any possibilities with Indiana?

[wiley]

Sorry not to offer up any trade checked gems myself.  Thought someone with cap skills might like taking a look at Indiana as a partner to trade with.  Here is their roster:

   Troy Murphy    44.4   0   -    Boston
   Danny Granger    40.7   3   -    Boston
   Mike Dunleavy    39.2   0   -    Boston
   T.J. Ford    31.5   0   -    Boston
   Jeff Foster    24.7   0   -    Boston
   Dahntay Jones    9.3   2   -    Boston
   Paul George    8.3   3   TRS    Boston
   Brandon Rush    7.7   1   -    Boston
   Tyler Hansbrough    7.4   2   -    Boston
   Roy Hibbert    6.2   1   -    Boston
   Solomon Jones    5.6   0   -    Boston
   Josh McRoberts    3.3   0   -    Boston
   A.J. Price    2.8   1   -    Boston
   Andrew Betts    0   0   -    Boston
   Erazem Lorbek    0   0   -    Boston
   Lance Stephenson    0   0   -    Boston
   Magnum Rolle    0   0   -    Boston
   Stanko Barac

Indiana popped into my mind when the summer league announcers starters touting the job Lance Stephenson did at PG, comparing him to Tyreke Evans.  I'm not interested (nor uninterested) in Stephenson for Celts, but Indiana had a good draft and now has Granger and the still unknown but highly touted Paul George.....as well as Lance Stephenson and a bunch of undersized bigs.......Does anyone see a Celtic piece of the puzzle, however minor, on the roster above?  Ah yes, Jeff Foster has been discussed......anyone else?

If Paul George looks good early, could Brandon Rush become available?

[the_Bird]

Indiana's tough, if for no other reason than Bird seems to overvalue his players a LOT.  

One guy that might be available cheap (i.e., for 'Sheed's contract) is Jeff Foster.  Only one year left on his deal, around $7M IIRC.  Coming back from injury (back injury, IIRC), so you'd still need to bring in another 5 (Ben Wallace, Kwame, etc) in case he's still hurting.  But, Indiana has less and less use for him, he's not really part of their future, they think Roy Hibbert's really beginning to emerge.

*IF* he's healthy, Foster gives exactly what we need from the 5 spot.  Just hate to count on a guy coming back from a back injury, so we'd still have to hold our nose and sign a vet-min type guy.  

Indiana IS a team that's always sensitive to luxury tax concerns, so they might unload Foster to give themselves a little more breathing room.  Already have $67M in committed salaries next year.

[Evantime34]

I don't think Indiana is a fit. All their bad contracts expire at the end of the season, so they aren't looking for financial relief.

Maybe we could get Dahantay Jones or Brandon Rush for Sheed but is that realyl something that would make us better?

[Who]

I don't think so

I don't think Indiana is a fit. All their bad contracts expire at the end of the season, so they aren't looking for financial relief.

Indiana's tough, if for no other reason than Bird seems to overvalue his players a LOT. 

Agreed with both points + I'd also add:

(1) That Indiana's reluctance to trade Troy Murphy in the past clearly indicates they would only trade him if getting some talent in return. Likely a first round pick.

(2) Jeff Foster is the in-house leader. The longest serving player with the club and highly respected by the club. I don't think Indiana will make him available. Not in a salary dump. They've had plenty of chances to move him for that in the past and have refused to do so. I don't think anything has changed on that score.

(3) The only player I see Indiana parting with is TJ Ford and I am not interested in that. TJ won't do well in a small role playing behind Rajon Rondo. Plus, he is too expensive.

[Bankshot]

I don't think Indiana is a fit. All their bad contracts expire at the end of the season, so they aren't looking for financial relief.

Maybe we could get Dahantay Jones or Brandon Rush for Sheed but is that realyl something that would make us better?

I would love to have Brandon Rush.  Doesn't he play the same position as Granger?

[wiley]

I don't think Indiana is a fit. All their bad contracts expire at the end of the season, so they aren't looking for financial relief.

