Farewell Domantas Sabonis

[granger05]

Seems like we should have one of these. Everybody seems pretty excited about landing Haliburton, but Sabonis doesn't seem like the kind of player you should be happy to see go. He was kind of an afterthought in the Paul George trade and just kept getting better and better every year. He made two all star teams for the Pacers and I think we forget that we had homecourt in the 1st round down in the bubble before he got hurt. It isn't like the team was terrible. A lot of the problems we had weren't due to the players that were here, things just never seemed to mesh and we could never keep everybody on the court. I think the recent results have soured everybody on a player that ended up being a really good addition.

I'll miss Sabonis and while I'm happy that the team did something to shake things up, finally, I do hope that he goes on to have plenty of success.

[Pacers Forever]

I’ll miss Domas as he was my favorite Pacer since Victor left. Of course I admired his ability to hit the open cutter, to rebound, and to get easy buckets in the paint. I’m old school and I think Domas has that style of play also. I loved his serious attitude addressing Pacers losses at press conferences. You could tell he was invested and frustrated with losing.

Honorable mention to Justin Holiday for presenting an upbeat positive demeanor consistently. Pacers weren’t able to use him in the role he was best suited for, but he usually played well regardless.

Time to let another Pacer become my favorite with their ability and character, but it may take a while. Quite a lot to choose from in Duarte, Jackson, T J Warren, Tyrese, who knows Terry Taylor to name my short list.

[Grang33r]

Time to let another Pacer become my favorite with their ability and character, but it may take a while. Quite a lot to choose from in Duarte, Jackson, T J Warren, Tyrese, who knows Terry Taylor to name my short list.

Great thread of appreciation.

I completely agree with what you said. Sabonis was one of my favorite players ever since he arrived with Dipo. But, it's hard to really be too sad. Forever we've had the discussions of Turbonis, constant failure. Moves needed to happen, and maybe still some left to be done. But sad day, with hopefully a bright day ahead for our fan base ahead.

[countryboy667]

I realize there's been a ton of injuries and playing time lost to the virus, but I once had great hopes for this team when they signed Carlisle. Really top coaches tweak their teams, but mostly build on the strengths they have. IMO, based on this trade, he's seemed to be just flat inflexible and horrible, and has brought the same narrow vision and prejudices here he's had other places. I can't see this team being worth squat for the next several years with him in charge.

I'd much rather have seen Turner go. Despite how good he's been in some respects, overall I view him as a disappointment. He consistently disappoints against the top bigs like Embiid and Jokic. He's a poor board man for his size and position.

Tell me, please, who is going to do the board work for us now? And the myriad other good things Domas did to make this team at least watchable? Maybe it will become the Duarte and/or Jackson show. I'm not as high on Haliburton as a lot of others here seem to be. He's good, but a still a "maybe." It remains to be seen if he'll ever become a real needle mover. Even some of his Kings fans don't rate him as highly as some here seemingly do in that regard.

We'll see--but for the present I'm highly disappointed and skeptical.

[Wizop]

I can't see this team being worth squat for the next several years with him in charge.
[snip]
We'll see--but for the present I'm highly disappointed and skeptical.

I'm not happy with Carlisle having heavy roster influence, but I'm not this pessimistic. Hali fits and it is undeniable that our roster wasn't working. Blame injuries. Blame Carlisle but we've tried 3 coaches.

[countryboy667]

I can't see this team being worth squat for the next several years with him in charge.
[snip]
We'll see--but for the present I'm highly disappointed and skeptical.

I'm not happy with Carlisle having heavy roster influence, but I'm not this pessimistic. Hali fits and it is undeniable that our roster wasn't working. Blame injuries. Blame Carlisle but we've tried 3 coaches.

Myfeeling is that a healthy
warren would have made an enormous difference--I don't think his performance in the bubble was a fluke. If I were the Pacer brass (which obviously I'm not) I would think VERY CAREFULLY about just letting him walk without making an honest attempt to retain him.

As I said above, I don't think Turner, with the good things he does, is ever going to be more than a second or third tier big overall in this league. I realize his inopportune injury hurt, but I think in the long run Sabonis offered MUCH more to building an eventual winner.

[Wizop]

Myfeeling is that a healthy
warren would have made an enormous difference--I don't think his performance in the bubble was a fluke. If I were the Pacer brass (which obviously I'm not) I would think VERY CAREFULLY about just letting him walk without making an honest attempt to retain him.

