The Indiana Pacers have downplayed expectations this season with Paul George injured, but with the chance of him returning for the playoffs, the Pacers may not shop Roy Hibbert in a trade after doing that this summer and while teams like the Trail Blazers, Pistons or Wizards could be interested in a deal, Indy likely will stand pat and see how George recovers from his serious injury.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, George has spoken with reporters and said that the idea of him missing the entire season is not a guarantee and that he could return for the playoffs. The Pacers should be a playoff team in the east this season and so far George has had good reports on his rehab. George was injured while playing with USA basketball in a scrimmage game with the team and his leg injury was gruesome and scary this summer.
Hibbert was shopped over the summer and Pro Basketball Talk reported on some potential deals, including with the Suns and the Pistons. Now that Greg Monroe is signed on a one year deal, that trade likely will not be happening, while the Suns appear content to keep Goran Dragic even with Eric Bledsoe signed. Hibbert could have been an option for Dragic, as Marc Stein reported that the Pacers wanted Dragic at point guard, but now that they have signed his bro Zoran, he isn't going anywhere.
David West and others have addressed the fact that George is out and they have said that the team will have to find a way to get things done despite that. West resigned to the fact that the team likely will not compete for a title, but if George comes back and is healthy by the playoffs, things could change. George likely will need a ton of time to get back to normal, but having him on the court or at least healthy on the bench waiting to come in will change things for the Pacers drastically.
The Pacers have the toughest division in basketball with the Cavaliers and the Bulls there and that means they will have to make it into the playoffs as one of the middle seeded teams. The Pacers won the division easily last season, but now LeBron is in Cleveland and Derrick Rose is back healthy. The Pacers hope that George can come back, but they know that he will need time to get back to normal after his devastating injury. The team signed Rodney Stuckey in the offseason and while he is no Paul George, he at least can help with his loss and the loss of Lance Stephenson, who signed with the Bobcats in the offseason.