Maybe we could get Dahantay Jones or Brandon Rush for Sheed but is that realyl something that would make us better?

I would love to have Brandon Rush.  Doesn't he play the same position as Granger?

I think he could be a SF, but really he's a SG.  Paul George and Granger are both SF, but of those 3 players, Indiana can for the time being keep the best 2 regardless of position.  Best 2 being Granger and Paul George if he works out as expected.  If Geroge works out I would think they might trade Granger (excellent trade value) and keep Rush And George.  But if they wanted a minor trade in the short term, I would think they'd use Rush.

[the_Bird]

Luxury tax line is what, like $70M?  Indiana has no business paying the luxury tax in a small market, for a team that best-case is a .500 ballclub.  I think they'd like to get out from under some of those other contracts first.  Dahntay Jones was a bad signing from the get-go, they'd love a mulligan on that, but I'm not sure who they'd be able to foist his deal on.  

So, I know it's a long shot for them to make Foster available, but I'd make that phone call.  If they unloaded Foster for 'Sheed, bought 'Sheed out for a couple million, they'd save themselves a lot of money (and maybe they'd be far enough under the tax thresehold where they could spend at least a chunk of the MLE).

All that leadership hasn't brought too many wins, regardless.  Foster's a warrior (one of the reasons I'd like him here), but he's overpaid, somewhat redundant with the emergence of Hibbert, and still an injury risk.

They want to bring Earl Watson back, as well; that could easily be another couple million.

I guess the question is - how willing are the Pacers owners to continue spending so much money for such a mediocre ballclub?

[Brendan]

Was about to a something similar topic (literally was typing it and when I refreshed saw this post - so TP). Here's my analysis.

I think they could be a third team in a trade we make to help match up the salaries. The only two things they would (or should) be really interested in (strategically):

1. Draft picks (pref. for 2012 and later)

2. Moving Dahntay Jones - there only bad non-expiring

Tactically:

3. Moving bad salaries from this year to save them money (Ford, maybe Dunleavy, maybe Foster - see Who's take above though)

4. They could move Murphy and save money and just let it rip with the ACC platoon at PF with Hansborogh and McRoberts

I don't see how we'd fit in anywhere.

1. They don't have talent (except Murphy I guess, not sure I love him in the C's system) that the C's want to give up a first.

2. The C's would probably take Dahntay Jones as a fourth wing and use the money saved by letting TA and Scal walk, but they need a third wing and to feel comfortable with resigning Nate or using AB as Rondo's backup. And it would have to be part of getting a guy that could help us win now.

3. Ford is a bad fit here. Dunleavy is a bad fit as well and a question mark health-wise. Foster if healthy is a fit, not sure they'd trade him, and after back surgery big health question mark too.

4. I just cannot see them dumping Murphy just for the salary savings and to clear room for the ACC PF twins. Too risky from a ticket sales perspective.

So I think you need to find a third team that could use Ford and/or Murphy. Then a trade that looked like:

Murphy and Ford to third team
Player C's like (from 3rd team) and Dahntay Jones to Celts
Expiring Salary (from 3rd team) and Rasheed and cash to Pacers

With the rookies and/or a S&T of TA or Scal thrown in to even out salaries as needed.

[Who]

Luxury tax line is what, like $70M?  Indiana has no business paying the luxury tax in a small market, for a team that best-case is a .500 ballclub.  

The luxury tax line is around $68 million this year.

The Pacers salaries are at about $65 million and they are looking to spend the remaining wiggle room on a new point guard while avoiding going over the tax line.

[the_Bird]

Luxury tax line is what, like $70M?  Indiana has no business paying the luxury tax in a small market, for a team that best-case is a .500 ballclub.  

The luxury tax line is around $68 million this year.

The Pacers salaries are at about $65 million and they are looking to spend the remaining wiggle room on a new point guard while avoiding going over the tax line.

