Pacers Needs

[fienX420]

Just wondering what type of players people think the Pacers need to bring in...

I would say...

1. Point guard - looking for a starter. Size, defense, vision, penetration, passing, shooting, leadership.

2. Power forward - looking for a rotation guy / future starter. Size/length, athleticism, rebounding, post offense, defense, shot-blocking.

[Grang33r]

Biggest need and want is a athletic power forward. But, this is a weak draft and only position of strength in this draft is point guard so i do like the fact the Pacers are willing to get a point guard, and maybe ship Ford away and run with the 3 that we have.... Ford, Jack and 13th pick. If there was 1 or 2 better PF in this draft, no doubt in my mind we'd be trading up to grab someone.

[fienX420]

Hmm... bigs that intrigue me in this draft...

Earl Clark - looks like he could be big enough; definitely skilled, but not really the great shot-blocker I'd prefer.

Byron Mullens - have no idea whether he could play the 4 despite his claims that he is an Amare/Dirk hybrid... foot speed would be a major concern; raw.

Tyler Hansbrough - skilled, but probably not sufficient as defensively including rebounding and shot-blocking.

Ahmad Nivins - really, really like this guy. Foot speed and measurements (didn't attend the combine, but DID work out for the Pacers) are my main concerns. Rebound numbers were only good for one year and were inflated by the minutes he played (at least he should be in good condition). Love him as a second rounder.

Taj Gibson - not quite as big as I'd like, but decent size and good shot-blocking aptitude.


A lot of guys would've been interesting if only they were a couple inches taller... and most of these guys could use an inch.

[Grang33r]

Hmm... bigs that intrigue me in this draft...

Earl Clark - looks like he could be big enough; definitely skilled, but not really the great shot-blocker I'd prefer.

Byron Mullens - have no idea whether he could play the 4 despite his claims that he is an Amare/Dirk hybrid... foot speed would be a major concern; raw.

Tyler Hansbrough - skilled, but probably not sufficient as defensively including rebounding and shot-blocking.

Ahmad Nivins - really, really like this guy. Foot speed and measurements (didn't attend the combine, but DID work out for the Pacers) are my main concerns. Rebound numbers were only good for one year and were inflated by the minutes he played (at least he should be in good condition). Love him as a second rounder.

Taj Gibson - not quite as big as I'd like, but decent size and good shot-blocking aptitude.


A lot of guys would've been interesting if only they were a couple inches taller... and most of these guys could use an inch.

Speaking of second round guys, the guy i'd love to have is Damien James from Texas. I don't like him as a PF but as a SF. To backup Granger. He's an animal around the basket, awesome of defense, quick and a high energy guy. A perfect player for the bench. He played without a point guard last season and made tons of errors as too much was expected of him. If he doesn't have off-court problems (not sure if he does or not) i'd love to draft him.

[fienX420]

I think my favorite 2nd rounder reserve forward prospect is... DeMarre Carroll.

[cdash]

I think my favorite 2nd rounder reserve forward prospect is... DeMarre Carroll.

Agreed 100%.

[DougInOz]

Speaking of second round guys, the guy i'd love to have is Damien James from Texas. I don't like him as a PF but as a SF. To backup Granger. He's an animal around the basket, awesome of defense, quick and a high energy guy. A perfect player for the bench. He played without a point guard last season and made tons of errors as too much was expected of him. If he doesn't have off-court problems (not sure if he does or not) i'd love to draft him.

Got a link to any profiles or vids, was interested to learn about him but struggled to find anything...

Cheers.

[Grang33r]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9ZwWeEwspY

http://www.nbadraftdepot.com/2009/03/te ... ights.html

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... &type=lgns

http://www.statesman.com/horns/content/ ... 7&cxcat=54

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Damion-James-1074/

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/damion-james

[freeman]

James would be a nice back-up but i think Larry would snag a big man in the 2nd rd.
Plus, we're drafting late in the 2nd rd so, James might be long gone by then, so is Carroll.

I like Nivins a lot. I don't understand why his stock is soo low, he's got pretty decent numbers and he's good, really. Maybe he's still raw offensively, but nonetheless, he could be a steal.

If Jeff Pendergraph's available at 52, i'd say let's give him a try. He's a pretty good post up guy.

[cdash]

I don't even know who Nivins is.

[mizzoupacers]

I think my favorite 2nd rounder reserve forward prospect is... DeMarre Carroll.

