Breaking down Bird code.

[greenway84]

I've been reading, watching or listening to a lot of what Bird, Morway, And to a lesser degree, Simon have bee saying this offseason. As have all of you. Everything Bird said he would do he has done, or is in the process of doing. Which he has updated us all one. So I think we all know where we are at so far this offseason and our plans for the future. Ford, Jack, Diener, Dunleavy, Rush, Granger, Murphy, McRoberts, Foster and Hibbert all seem to be a part of our futre. Excluding Tinsely, Shawne, Daniels, Rasho, Baston, Graham all for different reasons. So heres what I've come up with.

1st I'll start with the rumor of Bird not wanting to include McRoberts but instead Shawne as incentive/filler for any trade involving Tinlsey. No Link it here somewhere will post later. The reasoning behind this I thin is 1. Bird is finished with Shawne just as much as Tinlsye 2. He thinks McRoberts will help moral and fan appriciation, and sell some tickets.

2nd In reference to losing that low post threat in JO. "We'll have a lot more open shots this year than in the past because of T.J. (Ford) and Jarrett (Jack) and even Travis because we can push the ball extremely hard. … (but) to win a championship in this league you've got to have a post scorer that can go down there and get a basket at the end of the game. We don't have that yet." This makes me think he really is looking and trying to aquire that pf we need.

3rd In reference to Murphy. Bird said he believes power forward Troy Murphy will have "his best year" this season. "He's really worked hard, he's thought about it, he's comfortable with his surroundings now," Bird said, "and I think he's going to have a big year." So even though us as pacer fans think Murphy isnt earning his pay BIrd may either think he is or hes about to.

4th In reference to our current back up future starting sg Bird has been very encouraged by what he's seen from rookie swingman Brandon Rush. "It's going to be very interesting to watch Brandon take the next step," Bird said, "because I think he's very close." This combined with his trust in Dunleavy makes me think Daniels is very expendable.

5th Defense. The team's success hinges on its ability to improve, defensively. "I know the coach has been working on changing some tactics and I think we're going to be better on the defensive end," Bird said. "We have to be if we're going to win games." Obviously the loss of Jo is going to hurt us in the post on d. It was bad enough last but without JO it could get ugly.

6th We're bringing back Austin this year," Bird said. "He's out there and he needs a place to go. He's been here (working out) the last couple of weeks and he looks good. Jimmy (O'Brien) loves him because he can shoot the 3-pointer." We all know Obie loves big men who can shoot the tree.

7th and finally we have heard him say it again and again with echos form morway and simon. Tinsley will be traded to make our team better. NOt bought out.

I said all of this to say this. And Im ready to be chewedout.
Martin, Kleiza, 2nd
-------------------
Daniels, Tinsley, Shawne

We get the low post scorer he mentioned, we get better defensivly like bird said he wanted to. He looks to be set on keeping murphy which takes him out of a trade to denver. He seems set on dunleavy and rush at shooting gaurd leaving daniles tradable. wants to get rid of shawne and tinsley in the same trade. Obie gets another versatile big who can play sf and pf who can shoot the three.

Now I know people are going to start talking finances on me and as you should but lets look at what we hope to get done in the next year or so. Resign Danny, Foster, Jack, and Kleiza. So with this trade as is we should be able to be in a simalair cap siuation as we are now. The difference between Tinsley and martin is 8,163,636 next year and when you look at shawne, baston, mcroberts, and graham them being off the books after this season would save us 5,923,852 adifference of about 2.2 million. We would still have rasho exp which would cover MOST of Granger new contract making that CLOSE to a wash. Foster will either resign for the same or maybe less. Jack will get paid I would say close to what danny made this year maybe a little more. Which leaves Kleiza and Im not sure whathe will want. But all in all Ithink bringin 2 damn good players that fill position needs as well as talent needs while trading all 3 trouble makers we have left is a damn good idea seeing as cap wise we would only add about 2.2 mil depending on how you look at it.
09/10 Lineup
Ford/Jack/Deiner
Rush/Dunleavy/Den 2nd
Granger/Kleiza
Martin/Murphy/2nd
Hibbert/Foster/1st

Hell Our backups would be better than some starting linups. Jack/Dunleavy/Kleiza/Murphy/Foster.

So now that Ive wrote a freaking book. Let me have it. LOL. Hell at least I wasted some time at work. LOL.

[HicksvsKnicks08]

Nice analysis,

Who do you think are the "few teams" Bird mentions are interested in Tinsley?
Miami
New Jersey
Wahington
Dallas
Denver
OKC
Golden State

Thats the teams I figure could use a PG

[JarrettJackSG]

I would definitely do the Martin deal, although I'd much rather try to get Nene.

I doubt that if they wouldn't give up Klezia for artest, they would do it for...tinsley?

NJ doesn't need PG. Harris is there. Dallas? Really? Denver? Ok...maybe. GS will trade later if the Marcus Williams show doesn't work out. OKC need to develop russel, and they still have earl.

