I think there will be some gnashing of teeth by some when they realize that Bird is opening the door to another 3 year plan. Take it for what it's worth though he does say could be right away or take 2-3 years. But I know some of you and this should be fun.
http://www.indystar.com/article/2011...-may-come-fast
Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star.
After years of scrimping and saving and losing, after years of wandering NBA purgatory as one of the least compelling teams in the league, the Indiana Pacers now embark on their most important summer since 1993.
Finally, there is hope.
Finally, there is a young core of promising young players.
Finally, there is salary cap flexibility, something Pacers bosses Larry Bird and David Morway worked diligently to acquire.
Now comes the Pacers' summer of reckoning, a chance to change the face and alter the direction of this bedeviled franchise.
"We've got to take a step forward; we can't stay the same," team president Bird said. "Thirty-seven (wins) ain't enough. These next two, three years, we can't spend all (the available money) unless something great happens, but these next two, three years, this thing ought to be at a level where we want it. It all depends on the development of the young guys. If they get better, we add pieces through free agency and have good drafts, it might not take two or three years, it might take one."
It all begins with Thursday night's draft, in which the Pacers are scheduled to pick 15th.
What will happen?
We know what won't happen.
There was a rumor that the Pacers talked with the Minnesota Timberwolves about a deal that would send center Roy Hibbert and the No. 15 pick to Minnesota for the No. 2 pick -- likely Arizona's Derrick Williams. Tuesday, though, Bird shot that down. (Although I'm not buying that Bird wouldn't trade Hibbert for the right price. You can't coach size, but you can't coach meanness, either.)
That doesn't mean the Pacers will stay at No. 15. Bird said he has his eye on four players and expects at least two of them to be available when the Pacers select, but draft-day deals are definitely in play for a franchise that is under the salary cap. If they can package their pick and add a player, they will without hesitation.
If they don't move and stay at No. 15, my money (roughly $1.50) is on Jimmer Fredette or Marshon Brooks. An educated guess, at best.
At first glance, Bird's draft history is hit-and-miss, but if you look closer, the truth is he has done a pretty good job given the fact he has selected in the middle of the first round every summer.
He took David Harrison at No. 29 in 2004. The big man never quite panned out, but the best guys selected behind him were Anderson Varejao and Trevor Ariza. So he didn't miss out on any stars.
He took Danny Granger 17th in 2005.
Of course, you, me and my cat could have made the call when Granger fell all that way.
In 2006, well, that's a draft to forget. Shawne Williams had the talent, but not the maturity. It hurts to think that Rajon Rondo was chosen behind him. And James White, the second rounder, never got out of training camp.
In 2008, Bird found a way to dump Jermaine O'Neal's salary and drafted Brandon Rush at No. 13 and Hibbert at No. 17. Rush hasn't developed the way anybody had hoped, but none of the players chosen behind him or Hibbert really turned into big-time players. Marreese Speights? Serge Ibaka? The best of that group was probably IUPUI's George Hill.
In 2009, Bird chose Tyler Hansbrough, a selection that raised some eyebrows. But the kid has turned into a player. The Pacers passed up on several good point guards in that draft, but eventually dealt for Darren Collison at a bargain-basement price.
And in 2010, he got the draft's best value in Paul George at No. 10.
The best players chosen behind him? Greivis Vasquez and Landry Fields. A home run.
(Bird also took a chance on Lance Stephenson in the second round, saying Tuesday, "He's our best player." Really, Larry? Really?)
This draft, though, isn't going to be the thing that turns the Pacers into a perennial playoff team.
That's going to happen later this summer -- assuming there is a basketball summer -- through trades and, to a lesser extent, free agency.
The Pacers are one of the few teams in the league under the salary cap, which will allow them to make one-sided deals where they can take on far more salary than they give. It's likely the cap will decrease this summer, meaning cap-strapped teams will become even more desperate to shed salary.
Free agency is an interesting option, but it's not the primary reason the Pacers positioned themselves for this summer. Still, there are some names, notably New Orleans' David West and Dallas' Tyson Chandler.
So the summer of reckoning begins Thursday night. Soon thereafter interim coach Frank Vogel will get the official word on his hiring. (Don't stress over the fact Vogel isn't a big part of the draft; NBA coaches pay almost no attention to college players.) Then they will start looking at free agency and trades and . . . the lockout.
