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Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

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  • Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

    The Indiana Pacers pulled off the seemingly impossible on Wednesday when they parlayed their patience and an expiring contract into the point guard they’ve been looking for since the turn of the millennium.

    I detailed the four-team, five-player trade in ‘Grading the Deal’ format shortly after the trade was finalized, but given the fact that the Pacers were the winners of the swap, I figured a more in-depth look was needed.

    For those that may have missed it, here is the breakdown of Wednesday’s deal: Indiana acquired Darren Collison and James Posey from New Orleans, New Jersey got Troy Murphy from Indiana, Houston landed Courtney Lee from New Jersey and New Orleans added Trevor Ariza from Houston.

    There are a number of ways to view this deal from the Pacers’ perspective.

    Just a little patience

    Pacers president Larry Bird and general manager David Morway have been preaching patience since the start of their three-year plan and for the first time since it was implemented two years ago, the roster is visibly improved.

    I’ve done my best not to, but after seeing a photo-shopped picture of Bird’s face on the body of Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose from the “Patience” video, I can’t help but get the image out of my mind.

    The point has been made multiple times in this space, but the type of discipline Bird and Morway showed in sticking to their plan was extremely admirable. Were there times when it seemed as though they had missed the boat? Absolutely. Do they still have work to do? Another obvious yes.

    Regardless of the tinkering they still have left, let’s review the developments that led up to Collison landing in Indiana.

    -- Hovering near the luxury tax threshold, the Pacers were handcuffed in terms of what they could do to improve their roster heading into the summer.

    -- They drafted Paul George, yet another talented wing player to add to a stable of players at shooting guard and small forward.

    -- Deals were discussed, but the entire month of July (and nearly two weeks in August) passed without Indiana making a single move aside from signing George and second-rounder Lance Stephenson.

    -- They were seemingly left to target stop-gap options at point guard after they were unable to work any type of sign-and-trade or outright trade for another team’s spare guard.

    -- Rumors that Chris Paul wanted out of New Orleans burned red-hot and then cooled down after he met with new general manager Dell Demps and coach Monty Williams. All of a sudden, the Hornets were put in a position where they needed to do two things. They needed to assure fans that they were committed to CP3, while simultaneously convincing him they are serious about putting building around him.

    -- The Nets needed a power forward and the Rockets were open to trimming some of their payroll. Alas, the four-team deal became a realistic possibility and in a rare feat these days, the trade is discussed and nearly completed before reports even surfaced.

    The addition of Collison is exciting, but it’s even more so when you consider that the Pacers could have panicked and acquired a mid-level veteran to start for a season or two rather than a young piece to add to their core.

    What trading Murphy means

    In the initial aftermath of the trade I got an e-mail or two from readers worried that the Pacers had “sold the farm” by trading Murphy and his $11.9 million the season before it expires.

    While it’s true that Indiana now has less cap room next summer – approximately $33 million based on a $58 million salary cap as opposed to the $36.5 million they projected prior to the Collison/Murphy deal -- they accomplished two things by dealing one of many expiring deals and also their highest-paid player.

    -- They lowered their payroll this season by $5 million, which gives them greater flexibility over the remainder of the summer. They could sign a low-level free agent and still remain under the luxury tax line, but with 16 players under contract (not including rookie Magnum Rolle and including T.J. Ford) that appears unlikely at this point.
    With the luxury tax set at $70.3 million, they have six million to work with should they so desire.

    Much more likely is another trade. They are in need of an established power forward (despite their public comments) with Tyler Hansbrough, Josh McRoberts, Solomon Jones and Jeff Foster left to play alongside center Roy Hibbert in the paint.

    Bird said Wednesday that he doesn’t expect to go into the season with the current roster and I’d be very surprised if they did. They now have the ability to take on a few million in payroll for the 2010-11 season in a trade and even give up more bodies than they get in a potential deal. It’s much easier to negotiate a trade when pennies aren’t being pinched.