[greenway84]

In this artest for Kleiza trade was Sac willing to take on Martin huge contract? See the way I see it Denver is looking to shed salary. Look at their starting lineup. Theyve already let Camby pretty much walk. Martin has been Rumored to be shopped all summer long. Iversons contract is the books this season with grumblongs of no invite back. To me it looks like they are wanting bring in some highly paid youngster(Lebron, Paul, Howard) To go along with Melo, Smith, and Nene. They made it a point to bring back a young shooting guard to hopefully replace iverson after this year n JR Smith. I think they are looking to rebuild. But fast and in a hurry. Shedding Martins huge deal along with letting iverson walk or trading him to a contender. Allows them to have a lot of play in 2010. In respnse to your artest thing. They were looking to bring in Artest for a playoff run before Iverson leaves town. But its not looking that way and theres no sense in having keliza just to sit in melos shadow. Same with shawne and Danny.

[greenway84]

Nice analysis,

Who do you think are the "few teams" Bird mentions are interested in Tinsley?
Miami
New Jersey
Wahington
Dallas
Denver
OKC
Golden State

Thats the teams I figure could use a PG

I would cut out GSW, Washington, Dallas, and OKC.
GSW arent going to bring in Tinsley at the cost of Harrington just start until ellis gets back.

Washington is the same. They have enough at pg to run it till gilbert gets back

Dallas wont for 2 reasons. 1 they dont have anything to give back 2 Carlise is never getting back on with Tinsley nore would Tinsley get back on with Rick.

OKC is a young rebuilding team with promise at pg. I dont see them paying a lot of money for a pg gaurd that will be not much better than their rookie. also he's a bad influence.

Miami. Maybe for banks but i dont know how you make it work cap wise. and the only way they make this trade is before the season starts.

New jersey in no way does it. Harris is set there. and they wont give up 2010 cap.

Denver could use help at pg but more importantly they want cap space. which daniels and oddly in this trade tinsley gives them. also they get exp in shawne if he doesnt turn out or is in the position at the end of the year. I dont know how they say no.

[Wizop]

if they are serious about Austin, they'll need to get rid of two other players. that would almost guarantee picking up a high priced nothing.

personally I think the concern about power forward is overblown. you don't need a big scorer there to win. how many championships did the mail man win? who was the low post scorer on the teams that beat them? what you must have down low is defense not offense. none the less, start looking for power forwards that can be drafted in the middle of next year's first round.

[greenway84]

Finals
2000
Shaq vs JO
2001
Shaq vs Mutombo
2002
Shaq vs Kmart
2003
Duncan vs Kmart
2004
Shaq, Malone vs Rasheed
2005
Duncan vs Rasheed
2006
Dirk vs Shaq
2007
Duncan vs Bid Z
2008
Gasol vs Garnett

I would say every NBA finals team, not just the winner in the 21st century has had a big man who could play D and score. Not to mention Kmart is on that list twice. You may be able to call me out on Mutombo, but he could get it done and his D was superior.

[greenway84]

Not to mention the game has changed a lot in the past decade. im sure most would agree. When one of the best to ever play the game. And coached our team to the only finals weve ever seen. Hes been around basketball longer than some of us have been alive. Well when he says thats what we need. i believe him.

[DannyGranger]

I said all of this to say this. And Im ready to be chewedout.
Martin, Kleiza, 2nd
-------------------
Daniels, Tinsley, Shawne

Theres no way that Pacers would take back K-Mart. 3 Years and getting paid over $14 million per season. NO WAY. We've already had an overpaid PF that was plagued with injuries (ie JO). Even though the trades works out http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/t ... &te=&cash= theres no need to take on KMarts contract.

[n_s_s31]

Finals
2000
Shaq vs JO
2001
Shaq vs Mutombo
2002
Shaq vs Kmart
2003
Duncan vs Kmart
2004
Shaq, Malone vs Rasheed
2005
Duncan vs Rasheed
2006
Dirk vs Shaq
2007
Duncan vs Bid Z
2008
Gasol vs Garnett

I would say every NBA finals team, not just the winner in the 21st century has had a big man who could play D and score. Not to mention Kmart is on that list twice. You may be able to call me out on Mutombo, but he could get it done and his D was superior.

I agree with you for the most part. But JO wasnt on the pacers in 2000. Indy traded Dale Davis for JO during that offseason. The pacers defensive big man was Dale Davis in the 2000 Finals.

[StephenJackson]

Finals
2000
Shaq vs JO
2001
Shaq vs Mutombo
2002
Shaq vs Kmart
2003
Duncan vs Kmart
2004
Shaq, Malone vs Rasheed
2005
Duncan vs Rasheed
2006
Dirk vs Shaq
2007
Duncan vs Bid Z
2008
Gasol vs Garnett

I would say every NBA finals team, not just the winner in the 21st century has had a big man who could play D and score. Not to mention Kmart is on that list twice. You may be able to call me out on Mutombo, but he could get it done and his D was superior.

I agree with you for the most part. But JO wasnt on the pacers in 2000. Indy traded Dale Davis for JO during that offseason. The pacers defensive big man was Dale Davis in the 2000 Finals.

And let's not forget the Dunkin' Dutchman Rik Smits.

[PR07]

No way Denver gives us Kleiza, but otherwise, nice assessment.