Without George, do the Pacers Blow it Up?

[Who]

PG: George Hill, CJ Watson
SG: Rodney Stuckey,
SF: CJ Miles,
PF: David West, Luis Scola, Chris Copeland
 C: Roy Hibbert, Ian Mahinmi

It would be nice if Indy could get a starting SF to push CJ Miles to the bench (which would give Indy a good solid bench unit). Someone like Shawn Marion would be ideal but Indy probably cannot afford him. Earl Clark is probably best available option. Maybe bet on Ronnie Brewer and hope he has a good year after a few bad years. Probably best to take both guys (E.Clark, R.Brewer). Plus another shooter at SG.

I think they have a shot at putting together a team that can go .500 this year.

[D.o.s.]

If they go .500 I assume it will be like some of those Chicago teams from the last couple years -- relying on defense to eek out wins, and running on fumes by the end of the season.

Which, actually, has pretty much been the Indiana MO for a while now.

[BleedGreen1989]

PG: George Hill, CJ Watson
SG: Rodney Stuckey,
SF: CJ Miles,
PF: David West, Luis Scola, Chris Copeland
 C: Roy Hibbert, Ian Mahinmi

It would be nice if Indy could get a starting SF to push CJ Miles to the bench (which would give Indy a good solid bench unit). Someone like Shawn Marion would be ideal but Indy probably cannot afford him. Earl Clark is probably best available option. Maybe bet on Ronnie Brewer and hope he has a good year after a few bad years. Probably best to take both guys (E.Clark, R.Brewer). Plus another shooter at SG.

I think they have a shot at putting together a team that can go .500 this year.

Man, who scores though?

Lance and PG accounted for something like 40%+ of their offense. David West is aging by the minute and I think is really going to show his age this year trying to be the (#1?) option on offense.

[Who]

PG: George Hill, CJ Watson
SG: Rodney Stuckey,
SF: CJ Miles,
PF: David West, Luis Scola, Chris Copeland
 C: Roy Hibbert, Ian Mahinmi

It would be nice if Indy could get a starting SF to push CJ Miles to the bench (which would give Indy a good solid bench unit). Someone like Shawn Marion would be ideal but Indy probably cannot afford him. Earl Clark is probably best available option. Maybe bet on Ronnie Brewer and hope he has a good year after a few bad years. Probably best to take both guys (E.Clark, R.Brewer). Plus another shooter at SG.

I think they have a shot at putting together a team that can go .500 this year.

Man, who scores though?

Lance and PG accounted for something like 40%+ of their offense. David West is aging by the minute and I think is really going to show his age this year trying to be the (#1?) option on offense.

They will be one of the worst offensive teams in the league.

They big question to me is whether they can continue to being one of the top defensive teams in the league. Lance Stephenson and Paul George were a huge part of that defense. There is still a good amount of defensive talent there though so they should still be pretty good (top 10). But if they are closer to end of top 10 than top 3, then there defense won't be able to make up for how bad their offense is. If it is top 5, then they are in with a chance.

[Fafnir]

If they go .500 I assume it will be like some of those Chicago teams from the last couple years -- relying on defense to eek out wins, and running on fumes by the end of the season.

Which, actually, has pretty much been the Indiana MO for a while now.

Heck if I was a Pacers fan I'd probably be hoping for a SA with Robinson situation.

Fall into a lottery pick who adds talent to the eventual core of George/Hibbert among players who aren't declining.

I think they'll have a lot of trouble making the playoffs, losing George and Lance is killer and the Cavs are going to bump someone.

[Fafnir]

PG: George Hill, CJ Watson
SG: Rodney Stuckey,
SF: CJ Miles,
PF: David West, Luis Scola, Chris Copeland
 C: Roy Hibbert, Ian Mahinmi

It would be nice if Indy could get a starting SF to push CJ Miles to the bench (which would give Indy a good solid bench unit). Someone like Shawn Marion would be ideal but Indy probably cannot afford him. Earl Clark is probably best available option. Maybe bet on Ronnie Brewer and hope he has a good year after a few bad years. Probably best to take both guys (E.Clark, R.Brewer). Plus another shooter at SG.

I think they have a shot at putting together a team that can go .500 this year.

Man, who scores though?

Lance and PG accounted for something like 40%+ of their offense. David West is aging by the minute and I think is really going to show his age this year trying to be the (#1?) option on offense.

They will be one of the worst offensive teams in the league.

They big question to me is whether they can continue to being one of the top defensive teams in the league. Lance Stephenson and Paul George were a huge part of that defense. There is still a good amount of defensive talent there though so they should still be pretty good (top 10). But if they are closer to end of top 10 than top 3, then there defense won't be able to make up for how bad their offense is. If it is top 5, then they are in with a chance.

I don't see how they recover from losing that much defense at the wing. Life is going to be so much harder for Hibbert without the athleticism to help him out. Then you consider that West is a year older as well....

[LooseCannon]

It would make sense to sort of tank without blowing it up.  Decline to use the disabled player exception if it would put you into the luxury tax.  Sign some young wings.  (It's sad that they are reportedly looking at MarShon Brooks.)  Let whatever happens happen for one year.  If you still make the playoffs, fine.  If you don't, you have a shot at a top pick.  Don't trade anyone who you still see as a potential contributor to a contender after that year.

Basically, the Pacers have too much talent to blow it up completely.  They can consider moving older players like West, but keep everyone who is young and useful.