    - I had recommended it and I mentioned it in my GTD, but the Pacers took a very smart approach to their projected cap space in 2011. The deal not only got them Collison, but it was also proactive since it would have been hard for them to sign players like Collison and even Posey next summer. The relative unattractiveness of Indiana notwithstanding (at least compared to Miami and Los Angeles), it’s impossible to sign a young, point guard to such an inexpensive deal because teams hold onto them like gold. In addition, a veteran like Posey would likely have desired an immediate contender.

    The cap space Murphy’s contract would have provided in 2011 would have looked great on paper, but who would they have spent it on? Teams like the Clippers, Knicks and Nets had only marginal success with their significant cap room this summer and the free-agent pool was perhaps the best the NBA has ever seen.

    The Collison effect

    As a result of all the waiting and the deficiency Indiana has seen at point guard in the last ten years or so, many are anointing Collison as an All-Star already. While that’s not out of the question down the road, expectations should be tempered.

    He stepped in and performed extremely well for New Orleans when Paul was injured last season, averaging 18.8 points and 9.1 assists, but his run as the team’s starter lasted just 37 games and his supporting cast (David West and Emeka Okafor) was a little more stable and consistent than what he’ll have right away in Indiana.

    What Collison did do that should carry over immediately is post a True Shooting percentage of .546 and a solid assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.14, which displays his good instincts in terms of both shot selection and passing.

    He is the type of point guard that can make the players around him better, something Indiana hasn’t really had since Mark Jackson (1994-2000). With that said, Jackson TS% topped out at .568 (1996) and was often far below Collison’s rookie mark. It remains to be seen if Collison can be the leader Jackson was, but at least the days of Tyus Edney, Kevin OIlie, Jamaal Tinsley, Eddie Gill, Anthony Johnson, Darrell Armstrong, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Keith McLeod, Travis Diener, T.J. Ford, Jarrett Jack and Earl Watson are behind the Pacers.

    Not only is Collision perhaps the best point guard option Indiana has had in a decade, but he’s also ideal for Jim O’Brien’s system. He’s fast, level-headed and a good shooter. He’s also excellent defensively, something the Pacers will likely encourage him to improve further.
    http://pacers.realgm.com/articles/19...n_acquisition/
    RealGM
    By Andrew Perna
    Last edited by MillerTime; 08-13-2010, 11:08 AM.
    "So, which one of you guys is going to come in second?" - Larry Bird before the 3 point contest. He won.



  • #2
    Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

    Is it wrong that I can't take this seriously just because Andrew Perna wrote it?

    It just seems to me that posting anything he writes on this forum is like Justin Bieber giving tips on music to BB King.
    And I won't be here to see the day
    It all dries up and blows away
    I'd hang around just to see
    But they never had much use for me
    In Levelland. (James McMurtry)

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

      I still see no forseeable downside to this trade. I mean if Collison is killed by a bus tomorrow, the actual trade still is a decent trade.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

        Originally posted by Putnam View Post
        Is it wrong that I can't take this seriously just because Andrew Perna wrote it?
        Originally posted by Perna
        I’ve done my best not to, but after seeing a photo-shopped picture of Bird’s face on the body of Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose from the “Patience” video, I can’t help but get the image out of my mind.
        Give the poor kid a break. He's clearly been traumatized......
        PSN: MRat731 XBL: MRat0731

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

          [...]but at least the days of Tyus Edney, Kevin OIlie, Jamaal Tinsley, Eddie Gill, Anthony Johnson, Darrell Armstrong, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Keith McLeod, Travis Diener, T.J. Ford, Jarrett Jack and Earl Watson are behind the Pacers.

          Seeing all our past PG's listed next to eachother really makes it hit home just how terrible we've been at that position for the past decade. I let out a big sigh of relief after reading that.

          Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
          I still see no forseeable downside to this trade. I mean if Collison is killed by a bus tomorrow, the actual trade still is a decent trade.
          Don't jinx us UB!!

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

            I’ve done my best not to, but after seeing a photo-shopped picture of Bird’s face on the body of Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose from the “Patience” video, I can’t help but get the image out of my mind.
            Um, I forget is he a member here?

            Either way our own loveable Magic Rat should take a bow for this.


