The Indiana Pacers suffered a major loss with the Paul George leg injury and now drastic measures could be taken, as a trade for Goran Dragic with the Suns or a free agent deal with Greg Monroe could be options to try and make up for the loss, as George is expected to be out for the season as he recovers from a serious leg fracture suffered in a scrimmage with USA Basketball on Friday night in Las Vegas.
According to ESPN.com, George suffered a serious leg fracture while making a defensive play in the USA Basketball scrimmage and now the Pacers have to find a way to replace what he does on the court. Obviously in some ways that is impossible, but Marc Stein wrote earlier in the offseason that the team was looking into a potential trade for Goran Dragic and now the team could pick back up on that. The team also had been reportedly shopping Roy Hibbert, but any idea of doing that is now off the table with George injured for the season.
Reports also have Greg Monroe looking to get out of Detroit and while the Atlanta Hawks have come up as a potential trade option, the Pacers could step up as well. The team is mostly covered with Hibbert and West, but they may need to make a drastic move now that George is out. Adding Dragic would be huge, as the team has long wanted to upgrade from George Hill and right now there isn't much on the free agent market, although the team did add Rodney Stuckey already this offseason.
George is considered to be one of the best players in the NBA and he is a budding superstar for the Pacers and now his career could be on a new trajectory. So far all reports have the surgery having been successful and his full recovery looks to be in the cards, but with an injury this severe, no one can know how he will be once he returns and it could mean he is never the same. Derrick Rose suffered multiple knee injuries and he is just getting back onto the court, but one plus for George is that this was a clean break and not anything with ligaments.
The Pacers, Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers all were expected to battle in the central division this season and while Indiana can still be good, losing George changes everything for this team. Last season George averaged 21 points and six rebounds per game and just signed a five year extension worth over $90 million and now he will be out for at least a year. The Pacers know that their window is open right now and the loss of George could change all of that. The team now has Roy Hibbert and David West along with Luis Scola as their core and this means George Hill must step up as well.
The Pacers have a long road with George and his recovery and now they must focus on this season and not letting the injury affect them. The Bulls have made the playoffs for two seasons without Rose and while they haven't won any titles, the team has been very competitive and now Indy will try and do the same.
