What, in your opinion, is the best approach for the Pacers moving on

[Topofthekey]

First, let's state the obvious - the Pacers are in a very good situation right now.

The team has a lot going for it. They have a solid young core in Vic, Myles, and Domas. The team's payroll looks to be in very good shape over the next few years. They have their 1st round pick this year, and together with players like Leaf and maybe Sumner, the team has a few long term projects that could yield a good player in the long run. And perhaps most important of all, they are also very fun to watch, and is competitive enough to be a playoff team. One could in fact argue that all in all, the team is in fantastic shape, and all that's left to be done is to just sit back and enjoy the team.

That's fine and all, but assuming that the team has higher aspirations, such as a return to the NBA finals, what in your opinion is the best approach to achieve that goal?

I think that broadly speaking, in order to improve the team to the point that Pacers can legitimately aim for the Finals, there are two different different approaches to take: i) the proactive approach, that is to improve the team via actively going after big free agency signings and seeking out high impact trades, and ii) the reactive approach, that is to rely on incremental upgrades by making small trades and FA signings, and drafting and development young players and seeing what the team eventually ends up with

A lot can be said about either of these two approaches, and you can actually make arguments for and against each of them, but I personally think it boils down to two main questions:

i) Why take unnecessary risks in big signings/trades when the team is in such good shape currently? The Pacers currently face no pressure to improve in a hurry, so why not just let the team do its own thing. Big FA signings/trades have the potential to backfire.

ii) Why waste Victor Oladipo's prime? Every year the team spends drafting and waiting on young players to develop is a year of Oladipo's prime that isn't put to good use. Be mindful that the rest of the league, the Pacers' competition, also improves with time.


Of course, things are not as clear cut as this, and the situation with the team and the rest of the league changes frequently. Also, it's not as if it has to be only one way or the other, the team could even realistically do a bit of both, make big signings/trades while still developing for the future. But assuming a choice has to be made between these two approaches, which one in your opinion is best?

To clarify, when I say big FA signings and high impact trades, I don't mean going after vets with only a few good years left. I mean either high prospect players who are coming off their rookie scale salary, or established players in their mid to late 20s.

[pizza guy]

I'll be surprised to see any big changes made today. Maybe something small. But I do expect bigger moves this offseason than I would've anticipated a few months ago. I think the emergence of Oladipo as an All Star, along with the promise of Sabonis and Myles puts us on a much quicker, clearer path toward being competitive than we anticipated. And, considering the contract situations of those three players, I think we need to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak, with aggressive moves to use the cap space around those affordable contracts to chase some big fish.

I like KP's idea to obtain an extra first round pick, and I like that we're using the two-way contracts and GLeague to our advantage. I have high hopes for these developmental pieces we have in Sumner, Ike, Ben Moore, and Walter Lemon, Jr. I think Leaf could be a rotational guy. And I think there's enough potential in that group for us to either have a nice bench for a few years, or trade for another solid, starting piece.

We have a ton of flexibility right now, and I think KP will protect that today and go into the summer with bigger goals to maybe push for home court in the playoffs next year, and keep building.

[granger05]

I think we may be in a nice position this offseason. We'll have cap room to use and the partial guarantees to use in a trade if the opportunity presents itself. The other teams with room will be gunning for stars but I wonder if the market for the next tier will be lower and there are a lot of questionable guys there. I would have said hello no to IT previously, but after bouncing around again maybe his contract will be something reasonable and we roll the dice. This trade today makes me think he must be a real a-hole in the locker room though. I'd like to see us be smart and maintain flexibility so as the cap crunch from the 2016 contractpalooza comes due we can profit off of it.

[Wizop]

see draft thread. I won't duplicate prospect evaluations here.

there could be offers today or next summer that we can't refuse but I'm for the patient approach. we can finish anywhere from 3rd to the lottery. Collison's injury hurts and we've got more road than home games left to play. we need a 3 who can backup Bogie and eventually replace him. I don't think that's Moore or Poytress as neither has earned even spot minutes or dominated in Fort Wayne so far this year. GR3 will get his chance to show he's up to the job. we could do a cap deal today but I think the odds are against such a deal bringing a long term answer as opposed to a good backup for this year and next.

to be continued after the 3:00 deadline.

[Wizop]

This trade today makes me think he must be a real a-hole in the locker room though.

I got a chuckle out of his comment that Cleveland's problem was lack of in game adjustments. I translated that as Brad Steven's is a better coach than Lue. not surprisingly, Lue denied the charge. a day later IT is gone.

[basketballwacko2]

The Pacers need a wing player I like Carroll for Jefferson, but Al has played well and it might hurt team chemistry like the Danny Granger deal did when we got Evan Turner.

[Miller4ever]

I'm on the wait-and-see train, given this team seems like it's scratching the surface. We don't know what we look like with a healthy GRIII who could be really impactful for us. We've gotten a really gimpy Myles this season. Add to that the incredible youth of the team, and I'd say wait until next season (as Victor rounds into his prime) to target a splashy FA to elevate us into contention.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I think moving forward the Pacers need to recognize the window is closed right now and for the next few years. Not only are we not able to compete with the Warriors, we aren't even able to compete for the Eastern Conference right now, nor are we particularly close to doing so.

We have a solid trio to build around in Turner, Sabonis, and Oladipo. Then we have some prospects that maybe we can develop into the kind of players you need for a Championship. The thing is, Turner and Sabonis are still very young. How often do you see a 21 year old play as the #2 or #3 guy on a Championship team? It just doesn't happen often, if at all(I can't think of a particular instance off the top of my head within the last few season).

