Yahoo/Sportsnet: J. O

[A_wildstabatanything]

Name 65.

Okay, some of these are going to be debatable. I've included some combo guards, tweeners, and a few young players whose potential far surpasses any of our own.

The Given (IMO):

1. Joe Johnson
2. Josh Smith
3. Paul Pierce
4. Ray Allen
5. Jason Richardson
6. Gerald Wallace
7. Ben Gordon
8. Luol Deng
9. Lebron James
10. Jason Terry
11. Josh Howard
12. Allen Iverson
13. Carmelo Anthony
14. Rip Hamilton
15. Tayshaun Prince
16. Monta Ellis
17. Stephen Jackson
18. Tracy McGrady
19. Shane Battier
20. Mike Dunleavy
21. Danny Granger
22. Corey Maggette
23. Kobe Bryant
24. Lamar Odom
25. Rudy Gay
26. Dwyane Wade
27. Shawn Marion
28. Michael Redd
29. Richard Jefferson
30. Mike Miller
31. Vince Carter
32. Peja Stojakovic
33. Jamal Crawford
34. Hedo Turkoglu
35. Rashard Lewis
36. Andre Igoudala
37. Leandro Barbosa
38. Boris Diaw
39. Brandon Roy
40. Travis Outlaw
41. John Salmons
42. Ron Artest
43. Kevin Martin
44. Manu Ginobli
45. Kevin Durant
46. Andrei Kirilenko
47. Caron Butler
48. Antawn Jamison

Young Potential (greater trade value)

49. Marvin Williams
50. Josh Childress
51. Thabo Sefolosha
52. J.R Smith
53. Rodney Stuckey
54. Al Thornton
55. Eric Gordon
56. OJ Mayo
57. Michael Beasley
58. Joe Alexander
59. Randy Foye
60. Rashad McCants
61. Julian Wright
62. Danilo Gallinari
63. Thaddeus Young
64. Rudy Fernandez
65. Martell Webster
66. Francisco Garcia
67. Jeff Green
68. Russell Westbrook
69. Ronnie Brewer
70. Nick Young


I'm probably missing a couple of names too.

[from24ft]

Rasho will not be waived. He is an expiring contract that offers them flexibility, on top of that he is a big man with experience which they will need.

What is the point of waving a player and paying his salary and not being able to replace that player with comparable skill? Basically, it makes no sense for Indiana. I really don't know how this rumour got started. Maybe Bird implied something like that in negotiations to make it seem like he wasn't getting anything of substance in return.

[user name]

Even with Harrison gone, they still have 3 centers.
Foster, Hibbert, Rasho.

I still see a possibility of Rasho being waived.

They only have 5 big men-- Murphy, Rasho, Foster, Baston, and Hibbert. They will need them all. Some Pacers fans have even suggested that Foster could see minutes at PF because they really, at least right now, do not have a suitable back up for Murphy. Some even believe Rasho will start and bring in Foster and Hibbert off the bench, especially with the need the Pacers have for interior defense and the chemistry between Ford and Rasho.

If anything happens, the Pacers will later on use Rasho (or Foster, who is also expiring) to pair up with a contract they want to move-- just like the Raptors did with Rasho's contract and TJ. Other wise, both Rasho and Jeff are nice guys who will work hard and not complain, and the Pacers will simply take the cap room next summer. Usually guys with expiring deals get waived an entire year early because they are trouble-makers, guys you do not want around. That is not the case. Who better than Rasho for Hibbert to learn from that a guy people claim is too slow and too much of a stiff to be an NBA center can be successful. Sad to say also, there really is no room for Rasho on the Raptors either wIth Bosh, Jermaine, Bargs, Humps, and Jawai. I think the drafting of Jawai cemented the fact that Rasho will not be back.

[user name]

Also- reports are that the Pacers will buy out Tinsley's 3 years and $21 M contract if they can not trade him, so I do not see Indiana buying anyone else out.

[GP2]

I was a bit hesitant of this deal at first but then seeing how the draft played out, alot of the players weren't available at 17 that would make a huge impact. I am pretty fine with the deal now and can't wait to see JO in T.O.

[ayo_23]

Even with Harrison gone, they still have 3 centers.
Foster, Hibbert, Rasho.

I still see a possibility of Rasho being waived.

They only have 5 big men-- Murphy, Rasho, Foster, Baston, and Hibbert. They will need them all. Some Pacers fans have even suggested that Foster could see minutes at PF because they really, at least right now, do not have a suitable back up for Murphy. Some even believe Rasho will start and bring in Foster and Hibbert off the bench, especially with the need the Pacers have for interior defense and the chemistry between Ford and Rasho.

If anything happens, the Pacers will later on use Rasho (or Foster, who is also expiring) to pair up with a contract they want to move-- just like the Raptors did with Rasho's contract and TJ. Other wise, both Rasho and Jeff are nice guys who will work hard and not complain, and the Pacers will simply take the cap room next summer. Usually guys with expiring deals get waived an entire year early because they are trouble-makers, guys you do not want around. That is not the case. Who better than Rasho for Hibbert to learn from that a guy people claim is too slow and too much of a stiff to be an NBA center can be successful. Sad to say also, there really is no room for Rasho on the Raptors either wIth Bosh, Jermaine, Bargs, Humps, and Jawai. I think the drafting of Jawai cemented the fact that Rasho will not be back.

they have 6 bigs, not 5.
Murphy, Baston, Hibbert, Rasho, Foster, and McRoberts.
Either way... i'm still saying it could happen. You never know what the actual deal was between Bird and Colangelo. Maybe Rasho was only thrown in to match salaries and Bird said he'd waive him if we gave him the 17th pick. Or not... who knows!

[user name]

On a 15 man roster, you usually have 6 bigs, 3 PG, and 6 wings.

The 5 I listed are the ones I thought would actually suit up. Maybe McRoberts suits up instead of Baston, but either way, there is no need to shed a big man from their roster, especially one that can defend- something they really need. And if they have to waive someone, it will be someone cheap- not someone to whom they have to pay over $8 M. This is not like a draft day trade where the team is only owing the guy a part of his season's salary, and the other team might even throw in some cash to offset it. There is an entire season to be played. Who knows-- the Pacers could make the play-offs and Rasho's experience will come in handy. Or who knows what trade opportunity could appear out of nowhere that makes use of his expiring contract. It makes no sense to suggest the Pacers would waive Rasho, and the Pacers board mods say no way it happens.

[AkelaLoneWolf]

If Rasho doesn't join us, we should go after Kurt Thomas. Not sure how much he would demand, but he's tough as nails and plays the pick and roll to perfection. Not to mention that he's played for BC before in Phoenix. Would be a great replacement for Rasho.