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

[Nuntius]

So, we know that we stood pat in the deadline. That's why I'm calling this a hypothetical scenario. This thread isn't about what actually happened. It's about what you believe should have happened. It's about your personal opinion. So, I expect you to explain why you voted the way you voted.

Now, allow me to present my opinion on this. This season was initially billed as a rebuilding season for our Pacers. It made sense to bill it as such since we traded away PG for two young players (Dipo is at 25 and Domas is at 21) while already having another young player (Myles at 21) playing an important role. Our team has exceeded those expectations so far. We are firmly in the playoff race with a great record (8 games over .500) and we have a shot at challenging for HCA. We're obviously not going to contend for a title this season but we're in a great position going forward.

In my opinion, that means that we should look to the future. Not the future 5 years down the road but the future 2 years down the road. We should look to build the best team possible when Dipo is 27-28 and Domas/Myles are 23/24. This means that DC, Thad and Bojan are going to be on the wrong side of 30s by then and that they probably aren't going to be with the team anymore. This is why I believe that leveraging their great play to get some young players that could be a piece for the future (someone like Trey Lyles, Marquese Chriss, Elfrid Payton etc.) or 1st round picks would be beneficial.

So, personally, I'm voting for the 1st option. Building for the immediate future is the right course of action for me.

Disclaimer: Again, this is not about what actually happened. I'm fine with KP standing pat this deadline. This is just a hypothetical scenario.

[Wizop]

I do not think a first round pick was offered at the deadline at least not in a deal centered around us helping a team avoid the tax. I expect us to be active at draft time and I'd take a first for Bojan, even a lower first, if our target is there. I might even take a high second although with Philly having 4 it should be easy to buy in.

I'm in no hurry to move DC. we need a successor but the only scenario I see that doesn't require DC to start another year is if we pick up a wing so good that Vic moves to point.

Thad has a player option. can't do much with him before that is resolved. a sign and trade is possible as we did with Miles but Thad could give us a discount to stay.

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[Nuntius]

I do not think a first round pick was offered at the deadline at least not in a deal centered around us helping a team avoid the tax.

I don't know if we were offered a 1st at the deadline but this wasn't the focus of my thread. It's a hypothetical scenario. It's about the direction that we feel that the team should take.

[winter_mute_13]

I picked the middle option. It depends on who were available. I don't believe young players are better for our situation just because they are young. It has to be someone who we think can actually be good.

There is an implicit assumption here that past the deadline, DC/Bojan/Thad no longer have value. This is not actually true - DC and Bojan are both tradable at the draft before their options need to be decided, and in addition if we decide to keep their contracts, I believe both have value as veteran players on expiring contracts next season. Thad's PO is a bit trickier; if he opts out, then he can walk for nothing, but it's also possible that we re-sign him to a reasonable contract which can be a future trade asset. If he opts in, then like DC and Bojan, I believe that he is very tradable.

In the end it all comes down to smart asset management. The key thing you want is value. A young player who can't play has no trade value. A veteran with a reasonable contract - even if he doesn't fit the long term timeline - has trade value. As long as the Pacers keep accumulating value, eventually they'll have the assets to pull off big moves.

[Nuntius]

I picked the middle option. It depends on who were available. I don't believe young players are better for our situation just because they are young. It has to be someone who we think can actually be good.

I think that this goes without saying. I don't think that anyone proposed to trade productive players for someone who we can pick off of waivers or the G-League.

There is an implicit assumption here that past the deadline, DC/Bojan/Thad no longer have value. This is not actually true - DC and Bojan are both tradable at the draft before their options need to be decided, and in addition if we decide to keep their contracts, I believe both have value as veteran players on expiring contracts next season. Thad's PO is a bit trickier; if he opts out, then he can walk for nothing, but it's also possible that we re-sign him to a reasonable contract which can be a future trade asset. If he opts in, then like DC and Bojan, I believe that he is very tradable.

I didn't try to imply that DC/Bojan/Thad didn't have value past the deadline but I can see how one could read it that way. I agree that all of them are still very tradeable at the draft.

[Wizop]

I do not think a first round pick was offered at the deadline at least not in a deal centered around us helping a team avoid the tax.

I don't know if we were offered a 1st at the deadline but this wasn't the focus of my thread. It's a hypothetical scenario. It's about the direction that we feel that the team should take.

ok. I focused on the title more than options later in the post. if the question is draftees versus young free agents, I choose the draft if only for the advantage of the rookie contract. I'd be comfortable with upper classmen though as 21 year olds fit our time line better than 19 year olds except perhaps for the very top picks which we aren't likely to have.