I generally agree although Warren needs to get on the floor this season to justify more than a one year make good deal. I hope he does.

[basketballwacko2]

I can't see this team being worth squat for the next several years with him in charge.
[snip]
We'll see--but for the present I'm highly disappointed and skeptical.

I'm not happy with Carlisle having heavy roster influence, but I'm not this pessimistic. Hali fits and it is undeniable that our roster wasn't working. Blame injuries. Blame Carlisle but we've tried 3 coaches.

Myfeeling is that a healthy
warren would have made an enormous difference--I don't think his performance in the bubble was a fluke. If I were the Pacer brass (which obviously I'm not) I would think VERY CAREFULLY about just letting him walk without making an honest attempt to retain him.

As I said above, I don't think Turner, with the good things he does, is ever going to be more than a second or third tier big overall in this league. I realize his inopportune injury hurt, but I think in the long run Sabonis offered MUCH more to building an eventual winner.

I'll agree that not having Warren or a real SF starting was a huge issue but all the injuries combined wrecked any chance at a decent season.

As for Turner being a 2nd or 3rd tier center, if the top is Jokic, and Embiid then yeah he's 2nd, but don't forget this guy plays defense too and while he will struggle against those 2 he was leading the NBA in blocked shots. His current injury was a "fluke" remember how he got it because one of our guards threw him the ball at his ankles on a break rather than giving it to his hands, the result was a wipeout and he got hurt. Better guards is what we need. Hopefully Hali and Duarte will be the guys we need.

[City of Trees]

Sabonis is starting for Sacramento tonight if anyone was wondering.

[Pacers Forever]

Sabonis is starting for Sacramento tonight if anyone was wondering.

Hope he fits in well there. Do you think Kings will unload Holmes tomorrow or is the plan to play him next to Sabonis ?

[City of Trees]

Sabonis is starting for Sacramento tonight if anyone was wondering.

Hope he fits in well there. Do you think Kings will unload Holmes tomorrow or is the plan to play him next to Sabonis ?

Kings have Holmes coming off the bench backing up Sabonis in the rotation tonight. Seems they also agree the two aren't compatible on the floor together. I hope they move Holmes because he deserves to start somewhere.

[boomershadow]

Dude was an absolute bright spot on this team in the aftermath of the PG trade, the Vic drama, and these last few losing seasons.

[countryboy667]

Following the Kings game last night,. seeing how delighted and impressed the previously skeptical Kings fans were by Sabonis made me sad and soured me even more on this trade, which has Carlisle's fingerprints all over it. Yeah, I'm old fashioned--but if you give up a 20-12-5 big--especially one who does all the nice little things as well like Sabonis--for ANY damned guard, that guard had better be something really, really special, and from what I've heard and seen (admittedly not a lot) Haliburton just isn't that guy.

I'm as sour on this Pacers team and organization right now as I've ever been in all my years of following them. This team IMO will go nowhere for yet another few years. Keeping Turner over Sabonis was leaning on by far the weaker player of the two, rim protection be damned. We saw this year how much damned good that rim protection and that overhyped ability to hit a few treys did us, especially when Turner would essentially disappear against the few really good bigs.

Pressure's on Haliburton. Can you handle it? You better produce big time and in short order, or I won't be the only fan sour on this deal, this organization, and this coach pretty damned quickly.

[kb02]

Following the Kings game last night,. seeing how delighted and impressed the previously skeptical Kings fans were by Sabonis made me sad and soured me even more on this trade, which has Carlisle's fingerprints all over it. Yeah, I'm old fashioned--but if you give up a 20-12-5 big--especially one who does all the nice little things as well like Sabonis--for ANY damned guard, that guard had better be something really, really special, and from what I've heard and seen (admittedly not a lot) Haliburton just isn't that guy.

I'm as sour on this Pacers team and organization right now as I've ever been in all my years of following them. This team IMO will go nowhere for yet another few years. Keeping Turner over Sabonis was leaning on by far the weaker player of the two, rim protection be damned. We saw this year how much damned good that rim protection and that overhyped ability to hit a few treys did us, especially when Turner would essentially disappear against the few really good bigs.

Pressure's on Haliburton. Can you handle it? You better produce big time and in short order, or I won't be the only fan sour on this deal, this organization, and this coach pretty damned quickly.

Save this post. You’re going to love Hali and he’s going to become a perennial all star. I hated, HATED, losing Hali. This is going to work out well for both teams.

