Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird wants to go smaller next season for a better offensive game for his team and he believes that the returning Paul George should be playing at the no. 4 spot to help that cause.
The Pacers were known as a defensive juggernaut in previous seasons but Bird wants to shed that image as he plans to build a more offense-oriented squad.
Bird thinks in order to do that they need to go smaller to emulate teams like the defending champions the Golden State Warriors who had no prominent big man in last season's championship run.
To achieve Bird's new scheme, the Pacers traded center Roy Hibbert to the Los Angeles Lakers while signing in guard Monta Ellis and a much smaller center Jordan Hill.
Now Bird wants George to play as a power forward in the 2015-16 season and believes the All-Star can be more productive at the position.
"Well, he don't make the decisions around here. I [played power forward]. I loved it after I did it. I just think offensively it's going to be one of the greatest feelings he's ever had. I'm not going to get in a battle with Paul George on where he wants to play. He's a basketball player. He can play any position you put him out there," Bird said according to CBS Sports.
The Boston Celtics great added, "I think with him coming off this injury, it's a good opportunity. He'll guard some threes but he won't have to do it all the time. It gives him a year to get healthier and stronger, and I think it'll be a big plus for him and our team."
George missed almost the entire 2014-15 season after suffering a horrific injury in a Team USA scrimmage before the FIBA World Cup last year.
The 25-year-old was asked about Bird's plan of playing him as a no. 4 and he said he can play as a power forward for a "few minutes," CBS Sports reported.
