C.J. Miles' Free Agency Will Impact Paul George’s Future in Indiana

A decent number of casual NBA fans might not have known who C.J. Miles was before Paul George called him out for taking and missing the last shot in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Things went downhill from there. The defending champion Cavs swept the Indiana Pacers from the playoffs on Sunday afternoon, and Miles didn't feel relevant at all during the series: he averaged 7.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, with one assist in 82 minutes, and 11 missed threes to only five makes.

Overall, Miles is probably the fifth- or sixth-best all-around player on the Pacers, but as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the 30-year-old's immediate future is quietly tied to George's. His next contract is a pivotal summer subplot that may change the short- and long-term course of this small-market team.

Let's start here: George has been lucky to call Miles a teammate.

In today's NBA, superstar forces who don't have other superstar forces as teammates need the next best thing: complementary role players with skills that fit just about any style of play. Miles spaces the floor and defends multiple positions. These qualities are in extremely high demand around the league, and even though Miles is 30 years old, the $4.5 million he made in 2017 could triple next season.

Here's where things get tricky. It's widely known that George hates playing the four because of the physical toll he believes it'll have on his body. It's also widely known that the Pacers are better with George at the four, as would just about any other team who might sign him.

That's where Miles' value shines through. According to Synergy Sports, he finished the 2016-17 season as the most efficient spot-up scorer in basketball (minimum 200 possessions). Steph Curry finished second on 32 fewer possessions. Miles shot a career-best 41.3 percent beyond the arc, making over half his corner attempts, with a career-high .632 three-point rate. As his volume increased, so did his accuracy.

For the first time in his life, he was 100 percent able to focus on catching passes and shooting shots. He operated within Indiana's offense as a finisher, unworried about assists and too preoccupied to ever turn it over. This type of player is perfect for someone like George.

Not only can Miles score on his own and create passing, driving, and cutting lanes with his three-point shot, but the 11-year veteran also knows how to handle himself on the other end down low. It's the same role Shane Battier filled for the 2012-14 Miami Heat, as a fearless wing who withstood physical punishment on the block so LeBron James could prosper as an offensive four and defensive three.

Indiana was better on offense and defense when Miles and George shared the floor this season, as opposed to when George was all by himself, per NBA.com. Their net rating went from 1.7 to 4.6, and while the Pacers' franchise star had a slightly higher True Shooting percentage with Miles off the floor, his accuracy in the restricted area rose 6.3 percent.

All that's impressive, but it includes minutes when both shared the court with a pair of big men, including Thaddeus Young, a helpful piece who ultimately clogs the floor. Things get a little ridiculous when Indy downsizes. In the 79 minutes Miles and George played beside Myles Turner, Jeff Teague, and Monta Ellis, the Pacers outscored opponents by 17.4 points per 100 possessions. Remove the decaying Ellis as a fifth wheel and per NBA Wowy, in 60 minutes the Pacers scored 1.47 points per possession and allowed just 0.917. Translation: in a tragically small sample size, they completely obliterated people. It's a shame Nate McMillan didn't go to these lineups more often.

(Brief aside: The on/off numbers in another tiny sample size don't support this line of thought, but it's dumbfounding that McMillan started Ellis over Miles in Games 1 and 2 against Cleveland. It allowed LeBron James to roam around on defense, barely pay attention to Ellis, and either rest or muck up interior action.)

What does all this mean going forward? Things look bleak now, and it's very possible George wants out regardless of what moves the Pacers make this summer, but the path to pseudo-contention is visible if Miles re-signs, Turner makes a leap, and McMillan is either replaced or more willing to adopt a modern playing style.

With Young, Ellis, Al Jefferson, and Lance Stephenson all under contract next season, plus Teague's $13.2 million cap hold, the Pacers' cap sheet looks totaled, but things will get dramatically worse if Miles walks. Indiana may be able to afford a versatile three-point shooter, but it's hard to envision them grabbing one without severely overpaying on a long-term deal, which is something they probably don't want to do considering George can walk the following summer.

Re-upping Miles won't be a cinch—the market for shooting wings who don't need the ball is thin this summer—but locking him in will at least show that Indiana is semi-serious about surrounding George with the players he needs to have meaningful success in a league that prioritizes space and versatility.

There's evidence that these two lift each other up. A few more ingredients are necessary for the Pacers to take another step, but things won't crash off the rails if Miles and George stay side by side.

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