A lot of teams are interested in Foster and Murphy

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

From ESPN's Chad Ford Chat:

J (Indy)


Any hope in sight for the Pacers? Trades or firings?

Chad Ford (1:14 PM)


No one is getting fired. However, I do think you'll see them be very active. The benching of TJ Ford was a signal, I believe, that they are going to start giving their young guys more time and look to sell of some vets for a combination of cap relief, draft picks and young players. Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster are the two guys on their roster that a lot of GMs have interest in. I suspect both will be gone by the trade deadline. They both have a lot of value to contenders -- Murphy for his ability to spread the floor and to rebound. Foster as a mobile big who can defend players like Pau Gasol. I've talked to several GMs who have shown a lot of interest ... so there's hope.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/30208

[Starkiller]

Thank you Jesus. I think they are finally acknowledging that they have no shot at a title or playoffs and are doing the smart thing by getting a head start on rebuilding.

[Scoot McGroot]

No surprise here.


In all honesty, as hard as we played last year, it was probably worth a shot at the playoffs. And as bad as the East is this year at the bottom, we still have a decent chance, but I think TPTB realize that it would be the most hollow playoffs ever.

[FreeRon]

The article doesn't ever say the Pacers are interested in trading them away...just that others are interested. Personally, I'd rather see Dunleavy and Murphy go than Foster and Murphy, even if it means getting less back. At least Foster plays at 100% all the time. Maybe that's why other teams are interested in him and not Dunleavy, though.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

The article doesn't ever say the Pacers are interested in trading them away...just that others are interested. Personally, I'd rather see Dunleavy and Murphy go than Foster and Murphy, even if it means getting less back. At least Foster plays at 100% all the time. Maybe that's why other teams are interested in him and not Dunleavy, though.

The 30 games a year he plays...

I love Foster, but he has taken many steps backwards over the last 2 years.

[Boneman2]

Teams can finally accept taking Murphy's soon-to-be expiring deal, especially a contender wanting to shore up the post. They actually work well as a combo, Foster on D, Murphy on points & both on boards. I wonder what we could get if we offered them as a package along with Brandon Rush.

If the Pacers can clear cap-space sooner, while getting back valuable pieces to rebuild much quicker, we have to do it. Otherwise when everyone is healthy we are a fringe play-off team, in the East. That's bad.

[Miller4ever]

All I ask for is a combination of financial relief, youth, and potential for that youth, along with good personalities. That's the order from most achievable to least achievable.

[FreeRon]

The 30 games a year he plays...

I love Foster, but he has taken many steps backwards over the last 2 years.

I think you have him confused with somebody else...he played in 74 games last year and 77 the year before. In 04-05 he played the fewest games of his career with 61 (unless we're counting his rookie season, and let's be fair here). That's still over 75%. Up to this year, including the rookie season in which he played 19 games, he played in 83% of his team's games. Take out the rookie season and we're talking 90%. You've attributed him with playing 37% of the time over the last 2 seasons, of which he played in 92% of our games.

[8305]

There are a lot of compelling reasons for moving Troy.
1. We have his replacement in place
2. Moving him for an expiring eliminates problems with the luxury tax next year
3. The smaller, more athletic lineup used when he has been out has been effective
4. Troy's +/- is right down there with TJ's

If a young piece can be obtained along with an expiring great. But at the end of the day just getting the expiring contract is much more important.

I'm not near as motivated to move Foster.

[Train7492]

I hope both are moved and we get some more youth. We really need to try to push a Cavs deal, but we need to get something back other than just Z, I'm not sold on Hansbrough as a starter, he is more of a back-up, we are in trouble if we plan on him being are starter for the future.

[Reginald Wayne]

The 30 games a year he plays...

I love Foster, but he has taken many steps backwards over the last 2 years.

I think you have him confused with somebody else...he played in 74 games last year and 77 the year before. In 04-05 he played the fewest games of his career with 61 (unless we're counting his rookie season, and let's be fair here). That's still over 75%. Up to this year, including the rookie season in which he played 19 games, he played in 83% of his team's games. Take out the rookie season and we're talking 90%. You've attributed him with playing 37% of the time over the last 2 seasons, of which he played in 92% of our games.

Indeed.


And, should he land with a contender they can always give him the Shaq/Duncan treatment and sit him for the non-important easy games.

[RAW]

To me, Foster's pretty much irrelavent now that we have Hansbrough. Hansbrough's younger, does all the hustle plays Jeff does, has a better FT%, and is an all-around better scorer.

Murphy's got that stigma about him that J.O. had towards the end of his run with the Pacers. I'm sure the stats will probably say otherwise, but it always seemed to me as a fan that when they (JO/Murphy) played, they're usually the leading scorer, but the team as a whole scores fewer points and the offense just seems to have no rhythm and no ball movement. When they don't play, the team scores more points, the tempo is higher, and the team usually pulls out a W.

[PR07]

I could see us moving one, but I don't agree with Chad Ford that we end up moving both. I think the Pacers would be smart to keep one (preferably Foster) just for veteran leadership for Hibbert and Psycho T.

[peltoff]

Foster isn't the player he was. Age and injuries have caught up to him.

[Gremz]

Foster isn't the player he was. Age and injuries have caught up to him.

While he has lost a step, injuries have been the main cause this season. I'm still positive he holds a bit of value.

[granger05]

From Chad Ford's latest chat on ESPN, I put the interesting part in BOLD:

Bill (Indy)


Why don't the Cav's trade Z and Hickson to Indy for Murphy and then pick Z back up after the Pacers buy him out?
Chad Ford
(1:27 PM)


Cavs can do that if Pacers waive. But there's a waiting period. I think Pacers will probably want more (and can command more) for Murphy that just Z and Hickson.

[Scoot McGroot]

From Chad Ford's latest chat on ESPN, I put the interesting part in BOLD:

Bill (Indy)


Why don't the Cav's trade Z and Hickson to Indy for Murphy and then pick Z back up after the Pacers buy him out?
Chad Ford
(1:27 PM)


Cavs can do that if Pacers waive. But there's a waiting period. I think Pacers will probably want more (and can command more) for Murphy that just Z and Hickson.

I highly doubt that.

I like Murphy, but cap space and a prospect is about it. Granted, I'd prefer a PG type prospect, but eh.

I'm at the point where I'd just take Z essentially, and really appreciate if I could swing a pick/prospect/or couple 2nds out of Murphy.

[basketballwacko2]

Maybe we're trying to get them to take TJ too.

Trade ID #5380199

If you add in Boobie Gibson and TJ it still works, I'm guessing we'd buy out Z. Would the Cavs consider this?

[Miller4ever]

Adding in Gibson for Ford? Eh...

[basketballwacko2]

Adding in Gibson for Ford? Eh...

Anther thing that could be done is a S & T of Wally, let's say Wally, Big Z and #1 pick plus $ to buy out Z. You have to give Wally a 3 yr deal $6.5 this season 75% of TJ's $8.5. First year gauanteed the rest not. I'd say this is not likely because the Cavs are over the tax and this makes them pay even more.