Paul George will remain an Indiana Pacer for at least the next few months.
The 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline came and went without a deal for the Pacers’ star forward, despite rumors to the contrary into the final hours.
NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted the Pacers had multiple talks with the Boston Celtics about George. ESPN reported Pacers president Larry Bird invited the Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers to make pitches for the 26-year-old, and that a “monster” deal was offered by the Denver Nuggets in exchange for George, but the team didn’t budge.
Wojnarowski tweeted shortly before the 3 p.m. deadline that the Pacers passed on offers for the All-Star forward.
Indiana has passed on trade offers for Paul George and All-Star forward will remain with the Pacers, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 23, 2017
George has one year left on his contract after this year. If he isn’t going to re-sign with the Pacers, look for the team to trade him this offseason to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency.
George has been rumored to want to join the Lakers for years. He’s from Palmdale, Calif., which is about an hour away from Los Angeles.
With no trade Thursday, the 6th-place Pacers will move forward with their core team for at least the rest of the 2016-17 season.
George, 26, is having another great statistical season. He's averaging 22.3 points and 6.2 assists per game, but it hasn't led to as many wins for the team. The Pacers are 29-28, and have lost six straight.
"I've got a team to turn around in the second half, and that's what I'm committed to," he said Wednesday.
RELATED | As trade rumors swirl, George gets back to work with Pacers
George's name has come up in trade talks this year partially due to the emergence of 20-year-old center Myles Turner.
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