I like that we made some moves but we are still far from been contenders, I also don't like to hear the free agency approach they had.
http://www.indystar.com/article/2012...TS04/120712043
http://www.indystar.com/article/2012...TS04/120712043
Pacers Insider: Fans aren't happy, but Kevin Pritchard, Donnie Walsh are upgrading the roster
The plan going into free agency was simple for the Indiana Pacers.
There would not be any off-the-wall recruiting pitches by team President Donnie Walsh or general manager Kevin Pritchard in the early hours of July 1 to try to woo All-Star point guard Deron Williams. The Pacers would not be one of many actors in the Dwight Howard soap opera with the Orlando Magic. Nor did the Pacers have interest in a one-year rental of Howard.
It’s been all about fine-tuning the roster since they lost to the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs in May.
First, the Pacers re-signed center Roy Hibbert and point guard George Hill so the starting five remains intact. Now, they are working to upgrade a bench that did more harm than good in the Miami series.
The Pacers improved their depth Thursday when they agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent guards D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green.
Augustin, who started 142 games in his four seasons with Charlotte, agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal. Green signed a three-year deal for about $10 million.
Fans don’t like what they’ve seen so far. Some already want Walsh to retire and Pritchard to go somewhere else.
Have the moves been flashy? Not even close.
Are the moves good enough to catch Miami in the Eastern Conference? Not as long as the Heat have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
But it’s all about progression for the Pacers.
They had no choice but to trade point guard Darren Collison.
Collison told Pritchard during his exit meeting in May that he didn’t have a problem returning as Hill’s backup next season, but he was being politically correct. Collison believes he’s a starter after leading the Pacers to a 34-22 record as the starter.
But Hill, who spent most of the season shuffling between the guard spots, stepped in when Collison injured his groin and helped lead the Pacers to their longest winning streak in years (seven games). Hill’s play left coach Frank Vogel no choice but to leave him in the starting lineup when Collison returned. The Pacers showed who they have more faith in when they agreed to a five-year, $40 million deal with Hill last week.
The plan going into free agency was simple for the Indiana Pacers.
There would not be any off-the-wall recruiting pitches by team President Donnie Walsh or general manager Kevin Pritchard in the early hours of July 1 to try to woo All-Star point guard Deron Williams. The Pacers would not be one of many actors in the Dwight Howard soap opera with the Orlando Magic. Nor did the Pacers have interest in a one-year rental of Howard.
It’s been all about fine-tuning the roster since they lost to the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs in May.
First, the Pacers re-signed center Roy Hibbert and point guard George Hill so the starting five remains intact. Now, they are working to upgrade a bench that did more harm than good in the Miami series.
The Pacers improved their depth Thursday when they agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent guards D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green.
Augustin, who started 142 games in his four seasons with Charlotte, agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal. Green signed a three-year deal for about $10 million.
Fans don’t like what they’ve seen so far. Some already want Walsh to retire and Pritchard to go somewhere else.
Have the moves been flashy? Not even close.
Are the moves good enough to catch Miami in the Eastern Conference? Not as long as the Heat have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
But it’s all about progression for the Pacers.
They had no choice but to trade point guard Darren Collison.
Collison told Pritchard during his exit meeting in May that he didn’t have a problem returning as Hill’s backup next season, but he was being politically correct. Collison believes he’s a starter after leading the Pacers to a 34-22 record as the starter.
But Hill, who spent most of the season shuffling between the guard spots, stepped in when Collison injured his groin and helped lead the Pacers to their longest winning streak in years (seven games). Hill’s play left coach Frank Vogel no choice but to leave him in the starting lineup when Collison returned. The Pacers showed who they have more faith in when they agreed to a five-year, $40 million deal with Hill last week.
The Pacers viewed Collison as a tradable asset because of his experience as a starter and needed a backup behind Hibbert. No offense to Lou Amundson, who provided energy off the bench last season, but he’s a power forward, not a center.
Dallas needed a starting point guard when Jason Kidd departed to New York and it failed to land Williams.
Collison to Dallas, Ian Mahinmi to the Pacers. The Pacers threw in Dahntay Jones because he didn’t fit into their plans on the wing, clearing an additional $1.2 million in salary cap space.
The Pacers drafted center Miles Plumlee — another move that upset fans — last month, but he’s not ready to fill the role as Hibbert’s backup on a team trying to reach the Eastern Conference finals.
The Pacers know what they will get out of Mahinmi. He’s athletic and can step out and make midrange jumpers, a perfect complement to the fundamentally sound Hibbert. Mahinmi also can play power forward.
Green, a former first-round pick, will take the role Leandro Barbosa had as the first wing player off the bench.
The Pacers better hope they’re getting the humbled Green who spent two years out of the NBA and not the player who didn’t take things seriously while with the Boston Celtics early in his career. If so, the Pacers will get a highflier who can score in multiple ways.
“(Green’s) scoring off the bench should help us in the future,” Pritchard said in a statement.
“He’s one of the most dynamic athletes I’ve seen, and how he’s improved will make him a great addition to the Pacers family.”
There’s still work to be done, but Walsh and Pritchard are doing exactly what they set out to do, even if it doesn’t make some of the fan base happy.
Dallas needed a starting point guard when Jason Kidd departed to New York and it failed to land Williams.
Collison to Dallas, Ian Mahinmi to the Pacers. The Pacers threw in Dahntay Jones because he didn’t fit into their plans on the wing, clearing an additional $1.2 million in salary cap space.
The Pacers drafted center Miles Plumlee — another move that upset fans — last month, but he’s not ready to fill the role as Hibbert’s backup on a team trying to reach the Eastern Conference finals.
The Pacers know what they will get out of Mahinmi. He’s athletic and can step out and make midrange jumpers, a perfect complement to the fundamentally sound Hibbert. Mahinmi also can play power forward.
Green, a former first-round pick, will take the role Leandro Barbosa had as the first wing player off the bench.
The Pacers better hope they’re getting the humbled Green who spent two years out of the NBA and not the player who didn’t take things seriously while with the Boston Celtics early in his career. If so, the Pacers will get a highflier who can score in multiple ways.
“(Green’s) scoring off the bench should help us in the future,” Pritchard said in a statement.
“He’s one of the most dynamic athletes I’ve seen, and how he’s improved will make him a great addition to the Pacers family.”
There’s still work to be done, but Walsh and Pritchard are doing exactly what they set out to do, even if it doesn’t make some of the fan base happy.
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