NBA Rumors: Pacers tried to start Paul George bidding war between Warriors-Cavs
According to a report, the Indiana Pacers tried to leverage the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers into a bidding war for Paul George.
The NBA has lost it’s mind since the conclusion of the NBA Finals. Accomplished executives are being let go, star players want out and the top pick in the draft has been moved. To say the Golden State Warriors have turned the league upside down would be an understatement.
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The Indiana Pacers have to move Paul George soon and they have to do whatever they can to get any leverage they possibly could get. According to Ric Bucher, the Pacers thought they could get some leverage by putting the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers in a bidding war against each other.
Bucher notes that Kevin Pritchard, according to league sources, tried to inform both parties of the other’s interest in George. It’s not clear how much further it went beyond that but it’s certainly an interesting ploy by Indiana.
While George is one of the best players in the league, Golden State would have to move one of their core peaces. By virtue of being at the top and nearly unstoppable currently, it really wouldn’t make sense for the Warriors to get involved.
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Cleveland on the other hand is going to be making changes and they might be the only trade option if the Los Angeles Lakers decide to hold off for now. It makes sense the Pacers would at least attempt to get a bidding war going, but with the place the Warriors are currently in, it probably was seen through quickly. That’s not to say the Warriors wouldn’t always be looking at ways to improve their team.
It’s just that now doesn’t seem like the time for them to rush a decision like this. The Pacers really have one option right now and there isn’t much leverage to go along with it.