Pacers most under rated weakness

[8305]

At the start of the Heat series I saw an SI story. The premis of the story was that after George Hill moved into the starting lineup the Pacers starting five improved significantly. The bench basically never was very good and was called the Pacer's most under rated weakness. Bottom line, it won't be easy to improve the starting unit. Certainly all opportunities should be investigated but in the end the easiest improvements can be made to the second unit.

I liked what I saw from Collison. He seems to be most comfortable when he's allowed to aggressively look for his shot. A rotation that had 30 minutes or so for both Hill and Collison would work.

Borbosa doesn't fit. I think he needs a situation where his inefficacy can be tolerated. The style we utilize in the playoffs requires better shot selection and better ball care than he delivers.

Every bench needs a couple of aggressive, high energy guys. Amundson is better at everything except scoring than Hansbrough. I'd try to bring Lou back at a salary similar to what he was getting (2.4 mil per year). Dantahy Jones fits the physical/aggressive mold fine too.

Hansbrough needs to be changed out for a better offensive player. Free agent names that jump out Memet Okur and Vld Radmanovich. Both are excellent long range shooters who have at one time in their careers been solid scoters.

[Wizop]

I tend to agree although the lock out cost Tyler a lot. he needs a whole summer working on his left hand and he needs to learn to go right up without taking two steps to gather himself as that allows too much time for the shot blockers to react. bottom line though is the second unit needs a real center and then Lou and Tyler can fight for minutes at the four. Jeff Foster would have been that center. we're probably all under rating how much his lost cost us.

[PR07]

Our bench was bad in the postseason outside Collison, but I'd say passing is our most underrated weakness. No one does it particularly well for their position except for Hibbert and occasionally West.

[Ell Curry]

Need
The Pacers bench is all that's keeping them from being real contenders.Hollinger's preview of the Pacers-Heat series pointed out that when George-Granger-West-Hibbert are all on the court (he left out a PG since Hill and Collison had both started) the Pacers point differential was around +10/100 possessions, as good as Miami's big 3.

Context
When Amundson and Hansbrough both played, the Pacers were awful, so one of them has to go.
The Pacers need a 2 more than a 3, since George and Granger can both play the 3, and you need a backup 5 more than most since Hibbert appears to be a 30-32 minute guy, not a 36-38 minute guy.

Plan
After signing Hibbert and George Hill, I think the Pacers will be at around 50 Million as long as they amnesty Dahntay Jones' last year. That leaves the team 10 million to find a bench. 2 option stick out:

1. I think you either sign a starting PG for that money (Nash or Dragic), make Hill the 6th man again and trade Collison (high value after his excellent playoffs) for a cheap 5, like Vucevic on Philly, if Lou Williams leaves them as a UFA, or Asik on Chicago in a sign and trade with them needing a PG for the year with Rose out (and they might be able to play together since Rose can guard 2's and Collison can catch and shoot).

Hibbert/Asik
West/Hansbrough
Granger/26th pick
George/MLE/Stephenson
Nash/Hill

You can still spend the baby MLE (3 a year, I think) on the swingman you need. Barbosa is, sadly, done.

2. Trade Hansbrough, turn the 10 million in cap space into 12.5, since that lets you bid 6 million for FA's who other teams only want the MLE for. Again, you'd retain the baby MLE, which can be spent even after going over the cap.

Hibbert/(6 million FA like Asik)
West/(MLE or 6 million FA)
Granger/26th pick
George/(MLE 6 million FA like O.J Mayo or Brandon Rush)/Stephenson
Hill/Collison

The thing that's good about this plan is that you have 12 million for 2 guys and the MLE after, so you can spend 8 and 4 and still have 3 for the 3rd guy, or go 6 and 6 and still have 3. There's a lot of flexibility.

[Moooose]

^^ That's too complicated. Indiana would be wise to keep the team as it is, and just add someone with experience, preferably a point guard.

Hansbrough's development was hindered with the arrival of David West, and since the beginning of the season, it was already a given. A season ago, Hansbrough had almost the same per 36 mpg averages as David West.
Lou is the one playing out of position, being the back-up to Hibbert, when it should've been Fesenko. He took over Foster's role, but he's smaller.
David West still have a year in his contract, after that, Hansbrough should be ready to start. The ideal scenario IMO is to start Hansbrough and make Lou the back-up PF. But that is two seasons from now. I don't think it's rightful to give up that easily on Hansbrough.

[Indy4Life]

Keep an eye on:

Novak and Ryan Anderson
These two guys would compliment Westand Hibbert greatly. Being able to stretch the florr at the bigs spots is a huge advantage. Would love to add one of these two.

Ilyasova
Love this kid. Tough and physical. Can score and hit the boards (13 and 9) while being a solid deep threat (45% from 3)

Steve Nash/Deron Williams
With the above changes we would have a nice window to be very good right now. Nash would offer the leadership to help us get to the next level. I doubt he would choose to come to Indiana, but if we can quickly put the right pieces on the roster it would be awfully attractive.

Nash - Collison
George - Hill - Jones
Granger - Ilysova
West - Novak
Hibbert - Hansbrough

Odd men out:
Price
Stephenson
Amundson (FA)
Barbosa (FA)

Still need:
Another big man that can come cheap!