Indiana Pacers: Moments that still haunt the franchise

Jan 29, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) sits on the scorer's table waiting to enter the game in his return to the court for the first time from a season ending injury. He retuned during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

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Indiana Pacers, NBA Draft (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

2011 Draft Day still haunts the Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers traded the draft rights to Kahwi Leonard and Davis Bertans for George Hill. Great trade for the Pacers right? Wrong. I know what some of you are going to say, “the Pacers didn’t draft Kawhi, the Spurs told them to.”

Yes, that is a fair statement, but you have to look at it from a different viewpoint. The Pacers had that pick in the draft and could have used it to select Kawhi Leonard, even though they already had Paul George and Danny Granger on the team.

Hindsight is 2020 and that pick would make no sense at the time for the Pacers, but you have to look at it with what is known now. As of now, Kawhi Leonard is a two-time champ, two-time Finals MVP, four-time All-Star, and a two-time DPOY along with other high honors. George Hill was a very good point guard for the Indiana Pacers along with being a fan favorite, while the Pacers went to back-to-back conference finals appearances.

I love me some George Hill, but this is a haunting moment for Pacers fans. If you don’t agree, go look up a picture of Kawhi getting drafted with his Pacers hat on then come back to me.

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