March 2016 Indiana Pacers Wiretap

Paul George: This Season Hasn't Been Fun

Dec 30, 2016 12:38 PM

Paul George said he's done criticizing referees and will focus on turning around the Indiana Pacers' season.

"I've been getting caught up with officials, getting caught up with on-court stuff," George said after practice Wednesday. "(I've lost) sight of how fun this game is to me. … Now whatever happens on the court, I couldn't care less, as long as I'm having fun and enjoying what I'm doing.

The Pacers have a 15-18 record and he's received $25,000 worth of fines.

"This season hasn't been (fun)," he said. "It's been one of the most frustrating seasons I've been a part of. But I just have to approach it as being myself, to enjoy the process, enjoy the grind. That's only going to show on the court. But more so, it's going to show in the locker room."

Jim Ayello/Indianapolis Star

Tags: Paul George, Indiana Pacers, NBA

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Paul George Fined $15k For 'Little Brother' Remark

Dec 28, 2016 6:47 PM

Paul George has been fined $15,000 by the NBA while Nate McMillan received a $10,000 fine for publicly criticizing the officials.

George and McMillan were irked by the lack of foul calls the Pacers received against the Bulls on Monday night.

"I've been fined multiple times," George told reporters. "I've been vocal to the point where the league issues [a statement], 'Hey, we missed a call. Hey, we missed that.' Officials do it during games [saying], 'I missed that call, I missed this call. We're sorry. We're sorry.' It's getting repetitive.

"They see it, they know what's going on. They know what's a foul. They know what's not a foul. It comes down from somewhere else how these games are going, I believe."

George was asked if he felt that things would be different if he played for a big-market team.

"Since I've been in this jersey we've always fought this battle," George said. "Ever since I've been playing, ever since I've been in this jersey, we've fought this battle. Maybe the league has teams they like so they can give them the benefit of the doubt. We're the little brother of the league. We're definitely the little brother of the league."


ESPN

Tags: Paul George, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Fines

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New CBA To Contain Designated Veteran Extension Provision

Dec 15, 2016 11:10 AM

An important new aspect of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement will be the ability for teams to sign their own players to extensions.

Teams will be able to choose up to two Designated Veterans to sign to a long-term extension.

The ability for teams to sign their own players to extensions was compromised as part of the collective bargaining agreement that was put in place in 2011.

The initial beneficiaries of the new provision will likely be the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings who will be able to extend Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins, respectively, in the 2017 offseason. Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder could also agree upon a new extension.

Criteria for those designated players will be based on achievements, including appearances on All-NBA teams and Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year award winners.

Zach Lowe reports that Year 1 of the extension can be any amount up to 35 percent of cap even if the team has no cap room.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA CBA

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Thunder, Pacers, Rockets Have Had Interest In Rudy Gay

Dec 14, 2016 12:36 PM

Rudy Gay can become a free agent this offseason and has openly suggested he isn't interested in re-signing with the Sacramento Kings.

"The one player who is going to have to move between now and the trade deadline is Rudy Gay," said Wojnarowski. "I don't think the Kings can make the same mistake New Orleans made last year with Ryan Anderson. Ryan Anderson was pretty clear he was not going to re-sign there and they lost him for nothing. Especially for a team so devoid of assets, they couldn't let him walk for nothing.

"Oklahoma City got down to the wire before Cameron Payne's injury (trading for Gay).

There are several teams with interest in trading for Gay.

"There's no question Oklahoma City. Indiana has had interest in him. Houston has had some peripheral interest. I don't think they have the pieces to trade."

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertial

Tags: Rudy Gay, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Pacers Have Zero Interest In Even Listening To Paul George Trade Offers

Dec 14, 2016 12:05 PM

Paul George has a player option in 2018 where he can become a free agent but the Indiana Pacers remain committed to trying to build a winning team around him.

"I know teams have been calling Indiana and asking about Paul George and the answer is absolutely, positively no," said Wojnarowski about a possible trade. "'He's not available, there's no conversation to be had, don't even make offers to us. We're not moving Paul George.'"

"Their mindset in Indiana is to continue to try to build around Paul George and Myles Turner and try to find a combination around them that will get Paul to want to re-sign and stay there.

"That being said, I think the Pacers are very much open for business with almost everybody else. I think they're in a place where they're willing to go out and try to find some guys to put around him."

The Pacers currently have a 13-12 record, which puts them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Paul George, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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