The Pacers are done taking their lumps.
Now it's time to administer some.
http://www.indystar.com/article/2011...-may-come-fast
Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star.
After years of scrimping and saving and losing, after years of wandering NBA purgatory as one of the least compelling teams in the league, the Indiana Pacers now embark on their most important summer since 1993.
Finally, there is hope.
Finally, there is a young core of promising young players.
Finally, there is salary cap flexibility, something Pacers bosses Larry Bird and David Morway worked diligently to acquire.
Now comes the Pacers' summer of reckoning, a chance to change the face and alter the direction of this bedeviled franchise.
"We've got to take a step forward; we can't stay the same," team president Bird said. "Thirty-seven (wins) ain't enough. These next two, three years, we can't spend all (the available money) unless something great happens, but these next two, three years, this thing ought to be at a level where we want it. It all depends on the development of the young guys. If they get better, we add pieces through free agency and have good drafts, it might not take two or three years, it might take one."
It all begins with Thursday night's draft, in which the Pacers are scheduled to pick 15th.
What will happen?
We know what won't happen.
There was a rumor that the Pacers talked with the Minnesota Timberwolves about a deal that would send center Roy Hibbert and the No. 15 pick to Minnesota for the No. 2 pick -- likely Arizona's Derrick Williams. Tuesday, though, Bird shot that down. (Although I'm not buying that Bird wouldn't trade Hibbert for the right price. You can't coach size, but you can't coach meanness, either.)
That doesn't mean the Pacers will stay at No. 15. Bird said he has his eye on four players and expects at least two of them to be available when the Pacers select, but draft-day deals are definitely in play for a franchise that is under the salary cap. If they can package their pick and add a player, they will without hesitation.
If they don't move and stay at No. 15, my money (roughly $1.50) is on Jimmer Fredette or Marshon Brooks. An educated guess, at best.
At first glance, Bird's draft history is hit-and-miss, but if you look closer, the truth is he has done a pretty good job given the fact he has selected in the middle of the first round every summer.
He took David Harrison at No. 29 in 2004. The big man never quite panned out, but the best guys selected behind him were Anderson Varejao and Trevor Ariza. So he didn't miss out on any stars.
He took Danny Granger 17th in 2005.
Of course, you, me and my cat could have made the call when Granger fell all that way.
In 2006, well, that's a draft to forget. Shawne Williams had the talent, but not the maturity. It hurts to think that Rajon Rondo was chosen behind him. And James White, the second rounder, never got out of training camp.
In 2008, Bird found a way to dump Jermaine O'Neal's salary and drafted Brandon Rush at No. 13 and Hibbert at No. 17. Rush hasn't developed the way anybody had hoped, but none of the players chosen behind him or Hibbert really turned into big-time players. Marreese Speights? Serge Ibaka? The best of that group was probably IUPUI's George Hill.
In 2009, Bird chose Tyler Hansbrough, a selection that raised some eyebrows. But the kid has turned into a player. The Pacers passed up on several good point guards in that draft, but eventually dealt for Darren Collison at a bargain-basement price.
And in 2010, he got the draft's best value in Paul George at No. 10.
The best players chosen behind him? Greivis Vasquez and Landry Fields. A home run.
(Bird also took a chance on Lance Stephenson in the second round, saying Tuesday, "He's our best player." Really, Larry? Really?)
This draft, though, isn't going to be the thing that turns the Pacers into a perennial playoff team.
That's going to happen later this summer -- assuming there is a basketball summer -- through trades and, to a lesser extent, free agency.
The Pacers are one of the few teams in the league under the salary cap, which will allow them to make one-sided deals where they can take on far more salary than they give. It's likely the cap will decrease this summer, meaning cap-strapped teams will become even more desperate to shed salary.
Free agency is an interesting option, but it's not the primary reason the Pacers positioned themselves for this summer. Still, there are some names, notably New Orleans' David West and Dallas' Tyson Chandler.
So the summer of reckoning begins Thursday night. Soon thereafter interim coach Frank Vogel will get the official word on his hiring. (Don't stress over the fact Vogel isn't a big part of the draft; NBA coaches pay almost no attention to college players.) Then they will start looking at free agency and trades and . . . the lockout.
The Pacers are done taking their lumps.
Now it's time to administer some.
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