NBA trade rumors about the supposed transfer of Indiana Pacers' superstar Paul George to the Detroit Piston got the attention of the news just recently. The rumored deal was said to be in the works last week and the two teams are just finalizing the terms of the deal. But the question, is the trade talks between the Pacers and Pistons are for real?
George has been targeted by numerous teams for the past couple of months. He's been linked to being traded Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics. However, none of those trade deal ever prosper and just diminish suddenly.
George, who is averaging 21.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 17 games this season, is no doubt a high-value player that every team wants on their roster. Being a 3-time NBA All-Star and a member of the US Basketball team who won the gold in the recently concluded Rio Olympics, he will definitely boost any teams rankings that can acquire him.
Now, a trade to the Detroit Pistons is a possibility as per latest news. According to Yahoo Sports, Paul George moving to the Pistons could 'work' for both teams. With guard Reggie Jackson and center Andre Drummond needing a capable superstar who could join them, the arrival of George will absolutely give the Pistons a chance to compete with powerhouse teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.
On the other hand, the Pacers could be going for an earlier rebuild with their acquisition as per stated in the recently reporte NBA trade rumors. Harris, Caldwell-Pope, and Johnson are solid players that are consistent contributors for the Pistons, however, they are not superstar players like George. Though the trade could not lead them to the playoffs this season but it could help their future in the end.
However, on a separate report by MLive, Pistons team president, and coach Stan Van Gundy has already denied that they are trading for George. And he believes that the report was a "made up" article coming from unconfirmed sources.
With all that said, Detroit Pistons management officially confirms that they are not chasing Paul George and are moving on with their current roster. Also, Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird already pronounced that the Indiana Pacers are committed to having George as the cornerstone of their franchise and will not be traded either.
Stay tuned to the latest NBA trade rumors and updates.
