Indiana Pacers offer their 2017 first round pick to aid Paul George

The Indiana Pacers reportedly will offer their 2017 first round draft pick to secure more help for Paul George.

Paul George is keenly aware that the stratosphere of the NBA has changed. No longer a free-for-all, the NBA has developed into a league dominated by top-heavy talent.

George and the Indiana Pacers enjoyed their successful 2012-14 run, but saw their playoff hopes end by a super team. That super team? The Lebron James-led Miami Heat. George also knows there are three teams that dominate the NBA; the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs. The Pacers, who currently sit at 6th in the Eastern Conference with a 29-28 record, have lost six games in a row. George, seeing that his time in the NBA is precious, recently implied he’s not committing to an extension with the Pacers just yet. But he also stated he wants to stay with the Pacers to bring a championship.

Apparently, the Pacers heard their star player loud and clear. The Pacers front office, according to an ESPN.com report, will make their 2017 first round pick available. This, as the Pacers see it, could entice a team to give up a quality player in return.

"In what is considered to be a deep draft, the Pacers are hoping that such an asset would translate to the addition of either an established wing or established frontline player, according to sources.There is hesitancy within the organization to relinquish the precious pick, but the Pacers (29-28) have lost six in a row (only the nine-win Nets currently have a longer losing streak, at 14 games) and are only two games from dropping into the eighth and final playoff spot in the East."

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It’s hard to blame the Pacers for making such a quick move. George means everything to their franchise and they would be foolish to let him walk. As with all speculation, we will have to see how it plays out leading up to the trade deadline.