Pacers defend decision to trade George
Nowitzki, 39, signs with Dallas for two more years, $10 million
INDIANAPOLIS — Kevin Pritchard struggled to make the deal.
Eventually, he figured dealing Paul George was the best way to protect the Indiana Pacers.
On Thursday, Pritchard finally made the blockbuster trade official by announcing the four-time All-Star was heading to Oklahoma City in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
“It was difficult both on a personal and professional level,” Pritchard said in a statement issued by the team. “Everyone here knows what Paul meant to this franchise; he was both a tremendous human being as well as player here for seven years. We thank Paul and his family for their contributions to the Pacers and wish him well.”
George essentially forced the move when word leaked that he intended to leave the team as a free agent next summer just before the NBA draft.
That disclosure put the Pacers in a bind: Build around George for one final run at an NBA title, lose their star player and get nothing in return or shop George for the best deal they could find with his public plans hurting his trade value. Pritchard called the news a “gut punch” during last month’s draft. He hasn’t spoken to reporters since.
“We feel very strongly about the potential Victor and Domantas bring to our team and what they mean for the future of the franchise,” Pritchard said. “Both are highly competitive, highly skilled and both are winners. That is why both were lottery picks. That is why we sought them out to be part of this deal.”
George finishes his career in Indiana with averages of 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals. He was named the league’s most improved player in 2012-13, was selected to the All-NBA third team three times, and drew national acclaim for his strong comeback after suffering a broken right leg during a Team USA scrimmage in August 2014.
TRADE: The Los Angeles Clippers have acquired forward Danilo Gallinari from Denver as part of a three-team trade that also involved Atlanta.
In the swap announced Thursday, the Clippers sent Jamal Crawford, Diamond Stone, cash considerations and a protected 2018 first-round pick to the Hawks. The Nuggets receive a 2019 second-round pick from Atlanta.
The sharp-shooting Gallinari joins a Clippers team that recently traded Chris Paul to Houston, but agreed to a five-year deal with Blake Griffin.
Gallinari was originally selected by New York with the sixth overall pick in 2008. He wound up in Denver as part of the blockbuster deal in February 2011 that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks.
HEAT: Chris Bosh again is a free agent. Amid league-wide concern about the blood clots that have had him away from the game since February 2016, and with salary-cap space having dried up around the league, the Miami forward cleared waivers.
Meanwhile, Miami signed Kelly Olynyk, a 7-foot center who spent his first four NBA seasons with Boston. MAVERICKS: At age 39, Dirk Nowitzki has a deal that sets him up to join Kobe Bryant as the only players to spend 20 seasons with one NBA franchise. Dirk and Dallas agreed on a two-year, $10 million contract that carries a team option in the second season. GRIZZLIES: Memphis plans to retire the No. 50 jersey worn by Zach Randolph, who is leaving the team after eight seasons to sign with Sacramento. Majority owner Robert Pera thanks Randolph for helping “turn a lottery team into a perennial playoff contender” and helping “make a basketball team a model of community service.” KINGS: Sacramento and eight-time All-Star Vince Carter agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal Thursday, league sources confirmed. Carter, 40, spent the past three seasons with Memphis and will reunite with coach Dave Joerger, who led the Grizzlies in Carter’s first two seasons there.