5 NBA Teams Approaching Critical 2017 Playoff Runs

5. Indiana Pacers

Paul George‘s free agency is still a year away, but the clock already seems to be winding down on his time with the Indiana Pacers.

Just three years ago, the Pacers were appearing in their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and seemed like a dynasty in the making. They were the challengers who would one day topple LeBron James‘ Miami Heat powerhouse.

But Roy Hibbert was already in decline halfway through the season, Lance Stephenson left in free agency that summer, David West was gone not long after that, the underrated Ian Mahinmi departed last summer and George Hill was traded as well.

Larry Bird‘s replacements for those players — Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis, Thaddeus Young and Al Jefferson — have all disappointed. Teague is a free agent this summer, Ellis’ game has dropped off quicker than anyone expected, Jefferson is all but washed up and even though he’ll be a future star, Myles Turner isn’t ready to be the second piece of a dynamic duo with PG-13.

The Pacers have played .500 basketball all season, alternating between promising wins and listless losses — including a recent 15-game stretch where they literally fluctuated from one side of the win-loss column to the other with each passing game.

Preseason predictions that a faster offense would lead to a top-four seed were clearly too optimistic, but the Pacers have still managed to underwhelm. With frustration mounting for the franchise star, not to mention George’s reported interest in joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 if Indiana isn’t contending again soon, the 2017 NBA Playoffs could be the first major domino to fall.

With the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors playing tremendous basketball at the moment, plus the Cleveland Cavaliers still having LeBron to compensate for their recent struggles, it’s unlikely anyone in the bottom-four of the Eastern playoff picture reaches the second round. To that end, Indiana would probably be better off for the long-term if they tanked the rest of the way.

Obviously that’s not the way to keep Paul George interested in re-upping for the rest of his prime in Indiana, but unfortunately, this team isn’t built to get past the first round…barring some sort of unbelievable playoff series from PG-13, that is.

This summer will be a big one for Bird and the Pacers, who may have to decide between two options. The first is trading George on draft day for a handsome Celtics or Nuggets package, all while hoping the Lakers rumors and recent one-sided DeMarcus Cousins trade haven’t lowered his market value too drastically.

The second is an even more difficult path, with Bird trying to find a way to shed the remaining salaries of Jefferson and Ellis and assemble another contender on the fly — an unlikely outcome, especially after last summer’s failed attempt to do the same.

The Pacers have a lot riding on how they finish the season. They’re not title contenders, their franchise superstar is growing weary of his situation and barring an unexpected run that makes PG-13 feel better about the franchise’s future, the summer may hold drastic changes for Indiana if the front office fears losing George for nothing in 2018 free agency.