We have to realize that a trio of Turner, Sabonis, and Oladipo CAN have a Championship window if developed correctly, but its not going to happen within at least a few years. To me, the best course of action would simply be to find other prospects that can fit into that window. Thaddeus Young, Darren Collison, and so on are very nice right now, but if our goal is to win a Championship, we have to recognize they will never help us do that. Their timeline simply does not line up with ours.

The Pacers have never won a Championship in their entire history since joining the NBA. If we are being honest with ourselves, a core of Oladipo, Turner, and Sabonis likely doesn't change that. That said, it could, if Turner and Sabonis reach their full potential, we could have a very competitive team. However, we are going to have to surround them with players that can help them compete when they are ready to. If we are looking three to four years down the road as our potential window, Young, Collison, and so on will not be helping us then.

So pretty much, I don't want to see us build our team with the present in mind. I want them to recognize where our window could be, and put all their eggs into that basket.

[winter_mute_13]

I don't view the 2 poll options as either/or. Of course the Pacers should seek impact players through FA or trade. But that requires factors outside the Pacers' control, such as FA's willingness to come here or teams' willingness to trade. So Pacers should wait opportunistically, but must also have a backup plan.

And the sensible backup plan it seems to me is the 2nd option. Just carry on doing what we're doing, until the right player comes up. It's kind of boring and there's no guarantee of success in the end, but I don't really see how you can force the first option.

[Slello17]

I think we should try to upgrade our roster without risking our financial flexibility (unless for someone that is really worth it).
I hope we are not going to overpay for someone like Thomas for example.
We have a fun team that is playing hard every night and I hope we do not mortgage our future for short term success.

Imo we should look for a starting 3 (3 and D type) that can also play some 4. I like boogie but he can be a liability on the defensive end (even if I have been impressed by his play on that end). He would be a really good backup 2/3.

We also could use another 4 that could back up young or even replace him. We are really thin at the wings positions and I hope i am wrong but I am not sold on Tj leaf becoming anything more than a 3 point specialist.
I’d love to get Aaron Gordon on that team (of course an healthy version of him).

Finally, I’d like us to improve our point guard position. I know collison and Joseph is a good combo but I don’t see any of them as starting material for a contending team.

Pizza guy talked about Sumner, Ike, Moore and Walter Lemon. I really don’t know anything about them so I dont know if they could help us now or in the future.
Do you see one of them as being part of our team moving forward ?

[JermaineOYea]

How often do you see a 21 year old play as the #2 or #3 guy on a Championship team? It just doesn't happen often, if at all(I can't think of a particular instance off the top of my head within the last few season).

This is the absolute answer. While I didn't vote on the poll because I don't think it's as cut and dry as the poll gives options for, but if I were to lean towards one it'd be the second choice. Our young guys could turn into championship caliber players, but they're a few years away from touching their primes. Sabonis gives me chills when I think of what he can become.

That being said, we dont have four years to wait with Dipo. He very well could age well and still be a dog at age 30 or 31... But I'd like to make some serious noise before then. I think we should go after a big name, maybe not this off-season, but perhaps next.

Time, development, and then a big signing or two with the money we have.

[Wizop]

the biggest names are mostly older than our timeline. the perfect solution would be another JO stuck on someone's bench behind an all star or a top SF willing to take good but not top money to play here ... not that I expect that.

in the draft, college seniors may fit our timeline better than one and dones.

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[MUpacersSIC]

I think they should go after Aaron Gordon hard. Fits our timeline, and has improved something each year.


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[Wizop]

I think they should go after Aaron Gordon hard. Fits our timeline, and has improved something each year.


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if we're going after a max contract free agent, I'd prefer Jimmy Butler. that said, I'd prefer a 20mm 3 to a max player. Vic should have top dollar. can't think of any names though.

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[MUpacersSIC]

I think they should go after Aaron Gordon hard. Fits our timeline, and has improved something each year.


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if we're going after a max contract free agent, I'd prefer Jimmy Butler. that said, I'd prefer a 20mm 3 to a max player. Vic should have top dollar. can't think of any names though.

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I wouldn't want to max out Gordon, but that is probably what it is going to take.

[Topofthekey]

the perfect solution would be another JO stuck on someone's bench

Mudiay could turn out to be that

[Wizop]

the perfect solution would be another JO stuck on someone's bench

Mudiay could turn out to be that

not a good shooter, but that can often be fixed. anyway, I'm happy we didn't trade but expect we'll be receptive this summer.

real offers don't always match rumors.

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[ladovina]

What about Mario Hezonja? Prolly cheap, still alot of potential and fits the timeline?

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[Pacers_Freak]

I think they should go after Aaron Gordon hard. Fits our timeline, and has improved something each year.


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if we're going after a max contract free agent, I'd prefer Jimmy Butler. that said, I'd prefer a 20mm 3 to a max player. Vic should have top dollar. can't think of any names though.

Sent from my phone.

I wouldn't want to max out Gordon, but that is probably what it is going to take.

He is restricted so even if maxed out Orlando could match.

[MUpacersSIC]

if we're going after a max contract free agent, I'd prefer Jimmy Butler. that said, I'd prefer a 20mm 3 to a max player. Vic should have top dollar. can't think of any names though.

Sent from my phone.

I wouldn't want to max out Gordon, but that is probably what it is going to take.

He is restricted so even if maxed out Orlando could match.

I am aware. Doesn't mean they will. Orlando has let young talent go before.