No player movement-that's fine

[speakout4]

Is it terrible that the pacers will go into the season with the team as it now stands. Not to me.

Players who are backups and always will be are getting 6M/year. This summer is insane in that teams have money to spend and next year is our chance to come out of this much better.

Between TJ, AJ, and Lance we can have some semblance of PG play that will be adequate. TJ for all the criticism has to play within the insane JOB system in his contract year or else he has no chance to find a new team next year that will pay more than dirt. TJ understands this.

We are ok at SG with Rush, Jones, and George. I would look forward to seeing Granger and George on the floor together. Two guys who like to shoot and one can go to the basket. George is the anti-Rush. We'll see how that works.

Danny has Sf locked up with Dun and George behind him.

Murphy will also give his best -contract year-and will be a double-double guy. The big unknown is whether Hans can play and contribute. McRob should be good for 5-10 minutes.

Hibbert is the center with Foster and Rolle who should displace Jones at the C. Jones is probably going to be this year's Diener.

This season will tell who among the players with less than 2 years experience is a keeper and who is gone. This may not be our best season but it can be interesting to watch seven guys to see whether they have futures in Indy.

[CableKC]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

I'm with you on this. If there was a PG that I thought would be a good long-term option that didn't cost us an arm and a leg.....I'd be cool with acquiring him. Many are okay with acquiring Sessions....I'm not entirely on board with that.....but if all it costs is an Expiring contract....I'll live with it ( begrudgingly ). But as many have surmised....the likely cost is that the TWolves/Kahn will ask for some asset back. At this point, we can't afford to give up any of our assets. For me, Sessions isn't good enough for me to consider taking him on while giving up an asset.

If that's the case....I'm cool with doing little to nothing while exploring deals until February 2011 to improve the Team while ( likely ) taking on long-term contracts that only make sense for us in the long-term.

As I mentioned in another thread....we ( as fans ) are at the tail-end ( proverbially and literally ) of this 3 year plan. Given the very limited prospects that we have of improving this Team....I'd rather sit on as many of our Expiring Contracts as we can then make a huge move...just to make a huge move. I want them to make "Smart" moves...not "Dumb" moves.

I'm perfectly fine with seeing what a TJ/Lance/AJ/BRush/George/Granger/Dunleavy/Inferno/Murphy/Hibbert/Foster/McRoberts/Rolle/Hansbrough lineup can do. The problem is that IMHO, I don't think that Bird will be content with that lineup.

[colts19]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

Speakout4, I tend to agree with everything you said. I think with George and Lance we have something we have been missing, in that we have guys who will go to the rim and draw fouls. I like Danny a lot but he should be doing that more than he does. Also Rush could be another guy like that if he would just do it. If mike and tyler are healthy then add in Mcbob who I think is better than most people give him credit for, then I think we could really surprise some people.

If everyone stays healthy I think we could win 48 games.

[CableKC]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

If everyone stays healthy I think we could win 48 games.

Ever the optimist, I see.

With this lineup, we'd be lucky to get close to the same record we had last season.

[MaHa3000]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

I pretty much agree. No need to sign a backup.

I'd rather watch Stephenson backup TJ, until AJ gets back. (then Lance can back up AJ)

Heck, we shouldn't do anything except let all these contract expire.

Having a good core of young talent with the freedom of large capspace is more valueble than a bunch of backups locked in for years. We should know.

[Psyren]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

I completely agree as well.


Going into the season the way we are.

Bad? No
Frustrating? Yes

But honestly unless it's Collison or Flynn, I don't really want to make a move. It's just that as Pacer fans, it's always depressing to watch everyone else wheel and deal while we stand pat.

[Dr. Awesome]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

Ever the optimist, I see.

With this lineup, we'd be lucky to get close to the same record we had last season.

I disagree. I think Granger has shown that when he is healthy, he can put the team on his back and lead us to some very good victories against top teams. I think if everyone was healthy, we could surprise a lot of people.

That being said, Jim O'Brien is the coach and does not use most of the players in the right way. If we had a good coach, I think we have enough talent that we could surprise a lot of people, as it stands now, we will be in the lottery next year.

[crunk-juice]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

how is this team any worse than last years? i dont think surpassing last years win total will be too much of an issue.

[jeffg-body]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

I like the idea of just standing pat right now if these crazy contracts are going to keep on being thrown at average players. If our core players can stay healthy for a major part of the season and our rooks (including Hans there) can play as expected of them we could surprise some people and get to .500 or a little better this season.

[odeez]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

Well as painful as it is, maybe it is the best policy. I don't like it, but maybe this is the best way, Bird's comments of late is that they want a young PG that can grow with the core. At this point I have no idea who that would be. We haven't been in the rumor mill much of late, so I am lost as to what is going to go down in terms a player coming in via a trade.

[DrFife]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

... Bird's comments of late is that they want a young PG that can grow with the core.

Or a veteran PG to mix in with all the youngins.

We haven't been in the rumor mill much of late, so I am lost as to what is going to go down in terms a player coming in via a trade.

Call me a dreamer, but I continue to hope that Larry's working on a more ambitious acquisition. His words "It's time to win" may have been a clue that he's up to something big. After all, he did mention (earlier in the year) Chris Paul as his dream acquisition....

[BornReady]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

It's frustrating because so many other teams, particularly the East, got better this offseason. I'd really like to see the Pacers get better too...

[Kegboy]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

It's frustrating because so many other teams, particularly the East, got better this offseason.

This.

I really don't see how replacing Earl Watson with a 19-year-old shooting guard makes us better.

Plus, no Head this year.

[beast23]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

This.

I really don't see how replacing Earl Watson with a 19-year-old shooting guard makes us better.

Plus, no Head this year.

Tend to agree. Watson may not have been the happiest PG we've ever had, but he proved willing to play within JOB's system.

As for your other point, well you have my sympathies.

[PacersPride]

Re: No player movement-that's fine

Or a veteran PG to mix in with all the youngins.



Call me a dreamer, but I continue to hope that Larry's working on a more ambitious acquisition. His words "It's time to win" may have been a clue that he's up to something big. After all, he did mention (earlier in the year) Chris Paul as his dream acquisition....

interesting, i never heard Bird state Paul was his dream acquisition. this might be one issue i have with Bird, he needs to play it closer to the vest on some things, eg. the tinsley debacle.

either way, dont see Paul coming here, i would offer every expiring and take back okafor, posey, songalia, and potentially offer 2 protected draft picks, but even then, the gamble is would paul stay. if no's does that, we keep the assets, and still would have possibly enough wiggle room to sign hoford.

then... my god would would be contending..

i think even tho indy may not be the most attractive destination, if you had paul and granger, horford would at least consider it. its all bout winning.