Larry Bird stepping down as Indiana Pacers team president, as reported Friday by The Vertical, thrusts Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard into the spotlight. While Bird will apparently remain a consultant to the Pacers, it's Pritchard who will now have final say on how the team handles Paul George's impending free agency.
George, who holds a player option for the 2018-19 season, is about 14 months away from potentially hitting unrestricted free agency. And the low likelihood that George will make an All-NBA team and qualify for a designated veteran extension means the Pacers would face entering next season with no guarantees they can re-sign George.
Back in March, I took a look at the chances of five possible resolutions for George and Indiana. Now is a good time to revisit those options in light of Bird's resignation, Pritchard's ascendance and how George and the Pacers played down the stretch and in the playoffs.