HoopsHype.com Rumors

Gearing up for the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, USA Basketball selected a wide-ranging mix of experience, youth, size, speed and shooters for its 27-man roster that will train in July 22-25 in Las Vegas. The past two NBA rookies of the year — guards Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers — headline the list. New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis is the only returnee from the 2012 London Olympics gold medal team. And two of the breakout stars from the NBA playoffs have joined up: Indiana Pacers forward Paul George and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard. USA Today Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Paul George, USA Basketball, Team USA, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard 

When you think about next year, and the possibilities of you on the weak side and Paul George doing damage on the other side, what do you see? Danny Granger: It's scary. I think it's really scary, the things we can do when we play together. I'm really looking forward to it. A guy asked me how did it feel, saying 'What if you was in on that play, or that play?' I can't do that; my injury kept me out. But for the most part, our future is very, very bright. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Danny Granger 

Scott Agness: Paul George wants to be "Coach's guy" moving forward. "I want to make sure that I'm on top of my game…able to carry out Coach's full plan.” Twitter @ScottAgness

Indiana Pacers, Paul George 

Pacers forward Paul George will be in Las Vegas once again this summer with USA Basketball. He will take part in minicamp with the National Team from July 22-25. Last summer, George was on the Select Team, whose duty it was to get the Olympic team prepared for the London Olympic games. Pacers.com

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, USA Basketball, Team USA 

George Hill also received an invitation but his scheduled is jammed in July so he cannot attend. Hill is already slated to be in China at that time with his former teammate, Tony Parker, of the San Antonio Spurs to promote PEAK shoes. Both point guards have deals with the sportswear company, which is based in China. Pacers.com

Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Paul George, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Mike Wells: Pacers swingman Paul George will participate in the Team USA minicamp this summer. Twitter @MikeWellsNBA

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, USA Basketball, Team USA 

George is a confident guy. He’s hopeful of getting a maximum contract whenever he signs his next deal. “I would hope, George said. “I would hope. Max guys get the job done at this time (the playoffs).’’ George, making $2.6 million this season and $3.3 million next season, could sign an maximum extension this summer with the Pacers that could start at around $14 million for 2014-15. But he stopped short of saying he wants to get his deal done this offseason. “I haven’t really put my mind to that right now,’’ said George, who would become a restricted free agent in 2014 if he doesn't sign an extension this offseason. “I really want to focus on what’s at the plate now." FOXSports Florida

Indiana Pacers, Free Agency, Paul George 

Perhaps not as soon as next year, but Paul George vows to wrestle the MVP award away from LeBron James. Roy Hibbert, George's teammate on the Indiana Pacers, said after a Game 6 Eastern Conference finals win Saturday over the Miami Heat that George could be holding the trophy next year. "He's the future," Hibbert said. "He has a chance to be MVP of this league next year." FOXSports Florida

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George, Roy Hibbert 

George's reaction to what Hibbert said? "Obviously, I agree with him," George told FOX Sports Florida after Monday's shootaround in preparation for the evening Game 7 against James' Heat. "The more and more I get comfortable in this league and the more and more I find myself, I think I am capable of achieving that award." FOXSports Florida

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George, Roy Hibbert 

James has won the past two MVP trophies and four of the last five. Is George ready to slow James' run next season? "Maybe not so quick as next year," said George, a third-year man who averaged 17.4 points during the regular season while being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. "But in my career, I wouldn’t be satisfied if I don't win the award." Still, George is optimistic about one day getting the trophy away from fellow small forward James. "He is the MVP," George said. "And as they say, to be the best you got to beat the best." FOXSports Florida

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George 

Carmelo Anthony played injured during the Knicks’ six playoff games against the Indiana Pacers, but Paul George, who defended Anthony brilliantly in the series, never detected a problem. “Not really,” George said on Thursday. “Any time he’s putting up 20, 30 shots a game, there are no signs of him being hurt. I didn’t really see it. Every now and then when he got banged, he winced. I don’t think it had an effect on his shooting.” New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George 

He fashioned himself a scrapper, like his mother, who suffered a stroke and two blood clots in her brain when he was 10. George was outside at the time, shooting hoops in his driveway, when he heard the wail of the ambulance. "We all rushed to the hospital, and that night, the doctors declared her dead," George recalls. The pronouncement was premature. George slept in his mom's hospital room, and when she moved back home, he curled up in a blanket next to her bed. "It took me two years to be able to walk and talk and see again," says Paulette, who is still partially paralyzed on her left side. "He watched me fight." The family still calls him Man for the strength he demonstrated as a boy. SI.com

Indiana Pacers, Paul George 

Scott Agness: PG on Roy:"He’s playing phenomenal. Other than Timmy [Duncan], he’s been the best center in this gm right now, thus far in this postseason." Twitter @ScottAgness

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Tim Duncan 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Paul George says this series against LeBron is giving him things to work on: "So I can come back and win Most Improved again." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George 

Ethan J. Skolnick: David West says Pacers "let Paul down" in not helping when LeBron had 4, 5, 6 dribbles in post Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George, David West 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Paul George says he doesn't need help: "I just got to battle." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Indiana Pacers, Paul George 

Royce Young: Paul George on Wade's elbow: "For what he did to Lance, it's well deserved whatever the punishment is." Twitter @dailythunder

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Paul George, Lance Stephenson 

Only now, it's the team he left for the Knicks in 2008 and returned to last summer that is the true obstacle in the Heat's pursuit of a second straight championship. With a stirring 97-93 victory on Friday night to even the Eastern Conference finals at one game apiece, the Pacers -- a team Walsh ran for a quarter-century before going to New York -- are reminding everyone there's more than one path to NBA success. "We take nothing away from their Big Three and what they have going," Paul George said of the Heat on Wednesday night. "But we'll take a Big Five any day." CBSSports.com

Indiana Pacers, Paul George 

After George leaped into the rafters to impale the 6-foot-10 Chris Andersen with a dunk, James rushed the ball down the floor and hit a 30-footer at the buzzer of the third period. It was a magnificent sequence, two spectacular plays within a 5.1-second window that inspired James to change direction on his way to the Heat's huddle. James chased down George, reached out his hand and pressed palm on palm. "I got you back, young fella," James told him. For a moment, George had to gather himself. Here unfolded a most surreal scene in a surreal rise out of mid-major college basketball, the evolution of James' dutiful understudy into James' problem. "That was a moment for me," George said, "that I'll always remember." Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George 

"I've got the most respect for LeBron," George said. "I look up to him." Ten months ago, this was George's mandate: Get into Bryant and Durant, Anthony and James. Get into the NBA's biggest stars and learn the most valuable lessons of all. "I want to be great," George said. "I want to be a leader in this league. For me, that was a front-row seat for how to be one of the best players in this league." Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George