The Eastern Conference-leading Indiana Pacers recently welcomed back their former All-Star Danny Granger, giving the team more offensive firepower in its bid to dethrone the two-time defending champion Miami Heat but also fueling speculations that Granger could be traded for the right pieces.
But Indiana Pacers president for basketball operations Larry Bird has shot down the rumors of Granger being traded.
"I've talked to Danny, talked to his agent; I'm not looking to trade him," the Celtics legend told IndyStar.com on Saturday. "But you never know. If the right thing came along that would help the franchise, I would have to look at it, but I'm not out there looking at deals."
Granger is considered an interesting player for rebuilding teams because he is in the final year of his contract that pays him $14 million a season. He could also be a vital offensive weapon off the bench for a contender.
But according to IndyStar.com, Granger desperately wants to remain a Pacer beyond the February 20 trade deadline, to help take this team as far as it can go this spring.
"It's really important for me to remain a Pacer," he said Saturday. "I feel like I've been a big part of the building, gone through a lot of the bad years and now the good. I'd love to stay, but I understand the business of basketball and I understand that I might be a trade commodity."
If the Pacers won't trade Granger, they are risking losing him to free agency without getting anything in return next summer.
"You know how I feel about Danny," Bird said. "He brings so much more to our team than people realize. Watching the game Friday night, our team finally looked complete. Just his toughness, his ability to shoot the ball from the outside. What we're going to need is for him to defend. It all boils down to how he defends, and that'll determine how many minutes he gets."
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.