who went on to dominate Utah Summer League and projects to be a pretty nasty two-way player. He plays the same position as Gary Harris, which may have presented fit issues down the line, but you worry about that down the line.

I’m just one guy, but I would much rather have this package than the one the Pacers eventually got. It’s actually the exact package I hoped for in our Paul George trade roundtable.

The detail about a potential deal with the Trail Blazers also wasn’t reported around draft time, unless you count CJ McCollum‘s Twitter account, in which case, every respectable player in the league is close to a deal with the Blazers.

The Kevin Pritchard rejection that we had heard about came hours before the beginning of free agency on June 30. That rejection is also covered in the story, with new details about exactly how it happened.

"The Cavs kept working with the Nuggets, trying to win a deal that would satisfy the Pacers and allow Denver to get Love and the Cavs to get George. Both were concerned about Boston, who could trump their offers for George but might have been waiting to see if it could secure Gordon Hayward in free agency after July 1.On the afternoon of June 30, the sides thought they had a deal. On a conference call between the teams, everyone tentatively agreed. George to the Cavs, Love to the Nuggets, Harris and other pieces to the Pacers, sources said.Plans were put in place for a call to be arranged between George and Gilbert, an important step before the trade would become final, sources said. The front office began making other plans to complement George as free agency was about to begin.But then Pritchard, who had been on the conference call when the deal was tentatively agreed to, sent the message that his team was backing out, sources said. There was no deal."

This raises even more questions than when Woj reported something similar on July 18. Kevin Pritchard reportedly agreed to this three-team deal, then something occurred to make him change his mind and send a “nah, we’re good” text.

What changed in that interim period? Is that when Sam Presti offered Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis? Did Kevin Pritchard suddenly sour on Gary Harris or one of the mysterious other pieces? We might never know.

Ultimately, none of this matters except to possibly hurt Kevin Pritchard in future negotiations. The Pacers have who they have, and re-litigating the Paul George trade isn’t going to change that.

Next: The rebirth of the Indiana Pacers

Still, it’s always fun to daydream about what might have been.

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