Ownership and money question

Potimus · Post #1 » by **Potimus** » Thu May 17, 2012 10:25 am

How solid is the ownership for the Pacers? Do they have a lot of cash available or are they more of the traditional small market team? I don't mean cap space or salary for the year but actual cash that they could pay for a contract up front.

pacers70 · Post #2 » by **pacers70** » Thu May 17, 2012 2:07 pm

I think Herb Simon is in very good financial shape. The Pacers as a franchise, however, I think is struggling.

I think Simon is hesitant to throw money at players because of the mess that was caused by over paying players and signing the to long term contracts such as Jermaine O'Neal. Having said that, I think Simon will be willing to pay fair money to good players to either keep them or sign free agents. For example, I don't think there is any way the Pacers are going to let Hibbert get away.

Potimus · Post #3 » by **Potimus** » Thu May 17, 2012 2:42 pm

What kind of money do you think Hibbert is going to command?

Post #4 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Thu May 17, 2012 4:18 pm

Herb Simon also owns Simon Malls. Deep pockets.

He's a bit fiscally conservative, but he's been known to break the bank for a team that can compete. In the early days of the luxury tax, Indy was always in the top 7 or top 4 of salary and even paid the luxury tax several years. He did not, however, want to pay the luxury tax in the years the Pacers were struggling to make it to .500.

Wizop · Post #5 » by **Wizop** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:46 pm

There is no problem as long as Herb is alive. The next generation of Simons hasn't shown the same level of interest as Mel and Herb have over the years. Now Bird did recently say that we weren't going to be signing 17 and 18 million dollar contracts. the plan is to continue to build a deep team of good players rather than a few highly paid stars and a bunch of just guys. Hibbert should get good money but probably not more than Granger money and maybe a bit less given the changes in the CBA. I don't see us getting in bidding wars for big name unrestricted free agents though. I hear people on the radio say we need a few more players but I have trouble identifying why. I think Paul George and Roy Hibbert are just scratching the surface of what they can be and that it is their growth and not new names that will take us up yet another level.

pacers70 · Post #6 » by **pacers70** » Thu May 17, 2012 8:04 pm

I agree wizop.

Someone else to watch for is Lance Stephenson. I was anti-Lance last season. The fact that he stayed out of trouble and supposedly worked hard last summer improved my opinion of him somewhat, but I was still anti-Lance. With him staying out of trouble this season and his performance in the last couple of games he played has turned me around. If Lance continues to stay out of trouble, work hard and mature, I think he can be a good back up SG next season.

Let's not forget how young the Pacers are. We need to continue to be patient and watch the grow.

Post #7 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Thu May 17, 2012 8:13 pm

Roy Hibbert is affordable to the owners at even max salary money. A new max salary contract off a rookie deal is more affordable than the old ones over the life of the new CBA.

PacersDG · Post #8 » by **PacersDG** » Fri May 18, 2012 2:42 am

Tonight showed Roy is worth any money, but i don't expect to see him ask for a max contract. He understands why we're good and it wont happen with huge salaries.

Regarding Lance, please cut this fool. He has a terrible demeanor.

Wizop · Post #9 » by **Wizop** » Fri May 18, 2012 3:54 am

PacersDG wrote:Regarding Lance, please cut this fool. He has a terrible demeanor.

that was last year. he turned everything around last summer. I hear Clark Kellogg gets a lot of the credit. I saw them two of them at last summer's draft and told Clark then that Lance looked to have remade his body in the prior few months. Clark confirmed that while Lance had wasted his rookie year the message had finally gotten through. with another good summer he could move around Dahntay Jones.