2011: a simple plan (A)

[IrishLuck31]

Im partial to Jeff Green and Hibbert being reunited being an Hoya, but I do think he would be a good fit. Nene is a good player, I just would prefer to get a younger guy than someone who is probably receiving their final big pay day. Have not seen Carl Landry play much (I guess I will tonight though), although I have heard good things even though his D seems lacking.

All that being said, the most important thing is still this season right now. We have enough talent to make the playoffs and at least make some noise. I think that will help us so much - look at how much OKC and Chicago benefited from slipping into the playoffs last year as the 8 seeds and having their young players gain experience and hunger. Sometimes it is dangerous to map everything out too much, and not just go for it while we are playing well.

[mizzoupacers]

Miami, Boston, Orlando?

Yes, those are all larger than Indianapolis if you look at the entire metropolitan area rather than just the core city.

Here is a list of U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Click on the link, and you will see that Indianapolis is one of the NBA's smallest markets.

In fact, Indianapolis ranks 22nd out of the the 27* U.S. MSAs with NBA teams. The only smaller NBA markets are Milwaukee, Memphis, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Salt Lake City.

*There are not 30 NBA U.S. MSAs because New York and Los Angeles each has two teams, while Toronto (a much larger MSA than Indianapolis) is outside the U.S.

[mizzoupacers]

Personally, I hope the Pacers stay away from big-ticket free agents unless just the right guy comes along. The way things are looking, the Pacers are going to need to reserve their cash so that they can re-sign Hibbert and Collison when their rookie contracts are up. Who knows, maybe Rush too.

[Solid]

You can always get by playing 3s as 4s and usually increase your talent level more per dollar spent but you will likely come up short against better built teams.
The question is do you want to get better or do you want to compete at a high level.

There are just a few free agents I'd bother with and if those are just going to blow us off or rob us blind then the cap space is pretty useless for free agency and the expirings should be used in trades and the balance held for our own players.

[Solid]

The Okc Player I'm more interested in is Serge Ibaka.

[Solid]

Free agents I like in order
1. David West.
He's just the best all around power forward that His team could lose a grip on. And we may well be the best team missing a starting 4. He'd fit well here and we have the money to pay him. I think we would be very strong.
I wish someone would wager an informed guess as to what contract he will command??

I'd still want a good back up center. And again....

2. Kenkrick Perkins
...is darned good. Would he take a back up roll behind our next all-star and give us maybe the best front court in basketball? Maybe not but I'd be very happy to make him an offer.
3. Nene'
He's a very nice player who can do everything we need. He costs almost as much as the first two combined yet he can play both positions. if I can't get West I would bump Perk to third choice and go after Nene second. I assume he will be getting a pay cut?
Again - give me a clue here?

4. Tyson Chandler. I don't see that happening and he would have to take a pay cut. Long term would scare me even then.
5. Delembert. I Have no idea what he's expecting but if he's cheap enough I could see him as good bench strength for a contender. I'd be pretty happy with him and West.

5. Jeff Green. I'm not thrilled and wouldn't get stupid with the check book but he's a free agent and we can snag him with out trading a good player away...why not. If I got him I'd still keep looking for improvement at the 4.

6. Carl Landry. Same deal as Green...A good back up four. We have two of those already but oh well.

[Boneman2]

Miami, Boston, Orlando?

Yes, those are all larger than Indianapolis if you look at the entire metropolitan area rather than just the core city.

Here is a list of U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Click on the link, and you will see that Indianapolis is one of the NBA's smallest markets.

In fact, Indianapolis ranks 22nd out of the the 27* U.S. MSAs with NBA teams. The only smaller NBA markets are Milwaukee, Memphis, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Salt Lake City.

*There are not 30 NBA U.S. MSAs because New York and Los Angeles each has two teams, while Toronto (a much larger MSA than Indianapolis) is outside the U.S.

So you're telling me the Indy market is decided by Columbus & Anderson. We certainly do not depend on them to fill Conseco.

Hey, we got Indy2thaWindy, and even though he is from Chicago's market, he is still from Indiana. We just need to convert every hoosier and we'll be in a suitable market.

[Solid]

I think the big market stuff is overdone. Except for mostly head cases that must have the lime light. A reasonable guy wants to play for a winner, be paid well, and feel like he makes a good contribution. Indy's a pretty nice place to live and raise a family - and if you BALL around here you can be big time appreciated.
If we make the play-offs and look like one piece away from being very good then that will be a big attraction for that man.
Show him the money.

[bballpacen]

I usually lurk on this board, but I felt inclined to give an example plan I would hope happened.

Trade #1
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=23lsm9e

In addition to the Hawks getting TJ and Hansbrough, they would receive at least a 1st round pick, but more than likely more than that.

