An unusually high number of teams in the League have maneuvered themselves so most of their contracts expire in after this year. Unfortunately for the Pacers, their contracts don't expire until 2011. As a lottery team without expiring contracts, Indiana is in a tough position. In Danny Granger, they have just enough talent to avoid the bottom of the standings. But you don't get better getting late lottery picks.
The Pacers have been rebuilding for what seems like a lot of years now. It feels like the process is taking longer than it should because the team is afraid of some of the personality issues that have plagued the team in years past. Larry Bird seems a little gun shy and would rather get decent guys who might make the playoffs instead of more volatile guys who might compete for a title. Other than Danny Granger, there isn't much in Indiana that can be called a building block for a championship. Pacers fans don't want nice pieces though, they want difference-makers. Here's how Indiana can get back in the thick of things quickly:
1) Trade Jeff Foster. Contending teams would love to have a veteran big man like Jeff Foster. He's smart and defends the post pretty well, which is critical in the playoffs. When he can't defend, he uses his fouls early and in a way that he doesn't give up many and-one's. Well, the Pacers aren't really close to making the playoffs or winning a series even if they do sneak in. So the smart move would be to trade Jeff Foster for some young developing talent who might be able to help Indiana improve its talent. A team like Washington has committed to its current core and could use Foster to anchor its defense. With two young bigs like Andray Blatche and Javale McGee not ready to contribute consistently, the Wizards might be willing to trade Blatche and DeShawn Stevenson for Foster, who would help them a lot immediately. Golden State is another team who could use some veteran help on its frontline, and may be willing to part with some promising younger players like Brandan Wright and Kelenna Azubuike. The point is that Indiana should see what it can get for Foster now while teams are trying to top one another in the summer and before Foster's play declines.
2) Package some of the younger players for a more talented, riskier talent. Indiana is pretty much stuck in the middle of the pack because they can't get enough talent to change their fortunes. While the Pacers got lucky with Granger, the odds of duplicating that type of pickup with late lottery draft picks and no money under the salary cap are not good. Indiana just signed Dahntay Jones, who should fit in nicely next to Danny Granger and as a compliment to Mike Dunleavy if and when he comes back. That should also make Brandon Rush expendable. Rush should be expendable either way because even at his ceiling he's not talented enough to really change Indiana's standing in the League. With a modest salary and sweet shooting stroke, Rush should have some value and could return a player with more upside if the Pacers are willing to give up the known for something more risky. Bill Walker and JR Giddens come to mind, for example. The same things could be said about Roy Hibbert.
I am not sure if there is a market for players like TJ Ford or Troy Murphy, but they aren't going to turn Indiana into anything more than a first-round loser in the playoffs at best. If one could be packaged, Indiana needs to go for it.
3) Play Granger at point forward.There aren't many suggestions for Indiana because they are stuck with big salaries for guys who won't make that big of a difference. Ford, Tinsley, Murphy and Dunleavy all could help some teams around the League. But none of them can carry the load, and all are under contract until 2011. In the meantime while they wait to put the right pieces around Granger, the Pacers should try to develop him into an elite player at the 3. Granger can obviously score the ball, but he can't lead a team yet. He isn't the best at creating for others. While they are stuck in this limbo for another year, Indiana should see if they can't groom Granger to be more versatile so they can increase the number of players who would fit well around him. If he's healthy, the Pacers need to try to do the same thing with Mike Dunleavy. Other than Granger Indiana doesn't have the talent to create mismatches, so they have to try to move players to new positions to create the same effect. A 6'10" point guard would cause teams to match up to you, and not have you always matching up with other teams. Usually, the team who creates the most matchup problems wins.
Unfortunately for Pacers fans, there aren't a lot of answers on the short term horizon. Indiana does not have the talent to make a big leap or the contract situation to improve their talent. Until 2011 when they do, the Pacers need to work on the one building block they have in Granger and take more risks. You can't live afraid of getting another Ron Artest or Jermaine O'Neal forever.
The Pacers have been rebuilding for what seems like a lot of years now. It feels like the process is taking longer than it should because the team is afraid of some of the personality issues that have plagued the team in years past. Larry Bird seems a little gun shy and would rather get decent guys who might make the playoffs instead of more volatile guys who might compete for a title. Other than Danny Granger, there isn't much in Indiana that can be called a building block for a championship. Pacers fans don't want nice pieces though, they want difference-makers. Here's how Indiana can get back in the thick of things quickly:
1) Trade Jeff Foster. Contending teams would love to have a veteran big man like Jeff Foster. He's smart and defends the post pretty well, which is critical in the playoffs. When he can't defend, he uses his fouls early and in a way that he doesn't give up many and-one's. Well, the Pacers aren't really close to making the playoffs or winning a series even if they do sneak in. So the smart move would be to trade Jeff Foster for some young developing talent who might be able to help Indiana improve its talent. A team like Washington has committed to its current core and could use Foster to anchor its defense. With two young bigs like Andray Blatche and Javale McGee not ready to contribute consistently, the Wizards might be willing to trade Blatche and DeShawn Stevenson for Foster, who would help them a lot immediately. Golden State is another team who could use some veteran help on its frontline, and may be willing to part with some promising younger players like Brandan Wright and Kelenna Azubuike. The point is that Indiana should see what it can get for Foster now while teams are trying to top one another in the summer and before Foster's play declines.
2) Package some of the younger players for a more talented, riskier talent. Indiana is pretty much stuck in the middle of the pack because they can't get enough talent to change their fortunes. While the Pacers got lucky with Granger, the odds of duplicating that type of pickup with late lottery draft picks and no money under the salary cap are not good. Indiana just signed Dahntay Jones, who should fit in nicely next to Danny Granger and as a compliment to Mike Dunleavy if and when he comes back. That should also make Brandon Rush expendable. Rush should be expendable either way because even at his ceiling he's not talented enough to really change Indiana's standing in the League. With a modest salary and sweet shooting stroke, Rush should have some value and could return a player with more upside if the Pacers are willing to give up the known for something more risky. Bill Walker and JR Giddens come to mind, for example. The same things could be said about Roy Hibbert.
I am not sure if there is a market for players like TJ Ford or Troy Murphy, but they aren't going to turn Indiana into anything more than a first-round loser in the playoffs at best. If one could be packaged, Indiana needs to go for it.
3) Play Granger at point forward.There aren't many suggestions for Indiana because they are stuck with big salaries for guys who won't make that big of a difference. Ford, Tinsley, Murphy and Dunleavy all could help some teams around the League. But none of them can carry the load, and all are under contract until 2011. In the meantime while they wait to put the right pieces around Granger, the Pacers should try to develop him into an elite player at the 3. Granger can obviously score the ball, but he can't lead a team yet. He isn't the best at creating for others. While they are stuck in this limbo for another year, Indiana should see if they can't groom Granger to be more versatile so they can increase the number of players who would fit well around him. If he's healthy, the Pacers need to try to do the same thing with Mike Dunleavy. Other than Granger Indiana doesn't have the talent to create mismatches, so they have to try to move players to new positions to create the same effect. A 6'10" point guard would cause teams to match up to you, and not have you always matching up with other teams. Usually, the team who creates the most matchup problems wins.
Unfortunately for Pacers fans, there aren't a lot of answers on the short term horizon. Indiana does not have the talent to make a big leap or the contract situation to improve their talent. Until 2011 when they do, the Pacers need to work on the one building block they have in Granger and take more risks. You can't live afraid of getting another Ron Artest or Jermaine O'Neal forever.
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