Indiana Pacers: 4 former players that would have helped this season

Paul George would bring All-Star power to any team

Paul George’s relationship with Pacers fans is obviously a testy one. Forcing his way out of Indiana in 2017 due to frustration over the team never getting over the hump of competing with LeBron James and the Miami Heat, the Pacers were put in an awkward spot.

They landed a good haul for him in their trade with the OKC Thunder, and Pacers fans wouldn’t undo this one for anything. The team was able to get its two brightest young stars out of the PG13 deal, all you can really ask for when your franchise cornerstone wants out.

George, since leaving Indiana, has been as consistent as ever. He’s been an All-Star in two of the three seasons since, and this year his All-Star bid was held back by injuries throughout the season. He’s a top-15 player in the NBA when healthy.

Having requested a trade away from yet another team this past summer, he has teamed up with another contentious player in Pacers history, a player the Pacers technically drafted in order to trade him to the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard. The duo hasn’t seen much time together as they’ve both been in and out of the lineup with injuries.

George, in 42 games this year is averaging 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He’s shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from beyond the arc.

His leadership, All-Star skill level, and will to win would take things up a notch for the Pacers. Though fans are content with Oladipo and Sabonis, George would certainly raise the profile of any team that he is a part of.