NBA Trade Rumors: No Chance Indiana Pacers Will Trade Paul George To Detroit Pistons


One of the more interesting NBA trade rumors hit the web not long ago. The Detroit Pistons were looking to make a play for Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, according to the trade rumor. If there is any validity to a possible swap between the Pacers and Pistons, it would be an intriguing possibility. Chances are great that Paul George will remain with the Indiana Pacers for the foreseeable future, but a deal sending him to the Detroit Pistons is worth examining.

In order for the Pacers to consider moving Paul George, a huge offer would have to be made. Yahoo Sports is speculating that the rumored offer the Pistons are willing to give the Pacers includes Tobias Harris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Stanley Johnson. On top of three-thirds of their starting lineup, the Pistons would also part with three future first-round picks. The Pacers would send George and Monta Ellis to Detroit.

In theory, that is a lot for the Detroit Pistons to give up.

Is Paul George a hall of fame player?

Is Paul George a generational player?

George might be both of those things, which is why the Indiana Pacers could refuse to part with him. Conversely, George may just be a great player. He is clearly one of the top 10 players in the NBA. Why would the Pacers trade him?

Detroit Pistons
Tobias Harris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Stanley Johnson were rumored to be offered by the Detroit Pistons in a trade with the Indiana Pacers for Paul George. [Image by Michael Reaves/Getty Images]

And why would the Pacers trade him to a division rival?

If the deal is accurate, getting three starters and three picks for Paul George and Monta Ellis makes sense.

The Pacers would get some youthful depth in the trade. Harris, Caldwell-Pope, and Johnson are all under the age of 25. Each of them can develop into star players. At worse, they would be above-average starters on a team that would make the playoffs.

Because the Pacers would still make the postseason if they were to trade Paul George for the rumored offer, it is possible they would entertain the deal. Obviously the Pistons would do it; they are getting the best player in the trade if it were to happen.

Paul George teaming up with Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, and Marcus Morris would make the Pistons formidable. The only thing that would be missing is shooting.

A trade between the Pacers and Pistons works according to the NBA trade rules. Each team would be improved from the additions, but do not ponder too long, since nothing is going to take place with the Pacers and Pistons. It took Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy to douse out the flames on all of the trade rumors (courtesy of the Detroit Free Press).

“Yeah, it’s just being finalized. Like somebody thinks of an idea and they write it into an article as if they’ve really got a source. I’d like to know who the source is because that guy should talk to us.”

Another wonderful idea snuffed out. Trading Paul George and Monta Ellis for Tobias Harris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Stanley Johnson has a good ring to it. Stan Van Gundy has said no to the thought.

Before anything gets dismissed between the Pacers and Pistons, there is a minor trade they can work out with each other. But it is only a minor deal.

C.J. Miles for Marcus Morris would help both teams.

Miles is a solid three-point shooter who could help the Detroit Pistons by stretching opposing defenses. The Pistons need more shooting. Truthfully they have a playoff team once again, but their chances would be enhanced by a shooter.

With Morris the Pacers would get a second or third scorer. Morris is a streaky shooter from the outside, but he does enough offensive moves to compliment the Pacers.

Asides from a C.J. Miles and Marcus Morris swap, which the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons should do, there is nothing happening. Not a Paul George trade, nothing between the Pacers and Pistons. No chance that will happen. Not in a million years.

[Featured Image by Andy Lyons/Getty Images]

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