            Basketball isn't played with computers, spreadsheets, and simulations. ChicagoJ 4/21/13

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

              Originally posted by Mr.ThunderMakeR View Post
              [...]but at least the days of Tyus Edney, Kevin OIlie, Jamaal Tinsley, Eddie Gill, Anthony Johnson, Darrell Armstrong, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Keith McLeod, Travis Diener, T.J. Ford, Jarrett Jack and Earl Watson are behind the Pacers.

              Seeing all our past PG's listed next to eachother really makes it hit home just how terrible we've been at that position for the past decade. I let out a big sigh of relief after reading that.

              Don't jinx us UB!!
              Honestly, I'd say we've been a lot worse at center

              Sam Perkins
              Jeff Foster
              Brad Miller
              Rasho Nesterovic
              Zan Tabak
              David Harrison
              Roy Hibbert
              Scot Pollard
              Bruno Sundov

              am i missing anyone? Roy is the best on that list and he still hasn't been very impressive
              Lifelong pacers fan

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

                Originally posted by pacers_heath
                am i missing anyone?
                Jermaine O'Neal was a center, much as he hated to admit it.





                .
                And I won't be here to see the day
                It all dries up and blows away
                I'd hang around just to see
                But they never had much use for me
                In Levelland. (James McMurtry)

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

                  Originally posted by pacers_heath View Post
                  Honestly, I'd say we've been a lot worse at center

                  Sam Perkins
                  Jeff Foster
                  Brad Miller
                  Rasho Nesterovic
                  Zan Tabak
                  David Harrison
                  Roy Hibbert
                  Scot Pollard
                  Bruno Sundov

                  am i missing anyone? Roy is the best on that list and he still hasn't been very impressive
                  I like Roy and all but better than Brad Miller? All-star in both the east and west Brad Miller?


                  Basketball isn't played with computers, spreadsheets, and simulations. ChicagoJ 4/21/13

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

                    Originally posted by Putnam View Post
                    Jermaine O'Neal was a center, much as he hated to admit it.





                    .
                    Off on a tangent - Bill Walton was listed at 6'11'', but I several contemporaries swore he was over 7'0". Walton refused to be listed as a 7-footer, because he said, "Six-eleven is tall, but 7-foot is a freak."

                    And, yes, JO was a Center.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

                      Originally posted by Peck View Post
                      I like Roy and all but better than Brad Miller? All-star in both the east and west Brad Miller?
                      well he didn't seem to do much for the team while he was here and it was only a year
                      Lifelong pacers fan

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

                        Originally posted by pacers_heath View Post
                        well he didn't seem to do much for the team while he was here and it was only a year
                        But..he was an All Star that year.

                        I'm not a Miller fan, and I'm glad we didn't sign him to that contract, but Roy's still got some provin' to do before he surpasses Brad.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

                          Originally posted by pacers_heath View Post
                          Honestly, I'd say we've been a lot worse at center

                          Sam Perkins
                          Jeff Foster
                          Brad Miller
                          Rasho Nesterovic
                          Zan Tabak
                          David Harrison
                          Roy Hibbert
                          Scot Pollard
                          Bruno Sundov

                          am i missing anyone? Roy is the best on that list and he still hasn't been very impressive
                          Ugh that list isn't very pretty either. Its sad the two most traditionally important positions in basketball have also been our two most traditionally worst positions.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

                            "He stepped in and performed extremely well for New Orleans when Paul was injured last season, averaging 18.8 points and 9.1 assists, but his run as the team’s starter lasted just 37 games and his supporting cast (David West and Emeka Okafor) was a little more stable and consistent than what he’ll have right away in Indiana."

                            really? does this guy not know the pacers have an all-star themselves in Granger, and is Okafor really any better than Hibbert? besides Paul the hornets are awful, in addition to the players added this offseason and guys coming back from injury last year.

                            on paper the pacers have as much if not more talent excluding chris paul.
                            Last edited by PacersPride; 08-13-2010, 01:04 PM.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Looking Deeper At The Collison Acquisition

                              I liked the Perna article. I thought it was well written and highlighting that list of PG over the last ten years really did hit home how much the Pacers have needed a serious upgrade at the position.
                              Avatar photo credit: Bahram Mark Sobhani - AP

                              Comment

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