As a Missouri Tigers fan, I LOVED watching Carroll play for us the last two years. I think he would be an awesome second-round pick. He's got every intangible you could possibly ask for, plus good size for an NBA wing player, plus a developing offensive game...I like his chances to stick in the NBA as someone you bring off the bench for defense, but who can also hit open shots. Not sure he'll still be around when the Pacers pick in the second round, though--surely NBA teams will wise up to him by draft night. I even saw a mock somewhere (Chad Ford?) that now has Carroll going at the end of the first round.

[mizzoupacers]

Hmm... bigs that intrigue me in this draft...

Earl Clark - looks like he could be big enough; definitely skilled, but not really the great shot-blocker I'd prefer.

Byron Mullens - have no idea whether he could play the 4 despite his claims that he is an Amare/Dirk hybrid... foot speed would be a major concern; raw.

Tyler Hansbrough - skilled, but probably not sufficient as defensively including rebounding and shot-blocking.

I know conventional wisdom is that Hansbrough won't go any higher than the 20s in the draft...but in this draft, I'm honestly thinking that Psycho T might be the Pacers' best option. I've never understood all the negative talk about him...too small, not athletic enough, blah blah blah...well the NBA camp just showed that he has legit NBA power forward size, and I'm skeptical about the "not athletic enough" stuff. I think Hansbrough is awfully similar to David Lee. Except that Hansbrough had a better college career than Lee did. I think there's a very good chance that Hansbrough turns out to be as good in the pros as Lee has become. I'd be thrilled with a power forward of that caliber out of this draft.

I do like Clark just a little bit more though. (But will he still be available at #13?) Just a hunch, but Clark looks to me like he could become one of those guys who actually is better in the pros than in college--for whatever reasons, I'm not sure he ever quite put it all together at Louisville, but I like his potential and would be plenty interested to see how a lineup with Rush/Granger/Clark at the 2/3/4 would pan out.

Who knows what Bird is actually looking for in this draft, but I just don't see any pgs or wings likely to be available at #13 who make you drop everything and take them--I think we end up with a frontcourt player if there is anyone at all available who Bird likes. Frontcourt is by far our greatest need--other than possibly Hibbert, we don't have what we need, either for next season or long-term.

[cdash]

mizzou! Welcome back! Where have you been??

[MUpacersSIC]

Yeah this Nivins guy seems like someone I would really like in the 2nd round. I'm not really sure why he isn't rated higher? Is there something I'm missing about this guy? He can get up and down the floor well, he rebounds nicely, can play in the paint, and he is 22 years old so he seems like a guy that Bird would be interested in (experience wise). The more I look at the guy the more I think he'd fit in nicely with the Pacers.

[mizzoupacers]

CDash, we reorganized at work last winter and I'm a lot busier now than I used to be...but I'll try to post once in awhile for old time's sake. Always happy for a chance to talk Pacers.

Thanks for remembering me!

[cdash]

Yeah, you were one of my favorite posters when I first got here. Glad to see everything seems to be going well for you.

[Dunthreevy]

I know conventional wisdom is that Hansbrough won't go any higher than the 20s in the draft...but in this draft, I'm honestly thinking that Psycho T might be the Pacers' best option. I've never understood all the negative talk about him...too small, not athletic enough, blah blah blah...well the NBA camp just showed that he has legit NBA power forward size, and I'm skeptical about the "not athletic enough" stuff. I think Hansbrough is awfully similar to David Lee. Except that Hansbrough had a better college career than Lee did. I think there's a very good chance that Hansbrough turns out to be as good in the pros as Lee has become. I'd be thrilled with a power forward of that caliber out of this draft.

^^^THAT!

I do like Clark just a little bit more though. (But will he still be available at #13?) Just a hunch, but Clark looks to me like he could become one of those guys who actually is better in the pros than in college--for whatever reasons, I'm not sure he ever quite put it all together at Louisville, but I like his potential and would be plenty interested to see how a lineup with Rush/Granger/Clark at the 2/3/4 would pan out.

Physically Clark reminds me of Keon Clark, which makes me wonder if they might be related. Keon was a pretty damn good shot blocker but had a lot of injury issues and then later on a lot of off-court problems. That's all irrelevant because they're different players. Earl just reminds me a little of Keon. Watching Earl Clark last year, he seemed like a player who could do pretty much whatever he wanted on the court at any given time. For his size, he has great ball-handling skills, a pretty nice shot, and is very athletic. I think he would be wise to put on 10-15 pounds of muscle, but I wouldn't mind seeing him coming off the bench next season.