A former Pacers player might have no choice but to come back to Indiana

When Paul George left the Pacers, it was ugly. He wanted to leave Indiana, so he let them know with a year left on his contract. He actually helped Indiana in that regard because it allowed them to get something for him. In the end, he was traded for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

The fans were not happy that George decided to bail on Indiana. They have booed him ever since he left, at multiple different stops. Now, he's a free agent and is still a really good player. He actually played in his most games since the 2018-19 season.

George hasn't been able to come to an extension deal with the Clippers. They have already committed to Kawhi Leonard. In recent news, the 76ers have pivoted away from pursuing George as a free agent. That leaves George with fewer options to go if he wants to contend for a championship.

Could the Pacers swoop in and sign Paul George in free agency?

The Pacers still need a wing that can play well on defense. While George isn't quite at his defensive peak, he's still very good. His length would be a great asset to an Indiana team that needs it. George is also still quite a scorer and a good secondary playmaker. Quite frankly, he'd be a great signing.

Do the Pacers have any shot of signing him now that Philly is turning their attention elsewhere? The odds have gone up for sure, but they are still low. George is still looking for a max deal, something the Pacers can't afford to give him after bringing back Pascal Siakam.

There are only two ways in which Indiana can bring him back. Either Herb Simon goes against what he's done for the last 30+ when it comes to spending on the franchise, or George would have to take a pay cut. The latter is more likely, but still very small. He is still looking for one last big deal.

The odds are still low for the Pacers to bring back the former Indiana superstar. But it's still worth keeping an eye on. Crazier things have happened.