Past Vs. Future/The future looks very bright for the Pacers!

[klemen4]

Being a big fan, I follow NBA every dan. I must admit I didnt like Pacers team in last years, some really bad moves were made, but now after this offseason for the first time since season 04-05 Im starting to like the team. Reasons are that Oneal and Tinsley are gone, the team has a great pg combo, Dunleavy had a great last season, Granger emerges as a leader, team drafted promising sg and c. The bad contracts are gone. So this season I will closely follow the Pacers in transition season, and with garantied only 31 milion dolars in salaries for next season(09-10), the future in Indiana looks very bright.

From a Boston Celtic fan

THE TEAM IN LAST YEARS

2003-04: Returning to the East's Elite

- Larry Bird returned to the franchise, this time as team President, with Donnie Walsh moving into the role of franchise CEO.
- Bird opted to make a coaching change, replacing Isiah Thomas with Rick Carlisle.
- Jermaine O'Neal and Reggie Miller both re-signed, keeping the franchise cornerstones intact.
- best record in the NBA, 61-21
- O'Neal continued to rack up individual honors, making his third All-Star trip and being named second-team All-NBA.
- Ron Artest experienced a breakthrough season, netting his first All-Star berth as well as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
- Eastern Conference Finals the Pacers lost in six games to Detroit. The Pistons went on to win the NBA championship, sweeping the Lakers.


2004-05: Detroit incident and Reggie's Last Stand

- Artest was suspended for the remainder of the regular season and postseason. Stephen Jackson (30 games) and Jermaine O'Neal (25 games, later reduced to 15).
- No fewer than 17 players started at least once as Coach Rick Carlisle employed 30 lineup combinations. Not only was the team hit hard by the suspensions, but several key players missed large portions of the season due to injuries, including O'Neal (shoulder), Jamaal Tinsley (foot) and Jeff Foster (hip surgery).
- the No. 6 seed. They then proceeded to upset Atlantic Division champion Boston 4-3 in the first round before falling to the defending champion Pistons 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.


2005-06: Artest traded for Stojakovic, Drafted Danny Granger

- request from Artest that once again disrupted the team after a fast start.
- Injuries then became the prevailing factor, forcing Carlisle to use 31 different lineups using 14 players. In fact, the projected starters entering the season (Tinsley, Jackson, Artest, O'Neal and Foster) never took the floor together. O'Neal missed 31 games, most due to a groin injury. Tinsley, hampered by foot and ankle problems, missed 40.
- First-round draft pick Danny Granger showed flashes of brilliance in a strong rookie season.
- Peja Stojakovic, acquired from Sacramento for Artest in a mid-season trade, averaged nearly 20 points per game after joining the Pacers.
- Eliminated 4-2 in the of the first-round series against the Nets


2006-07: Stojakovič opted out, Out-Croshere, Jackson, Harrington...In –Daniels, Dunleavy,Murphy

- Stojakovic opted to sign with New Orleans
- the Pacers re-acquired popular forward Al Harrington from Atlanta during a busy offseason that also included the acquisitions of Marquis Daniels and Darrell Armstrong from Dallas in separate deals that sent Austin Croshere and Anthony Johnson to the Mavs.
- With the team struggling at midseason, a blockbuster trade was made with Golden State acquiring Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod while sending Harrington, Stephen Jackson, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Josh Powell to the Warriors.
- didn't reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.



2007-08: Granger and Dunleavy enjoyed breakout season

- new coaching staff, led by Jim O'Brien
- Again injuries O'Neal missed 40 games and Tinsley 43
- second consecutive non-playoff finish with a 36-46 record.
- Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy both enjoyed breakout seasons. Granger averaged 19.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.19 steals and 1.05 blocked shots in his third NBA campaign, establishing himself as the new face of the franchise. Dunleavy was one of the leading candidates for the league's Most Improved Player award after producing by far the best of his six NBA seasons, averaging 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.05 steals. Both Granger and Dunleavy shot better than 40 percent from the 3-point line, giving the Pacers a strong tandem of wing players to build around.
- President Donnie Walsh opted to end his long, successful run with the organization.

2008-09: Forming a team

- Traded O'Neal for Ford, Nesterovic, Baston and Hibbert
- Traded Tinsley for Atkins and Hunter

I think after 3 years(offseason 05-06) the Pacers are finally making the right moves.

Bad moves in last three years:

05-06
- Artest traded for Stojakovič, who opts out in offseason 06

06-07
- Tradeed Croshere for Daniels
- Traded Harrington, Stephen Jackson, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Josh Powell for Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod.

07-08
- No moves

08-09
- Aquired borderline allstar pg in Ford and great back up pg in Jack, drafted Rush and Hibbert
- Tinsley is gone

The future:

Contracts longer than 1 year :

PG : FORD(3 years*)/JACK(2 years)/DIENER(2years**)
SG: DUNLEAVY(3 years)/RUSH(rookie contract)
SF: GRANGER(2 years)/WILLIAMS(rookie contract)
PF: MURPHY(3 years)
C: HIBBERT(rookie contract)/HUNTER(2years)

*Ford 3th year is player option
**Dieners 2th years is player option

Combine salaries for this 10 players next 09/10 season only 30,924 milion dolars!!!

After a long time I see a promising team in Indiana which has a chance to rise to the top again.