Pacers make another trade, Paul George ready for new start

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Larry Bird’s wheeling and dealing isn’t quite finished. Often-injured Minnesota forward Chase Budinger will be the newest Pacer, coming over for Damjen Rudez, who heads to the Timberwolves in the deal. It’s another piece of a drastic roster overhaul that could see nearly 50 percent turnover.

Paul George knows it’s necessary to give his team a better chance to win. George spent time in Avon Saturday for his annual Unplug and Play camp with some 250 youngsters taking part. The camp, partnered with the Boys and Girls Club, is a chance for George to get that feel back. He’s skipping team USA activities this summer to focus on getting back to his old ways, and that means playing power forward, something George is OK with now that’s his health is back.

“I feel good,” said George. “Physically, I feel great. I’m still noticing things that’s not PG characteristic yet, but as far as health wise, I feel great stepping on the court. I made the comment about if we were in the playoffs at that point, I was ready to take on whoever, so my body feels good.”

Two days after longtime teammates David West and Roy Hibbert found new homes, George thinks the team’s new up-tempo style should be a perfect fit for his game and his new-look team, but that doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to a pair of players that mean a lot to him and his career.

“I’m the one that’s been here the longest,” said George. ” I’ve been with the Pacers the longest now. It’s rough, but I felt like those two, Roy and David, kind of molded me and really guided me and helped me along the way to be in the position I am now to lead the team.”