8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

Can we move on to the next era of the Indiana Pacers?

By Ben Gibson

TERRE HAUTE - NOVEMBER 9: Former NBA legends Larry Bird and Bill Walton pose for a picture with Indiana Pacers owner Herbert Simon during the unveiling of the Larry Bird statue at the Hulman Center on the campus of Indiana State University on November 9, 2013 in Terre Haute, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2013 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
TERRE HAUTE - NOVEMBER 9: Former NBA legends Larry Bird and Bill Walton pose for a picture with Indiana Pacers owner Herbert Simon during the unveiling of the Larry Bird statue at the Hulman Center on the campus of Indiana State University on November 9, 2013 in Terre Haute, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2013 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The drama of the Paul George trade seemed to be over until a report surfaced that Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon was going to sue the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA.

After the NBA fined the Los Angeles Lakers $500,000 for Magic Johnson’s public comments regarding Paul George, the train wreck of an ending of his time with the Indiana Pacers had seemingly come to an end.

However, there was at least one more dying breath taken before it is dead and gone.

Peter Vecsey first reported over the weekend that Simon was considering a lawsuit against the NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the statement released by the Pacers on Wednesday, Simon said there was never a consideration of suing and he wanted to put the issue behind the organization.

"“Contrary to a published report, I would like to emphatically state that neither I nor the Indiana Pacers have ever considered any legal action toward the NBA or the Los Angeles Lakers regarding the recent decision and penalty concerning tampering charges. We agree with the NBA’s findings and we want to put this issue behind us. Even though the Pacers were put in a tough position, we feel extremely fortunate to end up with two exceptional players in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Their youth and talent, when coupled with our returning players and other players acquired over the summer, offer tremendous promise for our franchise and our fans.”"

Can this ride be over now? I’d like to get off. The whole situation is effectively over, so can we all put it behind us?

Sure, the wounds will get ripped open

when

if Paul George joins the Lakers next offseason, but there apparently wasn’t anything concrete other than Magic’s comments on Jimmy Kimmel to the tampering case.

More from Pacers News

We get it, the Pacers didn’t make the best trade, but they didn’t have many options. While new president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard’s tenure is off to a rocky start, a strong offseason in 2018 can change everything.

That’s a very big if, of course, but we know this season is unfortunately dead on arrival. Worrying about whether Indiana’s short-term could be any better is foolish knowing how toxic the Paul George situation had become. At least Pritchard can clear salary space next season and start over in 2018.

Paul George is gone, and that’s fine. He wanted to leave — and though he could have gone about it in a better way — so what’s done is done. You can only do so many autopsies on the situation before there is no body left to exam.

Next: Indiana Pacers sign DeQuan Jones and Trey McKinney-Jones

Myles Turner is the future. T.J. Leaf, Ike Anigbogu, and Edmond Sumner could be part of it too. The Paul George Era was fun, but it is over.

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