Why the Indiana Pacers Can't Afford to Lose Paul George

In only his second year in the league, Paul George has made enormous strides towards becoming an All-Star. George joined five other Pacers on the All-Star ballot this season. Although George may not receive enough votes to be in Orlando come February, he will become an All-Star eventually. 

George took the league by surprise after the shortened training camps. George has helped the Pacers to an 11-4 record, including wins against the Lakers and Atlanta. George brings a spark to the defensive side of the ball for the Pacers.

The team ranks fourth in the league in points allowed at 89.7. The Pacers currently sit in a tie for the second spot in the Eastern Conference with Orlando at 2.5 games back of the leading Bulls. The Pacers will look to solidify second place when they will play Orlando twice within the next week. 

Paul George will play a large role in the Pacers' upcoming games. George must continue to develop as a shooter, scorer and defensive specialist. The Pacers have Orlando twice, their division-rival the Chicago Bulls, and a mediocre Boston team all within the next week.

For the Pacers to make a strong showing against some of the Eastern Conference's elite teams, Paul George will have to string together a few strong games. George is an up-and-comer in the NBA. George is currently ranked fifth in the NBA in three-point percentage at 49 percent. His three-point percentage is up 20 percent from a season ago. 

While George has improved his shooting, he has also improved in nearly every other major category across the stat sheet. George is averaging 11.1 points per game and also dishing out 2.3 assists per game.

George has matured a lot this season and the results are noticeable. George is letting the game come to him more often than not. Last season, it looked as if though George wasn't transitioning well from college, but now we are starting to see what George is capable of in this league. 

With George, Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert making up this very young core for the Indiana Pacers, there is a very bright future ahead. George playing the two is a huge advantage for the Pacers.

Standing at 6'10", George has the length not many two-guards possess in this league. The Pacers need George because he is providing Collison with a bail-out guy always standing around the perimeter.

George is continuing to knock down his shots at a tremendous rate. George has shot over 40 percent during both of his seasons in the league and this year he has started to make his three-pointer, similar to how he did in college. 

There have been many rumors that have surfaced surrounding the Pacers and Eric Gordon. Gordon is a tremendous player and he would be a great addition to the Pacers young core.

As long as the Pacers do not give up an up-and-coming George, Collison or Hibbert, I would allow this trade.

Those three players are the keys to the Pacers' success in years to come.

Danny Granger is aging and his production has dropped off this season. Thankfully, the Pacers do not rely on Granger as heavily as they once did. Granger is a great role player and he fits in well with the Pacers, but I do not see the league-owned Hornets trading Gordon for Granger straight-up. 

George is an asset to this Pacers squad and giving him up would sacrifice a lot of team chemistry. Collison, Hibbert and George are bonding, and if we can keep all of them around for the years to come we could have a mini-Big-Three of our own one day.

George is turning into a special player and he will only continue to develop every area of his game. George will be a great superstar one day and I believe it would be in the Pacers' best interest if they let him develop and grow in Indiana.