RealGM

Ok so John Wall goes #1 or top 2 no if's and's or but's about it. But the thing I'm starting to notice is that Wall could be the only PG taken in round one of this draft.

Could an Eric Bledsoe, Kemba Walker, or Tyshaun Taylor, who are all in 2011's supposed draft class come out a year early and be an option for the Pacers or are we looking at the likes of a Sherron Collins or Willie Warren who are 20's something prospects?

None of the above.

Dunthreevy wrote:None of the above.

Then who?

Or we looking at free agency?

Reality of it is that 2 of the 3 PGs that we currently have will be here next year.

No one's PG of the future is in this draft, other than whoever gets John Wall. This is the weakest crop of PGs to come out in recent memory. If this were last year, guys like Bledsoe would either be mid-2nd round picks AT BEST.

Dunthreevy wrote:Reality of it is that 2 of the 3 PGs that we currently have will be here next year.

No one's PG of the future is in this draft, other than whoever gets John Wall. This is the weakest crop of PGs to come out in recent memory. If this were last year, guys like Bledsoe would either be mid-2nd round picks AT BEST.

Agreed. I was toying with the idea of entertaining a deal with Memphis where we trade #10 for picks #13 and #25. If Bledsoe drops to #25 (not probable, but let's say he does) we can probably still get one of Henry, Monroe, Davis or (best option IMO) Udoh at #13.

That could be the dream scenario. Extremely unlikely though.

Maybe Eric Bledsoe, that's about it.

Dunthreevy wrote:Reality of it is that 2 of the 3 PGs that we currently have will be here next year.

No one's PG of the future is in this draft, other than whoever gets John Wall. This is the weakest crop of PGs to come out in recent memory. If this were last year, guys like Bledsoe would either be mid-2nd round picks AT BEST.

Exactly. I do like Bledsoe a little bit, but, he's far from NBA ready and main reason he's picking up a lot of hype is because it's a very weak PG class, where Bledsoe is probably the 2nd best PG in the entire class. If he has killer workouts, he will jump on teams draft boards who are desperate for a PG, possibly even our list too.

The Pacers got nothing out of our 13th pick this past season and Bledsoe probably will offer little his rookie season, i doubt Bird would take a player who will have little use next season. I think Bird will try to build a winner right now with all he has, thus, looking for NBA ready players more then "shooting for the stars" type pick.

i don't think the Pacers' point guard of the future is in this draft, maybe thru trades but at number 10, all other pg's would be a big reach. If we fail to land a starting pg, i'd say give the spot to AJ Price and retain Watson.

I think there is a chance the Pacers will acquire their point guard of the future this summer. But, he won't come in the draft. In fact I think this draft screams trade our first round pick if it can be the key piece of acquiring a guy like Darren Collison or Devin Harris. I don't think its a wild stretch to see either of these two guys being acquirable prior to or during this draft.

8305 wrote:I think there is a chance the Pacers will acquire their point guard of the future this summer. But, he won't come in the draft. In fact I think this draft screams trade our first round pick if it can be the key piece of acquiring a guy like Darren Collison or Devin Harris. I don't think its a wild stretch to see either of these two guys being acquirable prior to or during this draft.

Not sure what kind of package we would need to land Harris, but, i read once that New Orleans was willing to trade Collison but the team would need to add on Peja's salary. I don't think Indiana will be adding any type of salary.

Grang33r wrote:

8305 wrote:I think there is a chance the Pacers will acquire their point guard of the future this summer. But, he won't come in the draft. In fact I think this draft screams trade our first round pick if it can be the key piece of acquiring a guy like Darren Collison or Devin Harris. I don't think its a wild stretch to see either of these two guys being acquirable prior to or during this draft.

Not sure what kind of package we would need to land Harris, but, i read once that New Orleans was willing to trade Collison but the team would need to add on Peja's salary. I don't think Indiana will be adding any type of salary.

I don't think we could make a trade with New Orleans that involved Peja without sending back approximate equal salary. He's an expiring contract we've got a bunch of expiring contract players several of which would be nice upgrades over Peja (Dunleavy or Murphy). I think Collison is worth more than the 10th pick in this draft. Is a likely more productive player than Peja also on an expiring contract enough additional value for them? I would be willing to part with either Dunleavy or Murphy and the pick and take back Peja if it got us Collison.

Peja would probably hate that, but I wouldn't mind.

I'm sure O'Brien would love Peja.

Does anyone think Bledsoe could be like Russell Westbrook? If so, sign me up, I love how he plays.

I am not high on Bledsoe at 10. Differences I can see. Westbrook is a elite (even by NBA standards) athlete. He played for two years in a very structured system at UCLA and was reported to have an unusually good work ethic. Very few players could do what he did. Come out of college early and move from off the ball to the point. I don't think you will see anyone doing what he did again for a long time. Bledsoe might compare statistially with Westbrook but I don't think the comparison goes much further. I would go with Willie Warren before Bledsoe. You're at least getting a bigger more athletic player.

Westbrook is a super-special player and many people felt that going in, hence his early selection. Bledsoe feels like a reach at 10.

I would draft Bledsoe if you can't get a deal for Collison. However, I would trade down and pick up another first rounder to do so.

A deal with the Timberwolves maybe? Indiana trades the 10th pick and gets Minnesota's 16th and 23rd picks.

The ideal situation would be able to draft Xavier Henry at 16 and get Bledsoe at 23, but I don't think he will be around then.

So this is a little bit more realistic:

I would draft Bledsoe at 16, then try to get Paul George (extremely athletic, with potential, and still only 19) or draft Darington Hobson from New Mexico. Last time we picked a guy from there it worked out ok. Our 2nd round pick I would get Greivis Vasquez just because we could use another pure scorer.

Go for a deal with Memphis. They have enough picks do I'm sure they'll look at #10 for #12 and #25. Bledsoe might very well be there at #25.

I have a feeling Bledsoe is going to really shoot up in this draft. He will most likely be picked in the lottery. It's a very weak draft for PG, and he is probably going to try to show his stuff in the pre-draft workouts. I just see him as another Russell Westbrook type, not as good, but in terms of moving up in the draft.

How about T. J. Ford to Charlotte to get Felton? On there site, they are down on him. They may also need a center and we could package Foster.

blueandgold wrote:How about T. J. Ford to Charlotte to get Felton? On there site, they are down on him. They may also need a center and we could package Foster.

I don't think Charlotte would be interested in a Ford + Foster package. Foster is in the final years of his career, and i don't think Ford is better than Felton right now. Charlotte would most likely let Felton walk out.

For the Pacers, Felton is a bit expensive and i'd rather pursue other young pg's out there who are better and cheaper. It's hard to gamble on someone like Felton, i don't wanna see a Jamaal Tinsley or a TJ Ford part 2 in case he falters.