Hypothetical scenario: Would you trade one of DC/Bojan/Thad for a 1st round pick/young player this deadline?

[Wizop]

So is your plan to pretty much just stay the course?

I think we need strong young prospects behind Collison and Bojan. I'm not concerned about center or power forward unless Thad prices himself out of the picture as we already have 3 solid options and 2 rookies. I want to see what the draft gives us before seeking free agents and I don't want to shop any of the members of our regular rotation. Is that staying the course?

To clarify, saying I don't want to shop them does not mean I wouldn't listen to offers.

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[xxSnEaKyPxx]

So is your plan to pretty much just stay the course?

I think we need strong young prospects behind Collison and Bojan. I'm not concerned about center or power forward unless Thad prices himself out of the picture as we already have 3 solid options and 2 rookies. I want to see what the draft gives us before seeking free agents and I don't want to shop any of the members of our regular rotation. Is that staying the course?

To clarify, saying I don't want to shop them does not mean I wouldn't listen to offers.

Sent from my phone.

Yes, I'd say that is staying the course.

[Wizop]

Yes, I'd say that is staying the course.

Pritchard's course has worked pretty well so far.

Sent from my phone.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Yes, I'd say that is staying the course.

Pritchard's course has worked pretty well so far.

Sent from my phone.

Yes, he has done a solid job.

This team still is not remotely close to competing for a Championship nor are we on the path to doing so.

[Wizop]

Yes, I'd say that is staying the course.

Pritchard's course has worked pretty well so far.

Sent from my phone.

Sure, for what was expected, yes.

We are still no where remotely close to winning a Championship, nor will we ever be close if we just stay the course in my opinion.

Sorry if this is too philosophical but I believe at the roots all sports are training exercises for the hunter/warrior and the morality is the same as that for war - win or die.

With that out of the way, I just don't care if we win a championship as long as we are not out classed, are entertaining, and play team ball. I've followed the Pacers from the very first game. I loved the Reggie years (and the Manning years) even though that team never won a ring. I had season tickets in the years when they dropped curtains upstairs to hide all the empty seats. But now it has been 28 years since we had a losing record at home. No other team in the league can say that. I like our current direction. We can be winners for many years to come. Perhaps more years than I will live. Should we never get past teams with payrolls double or triple ours, it won't bother me.

Sent from my phone.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Pritchard's course has worked pretty well so far.

Sent from my phone.

Sure, for what was expected, yes.

We are still no where remotely close to winning a Championship, nor will we ever be close if we just stay the course in my opinion.

Sorry if this is too philosophical but I believe at the roots all sports are training exercises for the hunter/warrior and the morality is the same as that for war - win or die.

With that out of the way, I just don't care if we win a championship as long as we are not out classed, are entertaining, and play team ball. I've followed the Pacers from the very first game. I loved the Reggie years (and the Manning years) even though that team never won a ring. I had season tickets in the years when they dropped curtains upstairs to hide all the empty seats. But now it has been 28 years since we had a losing record at home. No other team in the league can say that. I like our current direction. We can be winners for many years to come. Perhaps more years than I will live. Should we never get past teams with payrolls double or triple ours, it won't bother me.

Sent from my phone.

We just have very different takes on this is all.

To each their own.

[Topofthekey]

For the most part, I agree that rookies, especially those drafted in the 15-25 range, are not likely to make significant contributions to a title contending team in the next two seasons. However, I don't think you can trade them all away to chase established players. First, a title team needs those rookie scale contracts on the roster so they can afford the multiple $20mil+ deals it takes to be a contender. And second, let's say Vic is going to be the guy here in Indy for the rest of his career. He's currently in his fifth season, so ideally he'll stay healthy and perform at a high-level for the next FIVE years, and then potentially play another five as the savvy veteran leader. But to be that veteran leader, he'll need a couple young guns to lead! Trying to be a Finals team in two years is a great goal and I hope we go for it. But we can't afford to give away the entire future for such a narrow window.

Completely agree that it is unwise for a team to trade away it's entire future for a shot at winning right now.

However, Pacers are a little unique, in that arguably the second and third best players on the roster are both just 21.

In the timeline you mentioned, 5 years from now, where Vic starts playing more of a veteran role, Domas and Myles will just be 26. They will be the young guns who step up and takeover the team with Vic providing veteran leadership.

As such, Pacers are in a situation where they can theoretically sit out the next two drafts and still have a solid foundation of young players to build around. It's a luxury. Not that I am saying Pacers should sit out the draft for no reason, just that if opportunities arise for Pacers to upgrade the current roster by trading away picks, either their own or those acquired in a trade, they should take it.

Also, Pacers already have several other projects to invest in for the next few years, like Leaf, Ike, maybe Sumner.

I also do agree that rookie scale contracts are an important part of building a successful roster, and in this regard the Pacers again got lucky with Vic being signed to about 21m a year for the majority of his prime, so the money saved there gives the Pacers a little bit of leeway moving forward

[Wizop]

As such, Pacers are in a situation where they can theoretically sit out the next two drafts and still have a solid foundation of young players to build around. It's a luxury. Not that I am saying Pacers should sit out the draft for no reason, just that if opportunities arise for Pacers to upgrade the current roster by trading away picks, either their own or those acquired in a trade, they should take it.

I would just caution that we shouldn't be trading picks for big names who are substantially older than Vic. I've already written that we need young heirs apparent at point and small forward and I agree that they could come from trades as well as from the draft. what I see no need to do is make big trades to replace Thad, DC, or Bojan with better players of the same age.

I also do agree that rookie scale contracts are an important part of building a successful roster, and in this regard the Pacers again got lucky with Vic being signed to about 21m a year for the majority of his prime, so the money saved there gives the Pacers a little bit of leeway moving forward

it wasn't all luck. we knew his contract before we targeted him in trade talks. but you are right that his contract is a good one. I hope it continues to be our biggest one for a while so Vic as our star remains our highest paid player.