Now that we are a little removed from the 2017 NBA trade deadline some interesting behind the scenes information is leaking out.
Apparently the Pacers were a little more active in trade discussions centering around Paul George than they said they were as ESPN Reporter wrote in his column Tuesday morning that the Pacers were in talks with the Hawks, Celtics, Nuggets and 76ers about deals for George.
Now the SB Nation Liberty Ballers site covering the 76ers is reporting the specific deal that was offered to Indiana for Paul George: Robert Covington, two 1st round picks and Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel.
So, the #Sixers offered Robert Covington, Noel or Okafor and two first-round draft picks for Paul George pic.twitter.com/KLLlZLoAHE
— Philly Sports (@PHLAnon) March 21, 2017
According to the story, the 76ers were more willing to offering other teams picks they holds the rights to, including the Lakers pick in 2017 (top 3 protected this year) and the Kings pick (they receive if it lands in top 5) but they were not opposed to dealing their own future picks as well.
The Sixers obviously believe they could convince PG-13 to stay with their group of young stars, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric.
This supposed offer is highly intriguing and had to be seriously considered by Indiana. If they could have received the 76ers own pick in 2017 along with Covington, Noel and the Lakers top-three protected pick (I believe it is unprotected after this year) that would have been an amazing haul for a guy that may leave in a year and a half and would be at least 80 cents on the dollar.