[bucknersrevenge]

I know Hibbert's value is a bit depressed right now and I can't imagine it getting much better this year without a star guard like George to play off of in a walk year. Same deal goes for our depressed value PG of course. We could switch a problem for a problem. Go Hibbert for Rondo

Bird has always been a fan of Rondo's in getting him, he would have a better facilitator than Hill to run the offense. Hill could actually slide over to the 2 and simplify his own game as a placeholder for George next year. He can just focus on scoring and less on playmaking. Rondo will have West to run pick n roll with and Mahinmi will still be there. And if they keep that exception, they can still get a Marion or whomever to play the 3 for the time being. Larry would have the option of resigning Rondo to go with a healthy George setting up for him the way Rondo did for Paul.

For us, we get a 1 year tryout on Hibbert and see if he can regain his All-Star form. It helps solidify our frontcourt potentially, slotting Zeller in at C behind him. In Hibbert, we would finally have the rim protector we desired with Smart and AB as defensive stalwarts in the backcourt with Green staying on at SF and Thornton coming off the bench as instant offense. It could be a win win deal for both teams.

Then again, if Indy had it in their mind to tank for the year, we could trade them Sully, Zeller and maybe a guy like Jeff Green for Hibbert. Sully becomes West's replacement. Maybe Green sticks and a first rounder for the rebuild.

We get a shot with Rondo and Hibbert. and try to make the playoffs with Turner and Bass starting and KO off the bench.

[hpantazo]

How about trying to pull off a Rondo for Paul George deal? Bird likes Rondo, and Rondo and Hibbert could work well together. If the Pacers don't want to wait 1-2 seasons for George to hopefully return to form, they may be willing to do it.

We could also add a Green for Hill swap in the deal. For us, waiting for George to return to his old self in two years fits with our rebuild.

[gpap]

How about trying to pull off a Rondo for Paul George deal? Bird likes Rondo, and Rondo and Hibbert could work well together. If the Pacers don't want to wait 1-2 seasons for George to hopefully return to form, they may be willing to do it.

We could also add a Green for Hill swap in the deal. For us, waiting for George to return to his old self in two years fits with our rebuild.

It does?

Is this how low expectations have fallen?

Acquiring guys coming back from serious injuries and waiting two years for them to return to being 100 percent?

[hpantazo]

How about trying to pull off a Rondo for Paul George deal? Bird likes Rondo, and Rondo and Hibbert could work well together. If the Pacers don't want to wait 1-2 seasons for George to hopefully return to form, they may be willing to do it.

We could also add a Green for Hill swap in the deal. For us, waiting for George to return to his old self in two years fits with our rebuild.

It does?

Is this how low expectations have fallen?

Acquiring guys coming back from serious injuries and waiting two years for them to return to being 100 percent?

Do you honestly think we are going to contend in the next two seasons? Also, how else are we supposed to get players of Paul George's caliber? Waiting to hit the lottery jackpot hasn't worked for us, and no young, star player free agents have ever signed here.

[gpap]

How about trying to pull off a Rondo for Paul George deal? Bird likes Rondo, and Rondo and Hibbert could work well together. If the Pacers don't want to wait 1-2 seasons for George to hopefully return to form, they may be willing to do it.

We could also add a Green for Hill swap in the deal. For us, waiting for George to return to his old self in two years fits with our rebuild.

It does?

Is this how low expectations have fallen?

Acquiring guys coming back from serious injuries and waiting two years for them to return to being 100 percent?

Do you honestly think we are going to contend in the next two seasons? Also, how else are we supposed to get players of Paul George's caliber? Waiting to hit the lottery jackpot hasn't worked for us, and no young, star player free agents have ever signed here.

I'd sure as hell like to hope so (lol)

Either that, or I better find something else to get into I guess.

[Onslaught]

How about trying to pull off a Rondo for Paul George deal? Bird likes Rondo, and Rondo and Hibbert could work well together. If the Pacers don't want to wait 1-2 seasons for George to hopefully return to form, they may be willing to do it.

We could also add a Green for Hill swap in the deal. For us, waiting for George to return to his old self in two years fits with our rebuild.

It does?

Is this how low expectations have fallen?

Acquiring guys coming back from serious injuries and waiting two years for them to return to being 100 percent?

Do you honestly think we are going to contend in the next two seasons? Also, how else are we supposed to get players of Paul George's caliber? Waiting to hit the lottery jackpot hasn't worked for us, and no young, star player free agents have ever signed here.

I'd sure as hell like to hope so (lol)

Either that, or I better find something else to get into I guess.

Better find something else to get into.

[Celtics4ever]

Do you honestly think we are going to contend in the next two seasons? Also, how else are we supposed to get players of Paul George's caliber? Waiting to hit the lottery jackpot hasn't worked for us, and no young, star player free agents have ever signed here.

Bird's loyalty is to the Pacers not us so this would never happen.   PG injured has more worth than a healthy Jeff Green.   PG was almost a top five player this year.   JG has never been top 25.  Bird is not a fool, he knows this and he won't do this fantasy trade.

[hpantazo]

Do you honestly think we are going to contend in the next two seasons? Also, how else are we supposed to get players of Paul George's caliber? Waiting to hit the lottery jackpot hasn't worked for us, and no young, star player free agents have ever signed here.

Bird's loyalty is to the Pacers not us so this would never happen.   PG injured has more worth than a healthy Jeff Green.   PG was almost a top five player this year.   JG has never been top 25.  Bird is not a fool, he knows this and he won't do this fantasy trade.

I never said trade Jeff Green for George, I said trade Rondo for George, and if possible add a Green for Hill swap to the deal.