Is Former All-Star Danny Granger’s Career Over?

The Indiana Pacers traded Danny Granger to the Philadelphia 76ers this season at the trade deadline, and that deal signaled more than just the Pacers moving on from their former superstar. Indiana has had multiple opportunities in the past to make a trade involving Granger, but this time around they were actually willing to pull the trigger. What does that mean for both the Pacers and Granger?

Quite frankly, the Pacers have been holding onto Granger for the last couple years in hopes that he would be able to recover from his injuries. There were flashes of the old Granger here and there during the first half of the year with Indiana, but he quite simply didn’t have much left in the tank. It seemed that he would get tired extremely quickly in a game, and his shot would get flat. His defense wasn’t as good as it has been in the past, and he got burnt by quite a few players that shouldn’t have any business beating him.

Looking at his season with both the Pacers and Clippers, the question has been raised on whether or not his career is practically over. There have been about 10 or 15 games this season, including the playoffs, that Granger has shown his old form. In the NBA, 10 or 15 games simply isn’t enough to make a contract worthwhile. The bottom line is that Granger doesn’t have much game left, and that his career is almost over.

Granger averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game this season between the Pacers and Clippers. Those numbers are by far the lowest that he has averaged throughout his NBA career, outside of his rookie season and the 2012 season in which he only played five games. He did miss some time early this year with a strained calf and some time with the Clippers late in the year, but for the most part he has been relatively healthy.

It’s tough to see a former All-Star go out the way that Granger appears to be heading. At one point in his career, Granger was a 25.8 points per game scorer, and was one of the most lethal offensive weapons in the game. Now, he struggles to make a wide open 3-point attempt. There isn’t any way to argue the fact that he simply doesn’t have much good basketball left in him.

That doesn’t mean that he won’t get one more chance with a contract this offseason, but it’s time for Granger to start realizing where his body is. He has sustained too many injuries, too much wear and tear, and in all honesty too much basketball throughout his career. It’s going to be a very sad day when Granger calls it quits, but the end does not appear to be too far away.

Evan Massey is a Staff Writer for HoopsHabit.com. Follow Evan on Twitter at @Massey_Evan.