Keeping Watson...

[writerman]

Anyone else pretty well satisfied with him as the starting point?

I think he's been more than adequate. He'll never be an all-star. but I think he's pretty good, the best we've had in quite some time. You can say "well, we can replace him for less" but the muddle we've had at PG for some years now seems to demand that we need some continuity we've been lacking that Watson could provide.

What do you think it will take for us to keep him? What's the max we should offer?

[Boneman2]

he certainly isn't worth the full MLE. My contract to him would be in the price range of a good b/u. 3 mill per/2seasons

[drutripathi]

he's the best PG we have right now no question about it !!

IMO, we obviously need a franchise PG or SG to turn this franchise around.

obviously.. ship tj...

ship head...

let's see how much price developes... and IF HE'S A FUTURE ALL-STAR (yeah right) .. then we're in an OK situation at the PG/SF(GRANGER) position only. (Starter: Price Backup: Watson and then draft/trade one for 3rd string.)

I don't know how much to pay him, but it obviously shouldn't be THAT much.

[drutripathi]

he's the best PG we have right now no question about it !!

IMO, we obviously need a franchise PG or SG to turn this franchise around.

obviously.. ship tj...

ship head...

let's see how much price developes... and IF HE'S A FUTURE ALL-STAR (yeah right) .. then we're in an OK situation at the PG/SF(GRANGER) position only. (Starter: Price Backup: Watson and then draft/trade one for 3rd string.)

I don't know how much to pay him, but it obviously shouldn't be THAT much.

p.s. ... let's try to get ricky rubio.. that boy is NASTY!!... but b/c he lacks defense... we're going to have to buck on alot of PF's and C's w/ Defensive ability, not to mention another EXPLOSIVE scorer to help rubio & granger.

[Scoot McGroot]

I'm way ok with keeping Watson, but unless we can make a few moves to get safely under the luxury tax, he's not worth the luxury tax. Move Ford in some PG type trade, and then put the new guy up there with AJ Price in a platoon. See what we get. Stay under the tax.

[Miller4ever]

Unlike Jack, I don't think another team is going to want him that much, so I think we can retain him for cheap.

[Boneman2]

We probably should've given Shaun Livingston a look. Over the last ten games for the 'Bullets he has been on a tear, with Foye's injury his playing time has increased, resulting in averages around 17pt/6a/4r. Hopefully he continues his improvement.

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

Unlike Jack, I don't think another team is going to want him that much, so I think we can retain him for cheap.

I read somewhere, I forget where, that Pierce tried to persuade him to go to Boston after he had verbally committed to the Pacers. Watson was a man of his word, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him join the Celtics next season.

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

We probably should've given Shaun Livingston a look. Over the last ten games for the 'Bullets he has been on a tear, with Foye's injury his playing time has increased, resulting in averages around 17pt/6a/4r. Hopefully he continues his improvement.

Yeah, Livingston has been on an absolute tear. He's surpassed all expectations when the Wiz signed him. Technically, we still have a shot at him, but the Wiz get the first stab at him before he hits FA, and even if he hits FA his asking price will probably be well out of our range. He's just been that good.

[blueandgold]

Since we lost Daniels to Boston and Jack to Raptors, has anyone been following them? What are their numbers and would we wish we would have kept them?

We we do not resign Watson, do we retry Ford.........if we trade Ford and Watson is gone; what is the best we can expect? Would they be any better than Watson?

[writerman]

I'm not in love with the guy, but he has given us the best PG play we've had in awhile--and we've GOT to stop playing musical chairs at the position and get some CONTINUITY there. That alone, IMO, makes retaining him important even if we have to pay him a little more than fair market price.

Even if we were able to sign an upgrade, I think that means most of another year if not a whole year lost integrating the new guy into the system and rebuilding team chemistry. I'm not sure it's worth taking another step back on the floor and maybe pissing away yet another year to do that.

[jowglenn]

Oh yeah, I think we should keep Watson. The guy may be a classic journeyman PG, but if we can get him on a 2-year, decent salary deal (2.8 mil a year?) he would be very helpful. Obviously not a long-term (5 or more years) solution, but I don't see any other of those anywhere around, either in this year's draft or via trade and probably not via FA (though there are a couple of decent mid-level PGs in FA this year - Ray Felton, Chris Duhon - rather would have watson).

So keep him around for 2 years, hope Price improves, and hope we find our real PG solution somehow over those 2 years.

[PR07]

Actually, I could see a lot of contenders liking Watson this offseason. While he's not much of a threat to score, he manages the game, doesn't turn the ball over, and plays respectable defense. That's all some of those teams really want and need from their backup PG.

[Miller4ever]

Price is scoring really well. If he can pass better, Watson won't be missed as much.

[DWCP2]

The Pacers can retain Watson with a one year contract offer of 3.6 million (120% of his 09-10) salary without having to use their exceptions.

[Scoot McGroot]

The Pacers can retain Watson with a one year contract offer of 3.6 million (120% of his 09-10) salary without having to use their exceptions.

And that would put the Pacers at about $73 million in committed salary for next year.

As cheap as we might be able to retain Watson for, we simply aren't likely to be able to sign anyone other than to veteran's minimum contracts. That's likely why McRoberts and Solo Jones received 2 year deals, not one. Plus, we already have 12 committed salaries for next year, with our 1st rounder being 13 and possibly a 2nd rounder being the 14th man. Are we to sign a 15th player? I would assume not.


I would think all our summer movements will be via trade, and most likely involving only TJ Ford from our side.

[Moooose]

Agree. I really do think this is going to be a very busy offseason for the Pacers, in terms of making trades. We got TJ, Dunleavy, Murphy, Foster, McBob, and Jones in expiring contracts and i think it's a good hand of cards we have right there to be able to land better and cheaper vets, maybe additional picks, and maybe we could also use them to trade up the draft board.

I hope we would end up with a starting PG (someone way better than Watson and Price combined), a bigger back-up SG/SF, and a young PF in case Hansbrough's development falters, and maybe an extra defensive C via draft (i'm not talking about pick #10).