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Pacers president: 6 players asked me to keep team together at deadline

Ron Hoskins / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Indiana Pacers were not active ahead of last week's trade deadline because that's what the players wanted.

"I had six players come up to me, and this has never happened to me as an executive, and say, 'Keep this team together.' That carried a lot of weight with me," team president Kevin Pritchard said, as quoted by IndyStar's Clifton Brown.

The Pacers have been one of the biggest surprises this season, as they weren't expected to contend following the departure of superstar Paul George. But Victor Oladipo, who went to Indiana in the trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, has blossomed into an All-Star and has put the Pacers in a position to make their third straight playoff appearance.

It was rumored the organization could make a move, perhaps acquiring All-Star point guard Kemba Walker from the Charlotte Hornets or taking on a bad contract to land a first-round pick. Nothing materialized, though, giving the 33-25 club an opportunity to continue growing together with the hope its Cinderella run percolates into the postseason.

After Thursday's deadline passed, veteran big man Al Jefferson thanked Pritchard on behalf of not only himself but all his teammates who wanted to stay together and continue defying expectations, according to IndyStar's Jim Ayello.

- With h/t to NBC Sports

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