TJ Ford buyout???

[Indy2thaWindy]

He had 1 bad game. Check his numbers when Granger was out. He was easily the best player on the team when Granger was out. Jack was plyin good, but just because someone doesn't fit in your system doesn't mean you bench them because you don't like their style of play. TJ would be looked at as a top-15 maybe top-10 point guard if playin under a good coach, also known as a coach who knows how to properly use his players, sumthin O'Brien has never been able to do in Indiana.

[8305]

He had 1 bad game. Check his numbers when Granger was out. He was easily the best player on the team when Granger was out. Jack was plyin good, but just because someone doesn't fit in your system doesn't mean you bench them because you don't like their style of play. TJ would be looked at as a top-15 maybe top-10 point guard if playin under a good coach, also known as a coach who knows how to properly use his players, sumthin O'Brien has never been able to do in Indiana.

Can't think of any team where he is a starter (other than the Pacers right now). Let alone a toop 10 or 15 pg.

[Indy2thaWindy]

He is a career 12 an 6 guy. He is enterin his prime in a contract year. You act like he can't produce.

[Dunthreevy]

He had 1 bad game. Check his numbers when Granger was out. He was easily the best player on the team when Granger was out. Jack was plyin good, but just because someone doesn't fit in your system doesn't mean you bench them because you don't like their style of play. TJ would be looked at as a top-15 maybe top-10 point guard if playin under a good coach, also known as a coach who knows how to properly use his players, sumthin O'Brien has never been able to do in Indiana.

You now have me convinced that you didn't watch much of that season at all. Ford didn't start playing well until after he was sent to the bench, and Jack began starting. At that point, Ford was very good. Prior to that he played like crap, was a turnover machine, had the worst shot selection I've seen aside from a summer league game, and was (and is) the most selfish player on the team. To say Ford would be even a top 15 PG in the NBA right now is laughable, regardless of what system you put him in.

Rajon Rondo
Deron Williams
Chris Paul
Derrick Rose
Steve Nash
Jason Kidd
Mike Bibby
Devin Harris
Tony Parker
Chauncey Billups
Andre Miller
Russell Westbrook
Brandon Jennings
Jameer Nelson
Rodney Stuckey
Mo Williams
Aaron Brooks
Stephen Curry
Baron Davis
Tyreke Evans

That's 20 starting PG's that are without question, better than TJ Ford. There are a few more that are debatable as well.

John Wall (will definitely prove to be better)
Darren Collison
Mike Conley
Jose Calderon
Jrue Holiday

[blueandgold]

If Ford is here; play him or trade him. (No Buyout).

If he wants a future in the NBA and is on contract with us; he needs to perform from a career perspective to our advantage or he is all but gone in the league.

[Dunthreevy]

If Ford is here; play him or trade him. (No Buyout).

If he wants a future in the NBA and is on contract with us; he needs to perform from a career perspective to our advantage or he is all but gone in the league.

^ this

Unless he has the season of his life this year, he will be lucky if his next contract is even half of what his current annual salary is.

[Wizop]

I can easily defend O'Brien's argument here. he's demanding an unselfish point guard who runs the plays rather than free lancing. he's demanding a point guard who makes the other players better. that has not been TJ. if it isn't TJ this year, O'Brien will not relent and play him anyway. so if we can't trade him, and it sure looks like no one wants him, he'll have one last chance to get with the program. I hope he does.

[ajizzle]

TJ is a pnr pg, plain & simple. He doesn't hit the 3. He rarely goes to the hole. He really doesn't run the break that well. He's got a good midrange J, good handles, and despite his disagreements with Obie, kid's got heart.

Larry traded for him mainly to get rid of JO. He had to do it for the future of the team. Now, Larry hires Obie, whose system works best with longrange shooters all over the court... Not TJ's game. TJ will get a job next year. Not at $8 mil a yr, but at a decent price. He's a veteran PG who can score. With the dearth of solid PG play in the L and only about 3 great FAs next summer, he'll be just fine.

Obie's system is both difficult to learn, execute, and flourish in, especially if u can't shoot the 3. It also alienates most PFs in the L. Only Troy Murphy and Antoine Walker have had success, bc they can hit the 3. So either Obie needs to simplify his system, or TJ needs to become a decent longrange shooter.

I don't see either happening, which is why both will be gone next summer. Moving on...

[DWCP2]

TJ Ford's game is simple that's why teams figured him out. His game relies upon attacking the passing lanes and beating the opposing team and even his own teammates down the floor to score.

During his first few years in the league, Ford creamed and annilated opponents who made bad passes anywhere near him. But that's where teams got smarter keeping the ball away from the PG side not allowing Ford to be near the ball and actually forcing him to become a POINT GUARD.

When that happened, we saw the result as per disscussed in many earlier points.

[HomieOmey]

I definitely wouldn't buy him out. He's a valuable scorer and not a huge chemistry concern, so I don't see the point just to save a $million or less. With NJ and Sacramento struggling to use their cap space and the Bucks taking on Maggette + giving big contracts to Gooden and Salmons, I don't see the Pacers using all of their cap space next season. So the savings will come soon enough.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ford did look his best with Granger out though. Ford was arguably Toronto's best one on one scorer when he was here. Bosh seemed to prefer playing with Jose, who definitely loved feeding Bosh a lot more. In fact, the Raptors seemed to trade Ford mainly because Bosh and the rest of the Raps preferred Jose. He had no problem getting what he wanted. If you don't want your PG playing one on one basketball and you're not expecting to run a whole lot though, I agree that looking to trade TJ could make a lot of sense. If you want to raise TJ's value and get some wins out of him, you'll probably have to give him a lot more freedom.

[Moooose]

I'd say play him in his contract year. He's an expiring and he knows that he needs to convince teams that he'll be worth signing when he finally becomes an FA.
No buyouts, Larry has already mentioned this before.
I personally love TJ's game (back in Milwaukee and Toronto), i just don't know why he is now in the same pit as Tinsley was before.

[Gremz]

Where's AJ or Alston? Can't they help us out for a year?!?!?

[visionquest]

The Pacers are negotiating a buyout with point guard T.J. Ford, according to league source.

Indiana was in the process of acquiring Darren Collison in a four-team trade with New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon.

Ford is owed $8.5 million in the final year of his contract

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap/#ixzz0wLC9tlIv

[DWCP2]

Per Mike Wells twitter:

Pacers are offering Ford 5 million to walk away and thus far, he's not wanting it.

Like I said at the top, I would't move a penny above 6 million. He can get nearly 1 million on the veteran minimum alone, perhaps more on a one year deal like Watson did when OKC released him and he signed with the Pacers last year.

[Daonly]

i know him personally and TJ is the most frugal player in the NBA.. he'll scoff at buying a $50 room a night after it was mark down so some of his NBA stars friends can come to celebrate his Weekend Party with him.. It's they should pay them selves or he should get it for free... why take 5 million when you can rot on the bench for 8.5?? dilly dumb.. he would latch on for the vet min 1.3 if he do that... he'll give Larry Bird 2 million? he wont give his own family 25k? why would he give the pacers 3.5? GET OUT OF HERE! lol

[crosswalkryan]

If I was him I wouldn't pay to leave a team...especially with no guarantee of signing somewhere...doesn't make sense.