Indiana Pacers Reportedly Shopping First-Round Draft Pick

The Indiana Pacers’ 2016-17 campaign can be summarized with one word: inconsistency. If there is any indication of that statement holding to be true, you can just look at the last three weeks as an indication of just that. Dating back to late-January, the team jumped out to a seven-game winning streak, only to follow the streak up by losing seven in-a-row — dropping their overall record to 29-28 as the playoff race tightens.

According to ESPN, Pacers team president Larry Bird may be looking to shop Indiana’s first-round pick in this year’s upcoming draft. The report indicates that the motive behind the possible move could be to provide superstar Paul George with more help on the roster.

Bird wanting to surround George with as much help as he can get in any possible trade makes too much sense for the rumor to be classified as ‘false.’ With the possibility of George opting out of his contract at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season, it may be crucial for the Pacers to prove to George that they can compete for a championship from now until then -- or else Bird will find his best player possibly signing with a superior team.

While George can sign a long-term extension as early as this summer, he hasn’t been fully committed on doing so.

“As I told Larry, I always want to play on a winning team. I always want to be part of a team that has a chance to win it [all]. That's important. Say what you want; I want to compete for something. It's frustrating just playing the game for stats or for numbers or to showcase yourself. Man, I want a chance to play for a chance to win a championship.”

George then touched on his thoughts of winning an NBA championship as a member of the Pacers.

“I wanted to be the first and want to be the first to be able to bring a championship to Indiana. So that's still on my mind ... and something I definitely want to achieve in Indiana."

Prior to the 2016 NBA Draft last June, Bird traded the Pacers’ 20th selection in Caris LeVert to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Thaddeus Young — a trade that Indiana may have gotten the better of. Do not be surprised to see Bird attempt to find success in a similar deal.

The NBA trade deadline is this Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.