The Indiana Pacers and swingman Paul George realized their worst nightmare on Friday night. George, the Pacers’ best player, suffered a lower right leg fracture, which has since been diagnosed as an open tibia-fibula fracture. He has already had surgery on the leg and he will now likely miss the entire 2014-2015 season.
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Considering the Pacers also guard Lance Stephenson to the Charlotte Hornets, many have wondered if the team may opt to deal a few of their other key players – center Roy Hibbert and power forward David West – and try to rebuild while George rehabs, perhaps even netting a top pick in the process. Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors doesn’t believe the Pacers will blow things up but will likely have a few “fairly significant changes.”
"Paul George is under contract until 2019, so I don’t think they’re planning on taking a Sixers-esque route. West certainly isn’t getting any younger, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pacers trade him at some point this year. For everything that went wrong with Hibbert last year, he’s still an elite defensive center, so I don’t think they’ll simply trade him for spare parts. There’s no need to blow it up completely, but some fairly significant changes will probably happen."
The Pacers have been tied to MarShon Brooks and Gary Forbes as replacements for George but none of those players can fill his shoes. Boston Celtics’ forward Jeff Green has been discussed in connection with the Pacers but that doesn’t seem likely. They have also been tied to Dallas Mavericks’ free agent forward Shawn Marion but it appears the Cleveland Cavaliers have the upper hand because of LeBron James.
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