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[Wizop]

There is an implicit assumption here that past the deadline, DC/Bojan/Thad no longer have value. This is not actually true - DC and Bojan are both tradable at the draft before their options need to be decided,

don't you have to exercise team options before you can trade the player? however, with small guarantees, the new team could waive them if cap room is their objective.

in Pritchards comments, he points out that cap space is valuable at draft time.

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[Nuntius]

I do not think a first round pick was offered at the deadline at least not in a deal centered around us helping a team avoid the tax.

I don't know if we were offered a 1st at the deadline but this wasn't the focus of my thread. It's a hypothetical scenario. It's about the direction that we feel that the team should take.

ok. I focused on the title more than options later in the post. if the question is draftees versus young free agents, I choose the draft if only for the advantage of the rookie contract. I'd be comfortable with upper classmen though as 21 year olds fit our time line better than 19 year olds except perhaps for the very top picks which we aren't likely to have.

Sent from my phone.

It's not so much a question of draftees versus young FAs as it is a question of timelines. DC, Bojan and Thad don't really fit in our timeline so if we can extract good value out of them it's better than to lose them for nothing. As winter_mute_13 said smart asset management is key.

[Wizop]

It's not so much a question of draftees versus young FAs as it is a question of timelines. DC, Bojan and Thad don't really fit in our timeline so if we can extract good value out of them it's better than to lose them for nothing. As winter_mute_13 said smart asset management is key.

yes, the question though is when. Bojan is the youngest but should go first. I want to hang on to Collison for at least one more year. I'm okay keeping Thad if he opts in, but would consider sign and trades if he opts out.

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[Nuntius]

It's not so much a question of draftees versus young FAs as it is a question of timelines. DC, Bojan and Thad don't really fit in our timeline so if we can extract good value out of them it's better than to lose them for nothing. As winter_mute_13 said smart asset management is key.

yes, the question though is when. Bojan is the youngest but should go first. I want to hang on to Collison for at least one more year. I'm okay keeping Thad if he opts in, but would consider sign and trades if he opts out.

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The when probably depends on the kind of offer that you would potentially receive.

[Wizop]

The when probably depends on the kind of offer that you would potentially receive.

for sure. as much as I like DC, I wouldn't turn down a first round pick even at risk of missing the 2019 playoffs. otoh, trading all 3 this summer could be viewed as a tank unless we got the proverbial offer you can't refuse.

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[Nuntius]

The when probably depends on the kind of offer that you would potentially receive.

for sure. as much as I like DC, I wouldn't turn down a first round pick even at risk of missing the 2019 playoffs. otoh, trading all 3 this summer could be viewed as a tank unless we got the proverbial offer you can't refuse.

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I don't think that it could be viewed as a tank. CoJo can step in and start at PG, Domas can step in and start at PF (honestly, he should already be starting at PF) and a healthy GR3 could take over the SF spot.

Honestly, I don't believe that a Dipo/Myles/Domas core could ever tank. Not when Dipo is playing the way he has and with Myles/Domas improving as they grow into their bodies.

[Wizop]

I don't think that it could be viewed as a tank.

maybe not tank in the full Philly sense, but a lot would depend on GR3 and Leaf. a slide to 10rh or 11th was what I envisioned as possible if not likely if we "rushed the process."

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[basketballwacko2]

From what I heard the players told KP that they really wanted to keep this unit together and see how far they could go this season.

Now with that said if they make it to 49-50 wins what will they do with the partial guarantees of Jefferson, Collison and Bogie. I can see them getting traded in the summer while the Pacer eat some salary and get draft picks. As long as they are not taking someone like Noah or Deng I'm ok with moving Jefferson and maybe Bogie, if Joseph is not coming back they should just keep DC.

[Jake0890]

I'd be more inclined to give up a first round pick for a young player.

[Nuntius]

I don't think that it could be viewed as a tank.

maybe not tank in the full Philly sense, but a lot would depend on GR3 and Leaf. a slide to 10rh or 11th was what I envisioned as possible if not likely if we "rushed the process."

Sent from my phone.

I think that GR3 can handle the starting spot. His numbers as a starter (7.9 PPG on 53.6% TS, 5 RPG and 1 APG) are decent and I was actually expecting him to break out this season. We'll see how he looks like when he returns from injury.

As for Leaf, I don't think that he'd have to step up a lot. Domas would eat up the lion shares of Thad's minutes as he would be the one that would move in the starting rotation. Leaf would definitely see more consistent minutes off the bench but he'd probably only be in the 12-15 minutes area.

I don't think that starting Domas next to Turner is rushing the process. If anything I kinda feel that we're delaying the process right now.