Trade #2
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=24jxxdt

The second trade I feel is a little more balanced with Dun, Jeff, and PG going to the 76ers for Iggy and Nocioni.

The first trade isn't complete because I feel they wouldn't say yes even though they would probably receive two first round picks for him along with cap relief for the JJ signing, a good backup PG with TJ, and perhaps a serviceable replacement in Tyler.

The second trade is more balanced IMO because they receive 17 million in cap relief after this year along with a young good player in PG, also lose the 4 years on Iggy's contract and 2 with Nocioni.

After looking at the lineups below, we would need to figure out a way to get another big in the trade. Perhaps throw in Dahntay and add a 2nd round somewhere for a big.

Lineup
C: Hibbert/???/Solo
PF: Smith/McBob/???
SF: DG/Nocioni/Posey
SG: Iggy/Rush/
PG: DC/AJ

If we could pull of this kind of trade I would marry Larry, and by doing these trades, we would utilize our expirings in a way that picks up players on the trade block that would fit the system this year with our fast break style, and in the future. We would have to go for a backup PF, perhaps Brandon Bass, or maybe during the offseason with the MLE. This team would be a defensive monster for MANY years with youth at every position.

If we wait and go into the offseason with cap space there won't be the type of players we actually need to make our team better, and who knows what will happen with the CBA.

How do you pay for a Hibbert extension if you make those deals?? Just glancing at the figures, we would be roughly at the LT threshold w/out Hibberts new contract... DC, Rush?? You are not gonna have the money to keep these guys... While I love the idea for us, there is no way that way ATL does that trade and I am doubtful that Nocioni will ever wear a Pacer's uni...

[bballpacen]

I think the big market stuff is overdone. Except for mostly head cases that must have the lime light. A reasonable guy wants to play for a winner, be paid well, and feel like he makes a good contribution. Indy's a pretty nice place to live and raise a family - and if you BALL around here you can be big time appreciated.
If we make the play-offs and look like one piece away from being very good then that will be a big attraction for that man.
Show him the money.

I agree that the "big market stuff" is overrated from a team stand point, an organization will pony up the dough if they believe that said player will take them to the next level... As far as from a players perspective, I would say that it certainly does matter... Ask Amare...

[jowglenn]

I think the big market stuff is overdone. Except for mostly head cases that must have the lime light. A reasonable guy wants to play for a winner, be paid well, and feel like he makes a good contribution. Indy's a pretty nice place to live and raise a family - and if you BALL around here you can be big time appreciated.
If we make the play-offs and look like one piece away from being very good then that will be a big attraction for that man.
Show him the money.

OK, but you realize that your original comparison is way off, because it disincludes major suburbs of major cities. Indy has massively large city limits (look up Unigov, from the 70s, when Indy was merged with Marion County). So for example, in your original estimates, Dallas and Fort Worth would be separate entirely, when really it's one massive metropolitan center.

[Solid]

I made no comparison, original or otherwise. Quoted passage is only statement I made concerning the issue.
BTW I remember unigov. I know all about that crap, different ways of counting and what not.
I couldn't care less. I simply want to attract players to a good, moderately sized city and build a competitive team.
I wouldn't trouble myself with morons who speak of themselves in the third person and demand trades to locales where they can be seen by extra millions.

[Boneman2]

Free agency is not the only alternative, we must remember that our team was very competitive for a long time, w/o having to rely on free-agents or high lottery picks.

[PR07]

You build through the draft in more cases than not. However, I don't have a problem with the Pacers making a big free agent splash if they feel that the given player is the last/missing piece to the puzzle.

[Gremz]

You build through the draft in more cases than not. However, I don't have a problem with the Pacers making a big free agent splash if they feel that the given player is the last/missing piece to the puzzle.

Have to agree with this. I really don't want us to throw money at players just for the sake of it. Sometimes whether or not they fit well can be the difference between a great or horrid contract.

[Miller4ever]

We are vastly superior to Detroit nowadays. They chucked money at Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. I'd rather not get anybody than overpay.

[PR07]

I agree, being a small market team, the Pacers can't afford to swing and miss on a big free agent. We've been saddled for too long with players who don't earn their high salaries. However, if there is a guy worth taking a stab at, by all means, take the stab.

[jowglenn]

Yeah we are much better off using the strategy that OKC has done after they drafted their key guys - they made trades where they took on a bad contract to relieve the other team of the luxury tax, in exchange for also getting a player they wanted.

We have already sort of done this with Posey/Collison - thought that was more just 'taking on a deadweight 2-year contract' rather than anything lux-tax related.

But OKC did 2 good deals - got Maynor from Utah just for taking on Harpring, and moved way up in draft to get Aldrich just by taking on Peterson from New Orleans.

I would expect we'll do similar things, find a team that's teetering dangerously close to the luxury tax, and offer to take on some unwanted lump of a player, and also get our target.