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Paul George takes jumpers at Pacers practice, still not returning soon (Video)

The gruesome leg injury suffered by Paul George in a USA Basketball exhibition was arguably the biggest non-acquisition moment of the NBA offseason. The Pacers immediately lost their already iffy status as East contenders and now look headed for a lottery appearance, if not full-scale rebuilding. Plus, the league as a whole will be without one of its brightest young stars. It's a shame all around.

Given this state of things, any progress in George's recovery looks pretty positive. So it was nice to find out on Tuesday that he's back on the court and taking jumpers after Pacers practice. Check out the video from VigilantSports.com:

A headline akin to "Paul George Takes Jumpers at Pacers Practice" may suggest that the All-Star is on his way back to the court, but it's pretty clear from the clip that George isn't returning any time soon. He's taking low-impact shots from a standstill with no defense of any kind. This scene only proves that he's on schedule to return after this season, or perhaps for the playoffs if the Pacers have the good fortune to make it.

Yet it may be enough just to know that George is on the right track. The Pacers are likely headed for a frustrating season, and over the next few months they'll need to find all the bright spots they can. Positive updates on George's status could provide the best hope for the future.

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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!