The Indiana Pacers are making a push for free agent Shawn Marion this offseason to help with the Paul George injury and he is their top option over a Roy Hibbert trade along with other players like MarShon Brooks, Ramon Sessions, Gary Forbes and Ray Allen in free agency and this comes after the team already signed Rodney Stuckey this offseason.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Pacers are targeting Marion along with MarShon Brooks, Ramon Sessions and Gary Forbes as free agent options to help replace George and they can use the disabled player exception to get it done. That will be worth $5,305,000 million for the team and they also could look at Ray Allen as an option, but he looks set on retirement or the Cavaliers. The team has used their midlevel exception already and bringing in Marion could be massive even though he is an aging player.
The Pacers are dealing with a major blow with the George injury and now they have to find a way to get something to make up for his production. Obviously no player can do what George does since he is one of the best in the league and that is not easily replaceable, but this late in the summer the Pacers have to figure out something. Free agent options are slim but solid, while trades might be too drastic right now and there really isn't anyone they can go after that will make a major impact without losing something big.
George is a budding superstar and he averaged over 20 points and six rebounds per game last season and losing him is losing the best player on the team. George suffered a fractured leg and it came on a hustle play while playing USA Basketball while getting ready for FIBA and now the team has to move on without him. George had successful surgery and doctors had good news on his prognosis after it was done.
George is likely out for the year, but his career is not derailed yet and while it could be hard for him to come back, other players have done it before. Soccer player Aaron Ramsey had a similar injury and is now back and playing well and the mental side could be one thing that George struggles with on his way back. George is a strong willed player and he has dealt with adversity in his past and that means he will be able to handle the long road ahead of him. The Pacers said that he could be out for the year and that's what they are expecting.
The east now is wide open if the Pacers can't replace George, as the Cleveland Cavaliers are better along with the Chicago Bulls and that's just the central division. The Knicks will be better than last season, while the Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors also made improvements and they should be in the mix for the playoffs as well. The Pacers had their sights on a championship this season and while they still could be in the mix, the team suffered a major blow with the loss of George and they may not be able to recover.
