George trade offers were aplenty, but Pacers didn't really consider any

Paul George's future in Indiana grew increasingly foggy as this season went on, with the storm clouds gathering most ominously at the trade deadline. George's name cropped up in multiple rumors, and the Pacers reportedly received significant offers from the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Atlanta Hawks.

George himself was frustrated the Pacers front office didn't keep him in the loop regarding their plans as the rumors swirled, but perhaps that's because the team never really had any intention of dealing him.

"Basically, we were offered a lot of things," Pacers owner Herb Simon told Nate Taylor of the Indy Star on Thursday. "We didn't even think of taking any of them. (Team president) Larry (Bird) will give you a better feel for it, but the answer is you can't stop people from making offers. But it wasn't any question of accepting any of them."

Bird was reportedly the strongest voice in the anti-trade camp, while ownership reportedly felt compelled to hear out offers from suitors.

George has led the Pacers to a playoff berth (which seemed probable at the deadline, but far from it two weeks ago), and will be eligible to sign an extension this summer. There are a number of factors that could affect his decision, including how the team performs in the postseason, but from the Pacers' end, the decision already seems clear.

"This guy has taken over the team and pulled us up," Simon said. "I think very highly of him. ... He wants to be a champion. He wants a winning team and it’s our job to get him one. He's got that desire to be a special player, which he is, and to have a special team. We're all on the same wavelength. It's just a matter of we both have to produce. He has to produce and we have to give him the players to produce with."