Pacers Forever wrote:I’m in the camp of don’t re-sign Myles if his salary is going to wreck the organization’s ability to make the roster better in the future. The most I would pay Myles is 20-22 mil per year for 3-4 years.
While I am with you on the don't resign anyone, if his salary is going to wreck the organizations ability to field a championship caliber team (at some point, every team isn't about improving the roster,... but putting a championship caliber team on the court,.. then planning for a more distant future.)
Myles to me, is worth more than that. Because,.. he fits with the way this team needs to play to be successful. His ability to extend the floor on both offense and defense, means that he & Pascal can share the floor without having to adjust or limit their games. Finding another center that can do that isn't easy.
Bryant can hit the 3, yes, from certain spots on the floor... and he can protect the rim... at the rim. He can't pick & pop to the open spot, at any spot, and force the defense to extend to cover. He doesn't have the drive game off the step or bounce that has really made the Myles, Tyrese, Pascal teamwork flourish. He can't step up & cover at the nail, trusting Pascal as the low man behind him on defense (or Tyrese if we are hiding him) without getting exposed, or opening a lane to the rim that he can't get to.
I don't just like,.. I Love what Bryant has brought to this team. He is a more than adequate backup to Myles,... but he isn't directly comparable to Myles. Neither is Goga, nor most of the centers that we could find to play in a starting 5. Unfortunately,... we aren't in the position where we can just plug in a low post center & go. That would limit Pascal's game to the extent that it would limit the whole team's ceiling.
Pacers Forever wrote:I think the Pacers shouldn’t have maxed Tyrese if possible. There would be more cap flexibility if they could have gone a few mil less without upsetting him and losing him. I agree with the max they gave to Pascal as he’s a true veteran stud contributing game after game.
I guess, now that we know that Tyrese wasn't healthy,... I agree with Maxing both. Pascal has really become my favorite Pacer,... he is everything you said. Tyrese,... when he is healthy,..(yes, there is a risk there) was being talked about as a top 5-10 player in the league. If he can (and he seems to have already done so) return to that form,.. Maxing him now, for a longer term,.. as the salary cap grows is going to make his contract more affordable in the out years,... when we are more likely to put a team with greater championship expectations on the floor?
Pacers Forever wrote:I’m speculating there would be 11 mil. available if the Pacers let Myles walk and take the route of re-signing IJax and Bryant. That would not necessitate the moving of Obi or Nesmith. Also there would be salary cap to sign Mathurin the following year to keep him. I believe Mathurin will be a future fixture on the Pacers.
Currently the ppg. leaders are Pascal 20, Tyrese 18, Benn 16. Myles comes in 4th at 15 points per game.
Look at the Magic making it work with Bidatze as their center at 8.3 mil per year leaving money to maximize other players. He’s averaging 9.6 ppg and 8 rebounds.
For me,.. it comes down to who is really replaceable,... finding an offensive forward to score on the second unit should be way cheaper & way easier than finding a center that can start & play complimentary basketball with the team we have for the near & intermediate future. Magic can make it work because they have Banchero on 1 wing,... and Wagner on the other,... with Carter as a reserve or starter (when healthy),... They play differently from Pascal & whomever we put on the other wing.
I believe Benn can be a future fixture on the Pacers,.... and that he is making huge strides in that direction. If his defense and teamwork keeps improving,.. he could be the 3 that puts Nesmith on the bench? He has that in him,.... which would still allow Nembhard to play next to Tyrese,... but he is going to have real competition from Jarace. Even if Benn doesn't start,... He has offensive skills that Nesmith doesn't,... If Benn becomes the 'Vinnie Microwave Johnson' of the Pacers, in very short order,... He could actually be the key to winning a championship no matter whether he starts or comes off the bench?
Pacers Forever wrote:What’s apparent to me is Tyrese, Pascal, Andrew, and Benn are the future core. I don’t think a core of Myles, Tyrese, Pascal, Andrew, and Benn will provide much of a bench depth and they’d have to play more minutes with less substitution. I’m not saying that approach won’t work but say goodbye to our bench making a difference as they currently do.
If I’m forced to say goodbye to a current player to keep Myles it’s Obi because of his defense. I can’t part with Mathurin, Walker, McConnell or Nesmith.
I think our core includes everyone you mentioned with Jarace & Myles included. For me, it depends on how much we see from the combination of Benn & Jarace over the last half of this year,... & before the deadline next year? If both Benn & Jarace show out,... then I think both OB1 and Aaron will likely get moved. Probably OB1 this year,... to open things up to sign Myles,.... and Aaron over the summer, or next year to open up the extension for Benn?
Thanks for your thoughts on this. They've really helped me put a little more insight into my own. I guess where I ended up,... OB1 and even Aaron likely are close to 'as good as they are gonna get'. They might put up better numbers on another team,... but they are the players they are. They both help set a solid floor for this team, but neither of them, at least for me, seems to have the ability to push the ceiling for the team higher. Benn & Jarace still have that potential ahead of them,... they could push the team ceiling higher,... how high?....
