Pacers trade for Rakeem Christmas

mikepacernation · Post #1 » by **mikepacernation** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:13 pm

Pacers acquire Christmas from the cavs for a 2019 second round pick

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EuroPacer · Post #2 » by **EuroPacer** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:17 pm

Interesting, but why?

jowglenn · Post #3 » by **jowglenn** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:29 pm

Great, I liked him a lot on draft night. Classic underrated big man a la paul millsap. 2nd round steal. We now have both the 2nd round steals.

mikepacernation · Post #4 » by **mikepacernation** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:33 pm

jowglenn wrote:Great, I liked him a lot on draft night. Classic underrated big man a la paul millsap. 2nd round steal. We now have both the 2nd round steals.

little early to say any second round pick is a steal

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Wizop · Post #5 » by **Wizop** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:16 am

has he signed a contract yet?

basketballwacko2 · Post #6 » by **basketballwacko2** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:24 am

I liked him in the 2nd round, he's a 6'9'' center a bit under sized but could work as a small ball center and a nice back up PF he put up good numbers at Syracuse last season and was a 4 yr senior. Don't look for him to play a lot.

mikepacernation · Post #7 » by **mikepacernation** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:43 am

Wizop wrote:has he signed a contract yet?

yes he has

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SmashMouthRod · Post #8 » by **SmashMouthRod** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:59 am

I agree with this move. Considering that this is being called a transition year, This is a good time to find young guys with potential to put on the end of the bench. He will have a chance to develop into a solid player in a couple seasons. He played pretty solid against KA Towns in their summer league matchup.

Post #9 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:29 am

Wizop wrote:has he signed a contract yet?

He's agreed to one with us. Another 4 year deal, a lot like Joe Young's, but slightly more. First two years guaranteed, then a non-guaranteed year, followed by a team option on the 4th year. He'll likely use up the last sliver of cap space, then we'll sign Lavoy Allen using Bird rights, and we'll have the following 14 man roster.

Hill/Young
Ellis/Stuckey
Miles/Solo/Budinger
George/Allen/Christmas/Whittington
Hill/Mahinmi/Turner

We'd still have our Room Exception to sign a 15th guy, if someone is available that's worth more than the minimum.

basketballwacko2 · Post #10 » by **basketballwacko2** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:31 am

Chris Haynes: Rakeem Christmas, Pacers reached agreement on four-year, $4.5 million deal, league sources tell @clevelanddotcom. Two years guaranteed. – via Twitter ChrisBHaynes

Post #11 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:31 am

EuroPacer wrote:Interesting, but why?

Bird liked him a lot pre-draft and would likely have been a candidate at 43 if he slipped, instead of Young. As for the Cavs, the surprise addition of Richard Jefferson likely took up a roster spot they don't have, and made Christmas or another guy like Joe Harris expendable. If they're unlikely to make the roster, might as well get a future asset for them that they can pair with the Haywood contract to net a TPE to use later.

Wizop · Post #12 » by **Wizop** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:54 am

I imagine we'll leave the 15th spot unfilled for now. always good to have room to move during the season. apparently we traded the Lakers 2nd rounder we got in the Hibbert deal. I've got a tailor I can recommend to him. I figure he and Shayne will take turns in suits at the end of the bench.

Moooose · Post #13 » by **Moooose** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 4:58 am

This just proves that Larry keep tabs on players he like, and try to acquire them if possible.

Christmas would fit the style of play that Vogel wanted as a smaller / faster center, but we are now too crowded up front and he will likely get minimal playing time.

I like Christmas back in Syracuse. Not that high of a ceiling but he should be one of the more NBA-ready rookies.

We can really leave the final spot open and maybe sign a veteran point guard if we have to. Like what we did with AJ Price last year.
Looking at how the roster stands, I personally think we could use another "taller" shooting guard and a pure point guard who can bring the ball and distribute.

pacers33 · Post #14 » by **pacers33** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:55 am

Ooooh I know Rakeem Christmas' game pretty well. I'm glad he's with us because I think he can be a very productive bench bigman.

Post #15 » by **Miller4ever** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:01 am

Found money. He's a bit older, but, it's good value for what the Lakers 2019 2nd round pick would've ended up being, I think. Shrewd value move by Bird even if he doesn't turn into anything.

He's very raw, but he is 6 fouls. Ian and Myles are probably going to take themselves out of some games collecting fouls forcing an early Christmas, maybe? I don't think he'll crack the rotation barring injuries but there will be a couple of games where he plays 20 minutes.

Jermainevent · Post #16 » by **Jermainevent** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 2:45 pm

Post #17 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 5:26 pm

Wizop wrote:I imagine we'll leave the 15th spot unfilled for now. always good to have room to move during the season. apparently we traded the Lakers 2nd rounder we got in the Hibbert deal. I've got a tailor I can recommend to him. I figure he and Shayne will take turns in suits at the end of the bench.

No matter what, it's likely to be a non-guaranteed deal. Maybe we start the year with someone, but have the flexibility to waive them by January before they would be guaranteed for the full season. We're so far below the tax, I can't see any reason not to take a 15th, especially if it's non-guaranteed.

basketballwacko2 · Post #18 » by **basketballwacko2** » Sat Jul 25, 2015 1:15 am

Where's Orlando Johnson?

Pacersike · Post #19 » by **Pacersike** » Sat Jul 25, 2015 7:59 am

Didn't expect Bird to sign another big man for his "smallball" group, but hey, that means Larry saw an opportunity to get a guy he likes a lot. I don't watch college basketball and I never hold expectations for second rounders, but is there a decent chance he might become our future backup center? Or is he rather deep bench material?

Jermainevent · Post #20 » by **Jermainevent** » Sat Jul 25, 2015 1:13 pm

Pacersike wrote:Didn't expect Bird to sign another big man for his "smallball" group, but hey, that means Larry saw an opportunity to get a guy he likes a lot. I don't watch college basketball and I never hold expectations for second rounders, but is there a decent chance he might become our future backup center? Or is he rather deep bench material?

I really think he could be a contributor in a couple of seasons, a great small ball 5 that can get up and down the court. I also like the potential of putting both he and Turner on the court together in a couple of years. Will be a drastic difference athletically from what we had come accustomed to here recently from our bigs. Good value pick up and his contract is a bargain, especially after the cap jumps. There's not much to dislike about this addition.