[Nuntius]

From what I heard the players told KP that they really wanted to keep this unit together and see how far they could go this season.

Yes which is why I'm fine with what actually transpired. But this thread isn't about that. This is just about what you, as a fan, would want to see the team do. It's about the direction that each one of us prefers.

[Vorda]

Only for all star players like Kemba, Dragić, Batum , Griffin ans others who can make imediatelly impact on team... it is to risky give them for a pick couse you never Know what you will get with pick...

But, now when we missed chance to give DC, Thad or Bojan for some better player we have to decided what we will do with them... resign or look for some other player to fill the roster... we have to improve our PG and SF position if we want to contend... we will have some Extra money at salary cup to spend... but there isn't free agents this year that we can bring here... only if we make miracle and get deal with LBJ or PG13... but that isnt realistic...

Other choice that we will have to make is to decide who will be our future starting centre... Sabonis or Myles... both of them will ask a big money when time comes... just to explain this... Sabonis cant play PF on high level... he is to slow, and cant shoot... so it will be better to spend that Money for starting 5 player instead bench player... for me Sabonis is better post player and I would trade Myles while he has high trade value... for example... Myles+pick for Davis or Gordon

[Wizop]

As for Leaf, I don't think that he'd have to step up a lot. Domas would eat up the lion shares of Thad's minutes as he would be the one that would move in the starting rotation. Leaf would definitely see more consistent minutes off the bench but he'd probably only be in the 12-15 minutes area.

there are 96 minutes at 4/5. I don't think you want Damos and Turner to average more than 36 each and there will be foul trouble and injury nights where they don't even get that. take their 72 from 96 and you have 24 minutes to fill. cutting Thad back to 24 would be my answer but what if he is gone?

I don't think we want to give Al 12 and he probably won't be back anyway. will Ike be ready for 12? doubtful. my view is that if Leaf isn't ready for 24, we need someone on the roster who can get 10 to 12 at the 4. that could be Bogie. it could be someone in Ft Wayne: say Uthoff. it could be a free agent or a draftee if we can find a combo forward ready to split 24 minutes between 3 and 4.

so to summarize, I think we need Thad until Leaf (or someone new) is ready to play 24 minutes a night and I wouldn't be adverse to keeping him on even longer if he is willing to finish his career here with Al like minutes and money appropriate to that role.

Collison's situation is different as we have CoJo, Victor, Lance, and JYoung capable of getting minutes at the 1 and Sumner and Lemon could be elevated too. I'm not in the Collison is terrible school. his win share per 48 minutes is actually higher than Victor's. he has exceeded all expectations. still if the opportunity to sell high arises, I wouldn't be upset if we took it.

as I've previously written, I think we need to see what GR3 can give us this year before we make a decision on keeping him and Bogie.

[pizza guy]

Hypothetically, I would have been all about sending out any combination of those three and our draft pick for Kemba. I was intrigued by the rumors of Big Al for Carroll or Faried. I think pretty much everyone is on the same page that we need to upgrade our starting PG and starting SF spots, and something has to give at PF between Thad/Sabonis/Mysterious Player X.

Hypothetically, if a clear and significant upgrade becomes available and we can make that move using these veteran, expiring contracts, then it's a no-brainer for me. I think Thad has really played his way to having more value than just a late 1st, in the right deal. Between his on-court production and team-friendly contract, Thad could very easily be part of a larger deal that brings back a high-quality player, not just a late 1st rookie who may not get 5 mpg next year. Bojan and DC have had great seasons (though Bogey got a little rocky for a minute), and they have great contracts. If you can move them for a 1st, I think that'd be great value - but it better be accompanied by a plan to replace them. This team is too good to give those starting spots to untested rookies, unless we somehow land a lotto pick for them, but that ain't happening. And, all told, I'd be more than happy to keep them on the roster as high-quality bench players.

I'm actually glad that we didn't make any moves at the deadline. I think over the last few years, Bird managed to erode the good reputation that the Pacers take care of their players. Pritchard telling everyone that 6 players asked him not to make any moves makes a great story and tells us a lot about the chemistry between these guys - but in the grand scheme of things, this year is only the beginning and everyone knows these players won't all be here going forward. So that story is more important from the standpoint of telling the rest of the league that Pritch is willing to listen to his team, and that he values their opinions, and that we have a great locker room. If I'm a free agent and looking for my next spot, I'd have to think a team that's young, talented, improving, with great chemistry, and a great boss would be highly appealing. Especially knowing that that team can also pay me well because they have cap space.

But in the off-season and at the draft, I expect KP to make moves, and these guys all have the strongest likelihood of being part of those moves. I think Leaf might be involved too. It's going to be an exciting off-season.