Pierce to Pacers trade in the works?

[JSD]

From the article:

quote]The Pacers are $14.2 million under the cap...[/quote]

Any idea where he is getting this number?

[FallGuy]

The article is baseless as some note but Indiana is having major attendance problems despite their strong start. A name star might help them over the hump.

[saltlover]

From the article:

The Pacers are $14.2 million under the cap...

Any idea where he is getting this number?

I think that number is about right.  The cap is $58 million, and according to http://hoopshype.com/salaries/indiana.htm
the Pacers are at $50.1 million, minus Posey's amnestied 6.9 million, which puts them at $43.2 million, or $14.8 million below the cap.  So $14.2 million is certainly in the ballpark if someone is off by a league minimum contract somewhere.

I think Indy is a viable trading partner for us in general, if not strictly for Pierce.  They have a ton of cap room, and are winning with a young team that might like someone with big game experience.  That said, I feel they're more likely to trade George Hill or Hibbert (crazy as that sounds) since both are RFA's this offseason, and Indy is a team that probably wants to keep its payroll around $50 million, regardless of what the cap is.  With four key RFA's in the next two offseasons, they're likely to lose at least one of them, so getting a half-season/postseason rental makes some sense, although it makes Ray seem like a better option for them than Pierce.

[xmuscularghandix]

From the article:

The Pacers are $14.2 million under the cap...

Any idea where he is getting this number?

I think that number is about right.  The cap is $58 million, and according to http://hoopshype.com/salaries/indiana.htm
the Pacers are at $50.1 million, minus Posey's amnestied 6.9 million, which puts them at $43.2 million, or $14.8 million below the cap.  So $14.2 million is certainly in the ballpark if someone is off by a league minimum contract somewhere.

I think Indy is a viable trading partner for us in general, if not strictly for Pierce.  They have a ton of cap room, and are winning with a young team that might like someone with big game experience.  That said, I feel they're more likely to trade George Hill or Hibbert (crazy as that sounds) since both are RFA's this offseason, and Indy is a team that probably wants to keep its payroll around $50 million, regardless of what the cap is.  With four key RFA's in the next two offseasons, they're likely to lose at least one of them, so getting a half-season/postseason rental makes some sense, although it makes Ray seem like a better option for them than Pierce.

If they were trying to keep their cap number low, why would they bring in Pierce's extra 16 Mil next season and screw up all their room...

[heitingas]

The writer knows someone inside the Pacers staff to write this stuff.

And it makes sense for both teams, If the Celtics are rebuilding they need  2 out of 3 things:
1-young talent
2-expiring
3-draft pick(s)

Pacers, becomes immediate title contenders, they're just not good enough with that roster and need another star that still has 2 more years after this and is still very good.

Their PG though aren't that great and needs an upgrade, maybe they could do a Collison package for Nash  then resign Nash to 2 years, Collison just doesn't cut it for them.

This roster is title favourite

Nash
Granger
Pierce
West
Hibbert

[saltlover]

From the article:

The Pacers are $14.2 million under the cap...

Any idea where he is getting this number?

I think that number is about right.  The cap is $58 million, and according to http://hoopshype.com/salaries/indiana.htm
the Pacers are at $50.1 million, minus Posey's amnestied 6.9 million, which puts them at $43.2 million, or $14.8 million below the cap.  So $14.2 million is certainly in the ballpark if someone is off by a league minimum contract somewhere.

I think Indy is a viable trading partner for us in general, if not strictly for Pierce.  They have a ton of cap room, and are winning with a young team that might like someone with big game experience.  That said, I feel they're more likely to trade George Hill or Hibbert (crazy as that sounds) since both are RFA's this offseason, and Indy is a team that probably wants to keep its payroll around $50 million, regardless of what the cap is.  With four key RFA's in the next two offseasons, they're likely to lose at least one of them, so getting a half-season/postseason rental makes some sense, although it makes Ray seem like a better option for them than Pierce.

If they were trying to keep their cap number low, why would they bring in Pierce's extra 16 Mil next season and screw up all their room...

That's why I said it would make Ray seem like a better option for them...

[Bean_town fan]

but if they feel like they're ready to compete right now, would they be more inclined to give up the cap space/have it reduced for a star player?

[saltlover]

I don't think it's strictly about cap space with them.  They're still not drawing at the gate, and according to Forbes (which generally does a pretty good job with their numbers), they've lost money in each of the last 5 seasons, and lost on average $10 million per season.  I think the Pacers could be convinced to take on the pro-rated portion of Ray's salary for one of their young players who's about to get paid in the offseason, and maybe  an expiring salary dump like Louis Admundson.  But I remember reading somewhere that the Pacers salary budget was in the $45-$50 million range, and that they had their own personal salary cap below the NBA one.

I think taking PP's contract is an unreasonable thing to guess at.  Regardless of cap room, they can't afford it unless their economic situation changes suddenly and significantly.

[LarBrd33]

I checked a pacers forum a couple weeks ago trying to figure out what in the heck was wrong with Danny Granger (he was on my fantasy team) and there were a few threads saying "time to trade grander... Especially when you have a young phenom waiting to take his spot)...  Long story short, Indiana fans think Paul George is a young phenom.  I don't know anything about him.  At this point if we could get a 1st rounder and immediate cap space for pierce I'd have to consider it... If we can get a young prospect as well it would be a hard deal to pass up

[Chief]

He is a 6'10 sf. Reminds me of a young Rashard Lewis.

[CFAN38]

I would do any pierce trade that gets us paul george even if we dont get a 1st round pick.

[Eja117]

I'd want P George and either West or Hansbrough. Keep your Amundsen and we an send something minor back. I don't think we need this deal.

[Eja117]

Paul George is no phenom. He's good, but no phenom. Paul George doesn't get us over any humps or make us any kind of championship team. He probably does juuuusstttt enough to land us back in low lottery NBA purgatory for another 20 years. So if that were the offer I'd hold out

[StartOrien]

Paul George is next, absolutely would do that trade. Don't see why the Pacers would though.

[PosImpos]

The writer knows someone inside the Pacers staff to write this stuff.

And it makes sense for both teams, If the Celtics are rebuilding they need  2 out of 3 things:
1-young talent
2-expiring
3-draft pick(s)

Pacers, becomes immediate title contenders, they're just not good enough with that roster and need another star that still has 2 more years after this and is still very good.

Their PG though aren't that great and needs an upgrade, maybe they could do a Collison package for Nash  then resign Nash to 2 years, Collison just doesn't cut it for them.

This roster is title favourite

Nash
Granger
Pierce
West
Hibbert

Eh, I think it's more than an exaggeration to call that starting 5 a title favorite.