Magic vs. Bird for Paul George?

Sam Amick

Paul George wants to stay in Indiana.

But like so many things this time of year, when the phones are ringing off the hook in NBA offices as the trade deadline nears, the situation between the four-time All-Star and his Indiana Pacers is racked with nuance. So when George met with team owner Herb Simon in recent days and told him the Hoosier state was still the place for him, how he would love nothing more than to eventually go down as the greatest Pacer of them all, it came with one qualifier.

If they can contend for a title.

According to a person with knowledge of the meeting who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity, that is the crossroads that Pacers president Larry Bird now faces.

George will be a free agent in the summer of 2018, and it’s no secret that the 26-year-old Palmdale, California, native would love nothing more than to sign with his hometown Lakers if the future is bleak. The fact that the Lakers are in the process of trying to land George right now, with new lead executive Magic Johnson moving fast to fill that superstar hole that Kobe Bryant left behind, makes this week all the more compelling.

Magic & Bird, together again as NBA power brokers, on Day No. 2 of Johnson’s new job. You can’t make this stuff up.

What will Knicks do?

With a 23-34 record, the New York Knicks seem poised - panicked? - to make a move of some sort.

Derrick Rose, with an expiring contract, has been the subject of rumors, including a possible deal to Minnesota to reunite with his old Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. Brandon Jennings and Courtney Lee have also garnered interest from other teams.

Carmelo Anthony has been shopped since he and team president Phil Jackson hit a new low in their relationship in mid-January when a story surfaced from Jackson’s pal Charley Rosen that Anthony believed represented Jackson’s thoughts — including the criticism that he had outlived his usefulness in New York.

At that point Anthony , for the first time since arriving in New York, said he would be willing to hear from the front office if he wasn’t wanted. But he has also dug in his heels, unwilling to just give Jackson freedom to move him.

The thought is that he might be amenable to a move to the Los Angeles Clippers, where his friend, Chris Paul, is the point guard, or possibly Cleveland where he could unite with LeBron James. The Celtics have also been engaged by the Knicks in talks.