[Topofthekey]

Following the Kings game last night,. seeing how delighted and impressed the previously skeptical Kings fans were by Sabonis made me sad and soured me even more on this trade, which has Carlisle's fingerprints all over it. Yeah, I'm old fashioned--but if you give up a 20-12-5 big--especially one who does all the nice little things as well like Sabonis--for ANY damned guard, that guard had better be something really, really special, and from what I've heard and seen (admittedly not a lot) Haliburton just isn't that guy.

I'm as sour on this Pacers team and organization right now as I've ever been in all my years of following them. This team IMO will go nowhere for yet another few years. Keeping Turner over Sabonis was leaning on by far the weaker player of the two, rim protection be damned. We saw this year how much damned good that rim protection and that overhyped ability to hit a few treys did us, especially when Turner would essentially disappear against the few really good bigs.

Pressure's on Haliburton. Can you handle it? You better produce big time and in short order, or I won't be the only fan sour on this deal, this organization, and this coach pretty damned quickly.

When I evaluated the trade, I felt that Pacers lost in terms of value. They should have at least gotten a future FRP as well out of the trade

But!

The overall prognosis is still really great!

It's not that I think Haliburton is some kind of franchise talent or something. I certainly think he'll be very good, but I'm not putting the franchise's hope on him just yet

What makes the trade such a great one for the Pacers is the decisiveness of their action

They acknowledged that the team isn't going anywhere, and they did the seemingly impossible: blowing up the roster and rebuilding

The fact that they picked up a great young player in the process is the cherry on top

I wonder if someone locked Herb in a closet throughout all this

[Wizop]

Following the Kings game last night,. seeing how delighted and impressed the previously skeptical Kings fans were by Sabonis made me sad and soured me even more on this trade, which has Carlisle's fingerprints all over it.

yes, this is Carlisle not wanting to adjust his scheme to maximize the talents of a point center. but it is also a realization that Brogdon while a good scorer and leader in the locker room doesn't make the other players better. we needed a point guard who sees the floor and paid a high price to get one. the closest we had before was Lance and at his age (and with McConnell hurt) his best role is probably an energy guy off the bench. here's hoping that Lance/Hield/Washington can be the core of a solid second unit.

[Topofthekey]

Following the Kings game last night,. seeing how delighted and impressed the previously skeptical Kings fans were by Sabonis made me sad and soured me even more on this trade, which has Carlisle's fingerprints all over it.

yes, this is Carlisle not wanting to adjust his scheme to maximize the talents of a point center. but it is also a realization that Brogdon while a good scorer and leader in the locker room doesn't make the other players better. we needed a point guard who sees the floor and paid a high price to get one. the closest we had before was Lance and at his age (and with McConnell hurt) his best role is probably an energy guy off the bench. here's hoping that Lance/Hield/Washington can be the core of a solid second unit.

It's a waste though. Sabonis is a unique talent

But with the emergence of Jackson, the glut at the 5/4 was becoming worse. Trading Sabonis for a good player, which they did, was probably the best way forward

[Wizop]

But with the emergence of Jackson, the glut at the 5/4 was becoming worse. Trading Sabonis for a good player, which they did, was probably the best way forward

I'd put more emphasis on point guard. Neither Brogdon nor LeVert fit the need. LeVert is gone and we moved a passing 5 for a passing 1. the price was high but the hole needed filling.

[Topofthekey]

But with the emergence of Jackson, the glut at the 5/4 was becoming worse. Trading Sabonis for a good player, which they did, was probably the best way forward

I'd put more emphasis on point guard. Neither Brogdon nor LeVert fit the need. LeVert is gone and we moved a passing 5 for a passing 1. the price was high but the hole needed filling.

Yes, this too. The bigger problem has always been in the backcourt

Moving on from LeVert is a good decision

Following that up by clearing the glut at 5/4 while simultaneously bringing in a promising young player to address a need in one single trade is just a thing of beauty

[Wizop]

The bigger problem has always been in the backcourt

agree

Moving on from LeVert is a good decision

agree. you know the old saying, if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem. LeVert was the best we had at creating his own shot but he did it at the expense of busting the called play.

Following that up by clearing the glut at 5/4 while simultaneously bringing in a promising young player to address a need in one single trade is just a thing of beauty

I'd call it more of a necessary evil. Sabonis was the price we had to pay to fix the backcourt and with Turner/Jackson/Goga/Taylor/lottery_pick, it was a price we could afford.