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The Pacers currently have 14 players on the roster. I know Pritchard shopped our cap space this deadline to try to get FRP, and that roster flexibility surely played a part in that. But now that the trade deadline has come and gone without the team making a move, do you think this spot will be occupied at some point? If so who do we bring in? Are there any buyout candidates that catch your eye? Do we bring in someone else who isn't playing in the NBA at the moment? Does the team just not fill the position and maintain flexibility for the future and save a bit of cash for the rest of the season?

I think we should try to fill the spot. Roster flexibility doesn't really matter at this point.

I'd prefer signing a FA who can help with the playoff push, whether it's from a buyout or it's a player currently not in the league. It's not clear to me whether such an option is available though. Somewhat related to this, technically we can waiver claim anyone making less than $5.8m who gets waived by another team.

The other option is to use the spot for development. We might use a 10-day contract to call up Walter Lemon from the Ants (who's been killing the G-League all season), for example, especially with DC out. We can use a series of 10-days to take a closer look at various prospects, either using it as a reward of sorts for the Ants' players or to get a close-up at other top prospects.

Lemon just put up 40. a 10 day with Collison out makes a lot of sense unless it risks losing rights when it ends.

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I see where Tony Allen was released. A big time perimeter defender could come in handy during the Playoffs.

I was impressed by Pritchards pregame comments. he said a player had told him "we deserve a chance to finish this."

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Wizop wrote:I was impressed by Pritchards pregame comments. he said a player had told him "we deserve a chance to finish this."

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From other players' comments, it seems a number of them asked him to keep the "band of brothers" together. It apparently worked because Pritchard was saying he was only looking at situations where the team would add a player, not replace a player.

Good patience. Allow the team to grow together.

I like it.

Tom White wrote:

Wizop wrote:I was impressed by Pritchards pregame comments. he said a player had told him "we deserve a chance to finish this."

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From other players' comments, it seems a number of them asked him to keep the "band of brothers" together. It apparently worked because Pritchard was saying he was only looking at situations where the team would add a player, not replace a player.

Good patience. Allow the team to grow together.

I like it.

more of his comments than were in the tv pregame are now in a story on indystar.com.

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In those pre-game comments by Pritchard, he mentioned that their G-league team would probably be the place they look first to fill the spot. I wouldn't have any problem with that. He said that they've put a lot of resources into it, and they need to see if it's really preparing players to get a shot in the NBA.

I like Walter Lemon. Dude deserves a shot before he moves on from the Mad Ants this season and someone else gives him his NBA shot.

Otherwise, we should keep it open in case of injury, I think.

Wizop wrote:I was impressed by Pritchards pregame comments. he said a player had told him "we deserve a chance to finish this."

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To finish in first round... great...

Vorda wrote:

Wizop wrote:I was impressed by Pritchards pregame comments. he said a player had told him "we deserve a chance to finish this."

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To finish in first round... great...

chemistry is important. trading away a friend to bring in a stranger midseason can destroy it even if on paper the move looks like an improvement.

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Wizop wrote:

Vorda wrote:

Wizop wrote:I was impressed by Pritchards pregame comments. he said a player had told him "we deserve a chance to finish this."

Sent from my phone.

To finish in first round... great...

chemistry is important. trading away a friend to bring in a stranger midseason can destroy it even if on paper the move looks like an improvement.

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They are professionals.... not little kids... If we had chance to bring better players we should do that... we need better PG, SF and back up PF... and we didnt do nothing... that's why we will end this season in first round...

Vorda wrote:They are professionals.... not little kids... If we had chance to bring better players we should do that... we need better PG, SF and back up PF... and we didnt do nothing... that's why we will end this season in first round...

I saw a pacer trade destroy a playoff run [English for McGinnis]. Ruined chemistry and was a short term move as well. Winning one more series this year is not the goal. Even making the playoffs this year isn't the goal although I hope we do.

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Wizop wrote:

Vorda wrote:They are professionals.... not little kids... If we had chance to bring better players we should do that... we need better PG, SF and back up PF... and we didnt do nothing... that's why we will end this season in first round...

I saw a pacer trade destroy a playoff run [English for McGinnis]. Ruined chemistry and was a short term move as well. Winning one more series this year is not the goal. Even making the playoffs this year isn't the goal although I hope we do.

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But, we have players for the future... tradable players will not participe in future years... DC, Bojan, Young will be gonein next 1-2 years... we have to build contender team around DIpo, Sabonis, Turner and maybe GRIII AND Lance as back ups... so we need future PG, SF nad PF couse I dont think Sabonis cant play small ball PF...

Vorda wrote:But, we have players for the future... tradable players will not participate in future years... DC, Bojan, Young will be gonein next 1-2 years... we have to build contender team around DIpo, Sabonis, Turner and maybe GRIII AND Lance as back ups.

patience. if you want to attract free agents, you have to listen to your players. they're your best recruiters. Trader Kevin will have options this summer.

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Wizop wrote:Lemon just put up 40. a 10 day with Collison out makes a lot of sense unless it risks losing rights when it ends

I had a blinding flash of the obvious. if 10 day contracts are based on the calendar, it makes no sense to start one right before the all star break.

I'd love to see Lemon get a chance. Dude has been beast mode all year in FTW. But I do think Pritch will take a hard look at a few buyout players.