NBA Rumors: Indiana Pacers Could Trade Paul George To Orlando Magic


The Indiana Pacers are entering the offseason with a lot of different options, to say the least. Paul George is coming off of an amazing season after returning from a broken leg, but rumors are swirling about the possibility that he could be traded. Many different teams have been rumored as a potential landing spot, but one of the latest potential destinations is extremely intriguing.

Maxwell Ogden of Hoops Habit opined that George could end up being traded to the Orlando Magic.

Orlando would make for a very intriguing landing spot, to say the least. Frank Vogel was just hired to be their new head coach and they have a young, talented roster to go along with him.

During the 2015-16 regular season with the Pacers, George ended up averaging 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He shot 41.8 percent of his shots overall and knocked down 37.1 percent from behind the three-point arc. George also showed major improvement as a leader both on and off-the-court, which will come up big for him in the future.

The Orlando Magic could acquire Paul George.
[Photo by AP Photo/Seth Wenig]
At just 26-years-old, George would fit into the Magic’s rebuilding plan perfectly. His presence would immediately make them a playoff team in the Eastern Conference and could power them to the upper half of the standings.

There is no question that the Magic would be interested in George, but the Pacers likely won’t be too interested in dealing him.

Larry Bird has never been one to not listen to a trade offer when a team approaches him. There is a legitimate chance that the Pacers would move George if a team blew them away with an offer.

Indiana would ask for one or two of the Magic’s talented young players in return for George. Victor Oladipo would make a lot of sense for Indiana, while Aaron Gordon or Nikola Vucevic would be a big pickup as well.

The Indiana Pacers could trade Paul George to the Orlando Magic.
[Photo by AP Photo/David Zalubowski]
If the Pacers were to trade George, it would be one of the biggest blockbuster deals that the NBA has seen in awhile. George is without question one of the top players in the league and can power his team to the postseason. Indiana saw that this season against the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs, and there is still plenty of room for George to continue growing.

It will be intriguing to see what teams end up showing interest in the Pacers’ superstar. Even though the Pacers aren’t going to be shopping him, that will not stop teams from gauging Indiana’s interest.

Vogel would definitely welcome a reunion with George if the Magic could make it happen. George posted a very heartwarming farewell to Vogel on his personal Instagram account after the Pacers made the decision not to retain him. It shows the respect and love that the two men have for one another.

Needless to say, it will be a fun offseason for NBA fans with all the trade rumors going around and the big name free agents that are on the market.

Expect to hear a lot of rumors surrounding George and the Pacers this coming offseason. Orlando would be wise to place a call and see what Bird says about a potential deal.

If the Magic are able to pull off a deal for George, they would immediately become serious contenders in the Eastern Conference. It has been awhile since the Magic were considered a threat, but that would be the case immediately.

Do you think the Orlando Magic could put together a trade package that would intrigue the Indiana Pacers? Is there any chance that the Pacers will consider dealing Paul George this offseason? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

[Photo by AP Photo/R Brent Smith]

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