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Pacers not panicking after Heat's big trade
Miami's move impresses Bird, but he says he won't act just to keep pace.
By Mark Montieth
mark.montieth@indystar.come
The NBA's five-team, 13-player trade Tuesday certainly got Larry Bird's attention. Not enough to make him grab a telephone, however.
The Indiana Pacers' president continues to explore trade opportunities but remains willing to stand firm amid the deal -- the largest in league history -- that could greatly improve Miami's roster.
The Heat, already regarded as a leading championship contender next season, added three established veterans -- Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey -- and lost starting guard Eddie Jones and backup forward Qyntel Woods.
That's a significant on-paper improvement for a team that took Detroit to a seventh game in the Eastern Conference finals last season and might have played San Antonio for the championship had All-Star guard Dwyane Wade not been injured in the playoff series against the Pistons.
Whether the Heat can achieve a winning chemistry with Walker and Williams, both of whom have unorthodox games and questionable reputations, remains to be seen. But most analysts, as well as Bird, believe one of the league's rich franchises just got richer.
"They got three players who can play," Bird said. "I think they got better."
Bird, however, said he doesn't feel pressure to make a deal in an attempt to keep up with Miami.
The Pacers will sign free agent point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius to a three-year contract next week and remain interested in re-signing James Jones and Dale Davis.
"I like our depth," Bird said. "I like our team. Obviously, if you can make it better, you try. But I like our team."
Television analyst Bill Walton believes Miami's recent moves are merely the start of a trend of players trying to find a way onto the Heat roster under the huge protective umbrella of Shaquille O'Neal.
"I don't see it stopping," Walton said. "He's such a magnet to everybody in the world of basketball. It's the first of many steps. The hardest part for Miami is going to be to decide which guys they really want. That many guys will want to go there."
First, however, the Heat must find a way to win with the guys they just got.
Williams, a seven-year veteran, is one of the NBA's better passers and a dangerous perimeter shooting threat. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.6 assists for Memphis last season, but was often in conflict with coaches and teammates.
A story in Wednesday's Memphis Commercial Appeal described him as "talented but troubled."
Walker, who turns 29 later this month, is a three-time All-Star but will be playing for his fifth team in four years. He averaged 19.1 points and 9.0 rebounds last season while splitting time with Atlanta and Boston, but shot just 42 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and 54 percent from the foul line.
Bird, who was a consultant to the Celtics when they drafted Walker in 1996, believes Walker can help the Heat.
"I know Antoine," Bird said. "He's not a problem. People question him taking 3-pointers, but he's a player. I don't know much about Jason, but I like Posey, too. He's a defender and can make things happen."
Walton acknowledged the "checkered pasts" of Walker and Williams, but he expressed confidence they'll adapt to Miami's winning culture.
The trade could put pressure on coach Stan Van Gundy. Heat president Pat Riley, who had final approval of the trade, has expressed interest in returning to the bench, and a poor start could give him an opening.
Palm Beach Post columnist Dave George called the trade "a challenge to Stan Van Gundy to tame the wilder instincts of two less-coachable stars (Walker and Williams), but at the same time to maintain their nasty edge. Stan will either do it, and right away, or be gone himself."
Such turmoil might turn out to be the Pacers' best hope for a trip to the NBA Finals.
Pacers not panicking after Heat's big trade
Miami's move impresses Bird, but he says he won't act just to keep pace.
By Mark Montieth
mark.montieth@indystar.come
The NBA's five-team, 13-player trade Tuesday certainly got Larry Bird's attention. Not enough to make him grab a telephone, however.
The Indiana Pacers' president continues to explore trade opportunities but remains willing to stand firm amid the deal -- the largest in league history -- that could greatly improve Miami's roster.
The Heat, already regarded as a leading championship contender next season, added three established veterans -- Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey -- and lost starting guard Eddie Jones and backup forward Qyntel Woods.
That's a significant on-paper improvement for a team that took Detroit to a seventh game in the Eastern Conference finals last season and might have played San Antonio for the championship had All-Star guard Dwyane Wade not been injured in the playoff series against the Pistons.
Whether the Heat can achieve a winning chemistry with Walker and Williams, both of whom have unorthodox games and questionable reputations, remains to be seen. But most analysts, as well as Bird, believe one of the league's rich franchises just got richer.
"They got three players who can play," Bird said. "I think they got better."
Bird, however, said he doesn't feel pressure to make a deal in an attempt to keep up with Miami.
The Pacers will sign free agent point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius to a three-year contract next week and remain interested in re-signing James Jones and Dale Davis.
"I like our depth," Bird said. "I like our team. Obviously, if you can make it better, you try. But I like our team."
Television analyst Bill Walton believes Miami's recent moves are merely the start of a trend of players trying to find a way onto the Heat roster under the huge protective umbrella of Shaquille O'Neal.
"I don't see it stopping," Walton said. "He's such a magnet to everybody in the world of basketball. It's the first of many steps. The hardest part for Miami is going to be to decide which guys they really want. That many guys will want to go there."
First, however, the Heat must find a way to win with the guys they just got.
Williams, a seven-year veteran, is one of the NBA's better passers and a dangerous perimeter shooting threat. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.6 assists for Memphis last season, but was often in conflict with coaches and teammates.
A story in Wednesday's Memphis Commercial Appeal described him as "talented but troubled."
Walker, who turns 29 later this month, is a three-time All-Star but will be playing for his fifth team in four years. He averaged 19.1 points and 9.0 rebounds last season while splitting time with Atlanta and Boston, but shot just 42 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and 54 percent from the foul line.
Bird, who was a consultant to the Celtics when they drafted Walker in 1996, believes Walker can help the Heat.
"I know Antoine," Bird said. "He's not a problem. People question him taking 3-pointers, but he's a player. I don't know much about Jason, but I like Posey, too. He's a defender and can make things happen."
Walton acknowledged the "checkered pasts" of Walker and Williams, but he expressed confidence they'll adapt to Miami's winning culture.
The trade could put pressure on coach Stan Van Gundy. Heat president Pat Riley, who had final approval of the trade, has expressed interest in returning to the bench, and a poor start could give him an opening.
Palm Beach Post columnist Dave George called the trade "a challenge to Stan Van Gundy to tame the wilder instincts of two less-coachable stars (Walker and Williams), but at the same time to maintain their nasty edge. Stan will either do it, and right away, or be gone himself."
Such turmoil might turn out to be the Pacers' best hope for a trip to the NBA Finals.
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