Again... unloading Foster gets a little more wiggle room for them.  Best-case might be if Miami gets desperate for a point guard and offers Earl Watson a deal like the one Steve Blake got.  Even without that, I'd imagine re-signing Watson will probably cost them around $2M per, putting them a pubic-hair away from the tax threshold.  Gives them very, very little flexibility in making any other trades, much less spending any of the MLE.

[Who]

Luxury tax line is what, like $70M?  Indiana has no business paying the luxury tax in a small market, for a team that best-case is a .500 ballclub. 

The luxury tax line is around $68 million this year.

The Pacers salaries are at about $65 million and they are looking to spend the remaining wiggle room on a new point guard while avoiding going over the tax line.

Again... unloading Foster gets a little more wiggle room for them.  Best-case might be if Miami gets desperate for a point guard and offers Earl Watson a deal like the one Steve Blake got.  Even without that, I'd imagine re-signing Watson will probably cost them around $2M per, putting them a pubic-hair away from the tax threshold.  Gives them very, very little flexibility in making any other trades, much less spending any of the MLE.

I don't think the Pacers have any interest in re-signing Earl Watson. Obie has said the only point guard from last year's squad that he sees having a role in the future is AJ Price.

The Pacers have been strongly linked to Kyle Lowry (unlikely) and Jordan Farmer (good shot at).

Edit: Mike Wells (Indy Star) writes

The Pacers wasted little time in reaching out to free agent point guards Thursday.

They made calls about the services of Jordan Farmar, who appears to be at the top of their list, Raymond Felton and Kyle Lowry.

The Pacers have the mindset that they're not going to make a deal just to make one.

The Pacers are offering one-year deals at around $3.5 million to free agents so they can have as much salary-cap flexibility as possible in the future, according to sources.

Part of that, too, has to do with them not wanting to go over the luxury tax.

With that said, it wouldn't be surprising if they find at least one of their point guards (they would like to get two point guards this summer) through a trade.

That report says the Pacers have $3.5 million to spend without going over the luxury tax which is slightly more than the figures I have seen for their team salaries.

[the_Bird]

I know that I read on one of the Indianapolis papers' websites (must have been the Indy Star) that they wanted to bring back Earl Watson.  Probably a couple weeks ago.  That was before free agency started, though, and maybe it was in the context of bringing him back in a reserve role.

[the_Bird]

Incidentally, you see that Lester Conner talked himself out of his assistant-coaching job?  

Conner's downfall, according to sources, occurred in early February when he filled in for coach Jim O'Brien, who missed a game due to the death of his mother-in-law.

Before the game, Conner was asked how much of O'Brien's coaching style he planned to take with him if he becomes a head coach.

"Um, not a whole lot," Conner told reporters.

A leading candidate to fill out O'bie's bench?............

Louisville coach Rick Pitino posted on his website Wednesday that Cardinals assistant Walter McCarty will interview with the Pacers "sometime next week."

[Who]

Incidentally, you see that Lester Conner talked himself out of his assistant-coaching job? 

Conner's downfall, according to sources, occurred in early February when he filled in for coach Jim O'Brien, who missed a game due to the death of his mother-in-law.

Before the game, Conner was asked how much of O'Brien's coaching style he planned to take with him if he becomes a head coach.

"Um, not a whole lot," Conner told reporters.

A leading candidate to fill out O'bie's bench?............

Louisville coach Rick Pitino posted on his website Wednesday that Cardinals assistant Walter McCarty will interview with the Pacers "sometime next week."

Yeah, I saw that. I remember JVG killing Conner on TV for his comments.

I can't believe he said that publicly. Not only did he do himself out of a job in Indiana but I have to believe that he's turned off a bunch of potential future employers. What Head Coach is going to want to sign an assistant who'll betray them like that?

It's great to see Walter McCarthy get a coaching job in the NBA. He knows Obie's system in and out, should be a good teacher to some of those younger players looking to learn the system. The Pacers hired him shortly after that interview. Good hire.

[the_Bird]

I hadn't seen that Walt's hiring was official.  Good for him, always liked that dude.