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5 NBA Teams That Should Consider Trading Their Best Player

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 27, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings center center DeMarcus Cousins (15) dribbles the ball as Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) defends during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings center center DeMarcus Cousins (15) dribbles the ball as Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) defends during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) looks for an open man against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Indiana Pacers — Paul George

The Indiana Pacers were a divisive team entering the 2016-17 campaign, but so far, a lackluster defense and an offense less potent than advertised have skewed expectations back toward the more negative preseason predictions.

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The Pacers are 15-15, which is good enough for seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, but this team is unlikely to emerge as a top playoff team. That alone should not give Indiana cause for dealing PG-13, but there are a couple of other factors to consider too.

For starters, George only has one more season left on his contract after this one, before a $20.7 million player option in 2018-19 that he will surely opt out of, either to leave the franchise, or to re-up with the Pacers for more money. In either event, Thaddeus Young and Monta Ellis will be facing the same decision that summer, plus Al Jefferson will be on a non-guaranteed contract.

Throw in Jeff Teague‘s contract coming off the books this summer and it’s clear Larry Bird will have quite a few decisions to make over the next year or two, especially in regard to re-signing Teague. Is this core really good enough to make the most of PG-13’s prime now that he’s 26? Or would it be better to start shipping off assets and restructuring the franchise’s timeline around Myles Turner?

The Pacers have some time to figure things out, but early indications are this roster is not a contender as currently built. George has had to deal with the departures of George Hill, Roy Hibbert, David West and Lance Stephenson — the other four starters on the Pacers teams that went to back-to-back conference finals — and he’s also had to endure being played at the 4, the firing of Frank Vogel and now this current offense-heavy approach.

If this core fails to come together, how much more patience will George have with the franchise and Larry Bird? There’s no question he’s an elite two-way talent, averaging 21.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game on .448/.383/.918 shooting splits, so there’d be plenty of suitors and quite a few attractive offers to help Indiana rebuild.

The question is, how much longer with Bird throw these haphazard rosters together in a desperate attempt to contend before realizing it might be time to realign the team’s timeline around its most promising youngster? The Pacers don’t need to trade Paul George this season by any stretch of the imagination, but how things go in 2016-17 could force the issue in the future.