Team of the Day: Indiana Pacers Edition

Post #1 » by **Texas Chuck** » Mon May 16, 2016 2:30 pm

Front Office: Larry Legend is going nowhere. Tho I think he put some additional pressure on himself by not re-signing Vogel.

Coaching: I would not have hired Nate McMillan and it really doesn't make sense if the idea is truly to play faster, but I don't totally hate him getting another chance. I think he's a smart guy and maybe he's learned some things since he was last the head man.

Now let's make some changes to this roster towards what Bird claims to want.

Trades Pre-draft:

Rodney Stuckey, #50, cash for Marco Belinelli. Kings get a better defender and a guy who can play both guard positions protecting them against not finding a PG in free agency to go with Collison. Also save a little cap space. Pacers hope Belinelli's shooting returns.

Lavoy Allen, CJ Miles, #20 for Trevor Ariza, #37. Rockets move up 17 spots in the draft, gain a cheap depth big as they could lose 3 of their top 4 bigs this summer, and Miles is a nice bench shooting wing. They will look to replace Ariza with one of the many wings available in free agency this summer. Pacers add a guy who helps play up-tempo basketball.

Draft:

#37 Malachi Richardson. A bit of a project, but there are some good things to like.

Trade Post Draft:

And yes I know there are reasons these 2 teams might not want to deal with each other, but this move still makes sense to me for both. 2017 IND 1st(lotto protected for 3 years then 2 2nds) for Goran Dragic and Josh McRoberts. Miami gains over $21M in immediate cap space for Riley to do Riley things with. Plus they get a pick back to continue to add young, cheap talent as they have dealt away so many picks. Pacers add a PG who plays best at pace, and a skilled offensive big man. Essentially the Pacers give up a late 1st to not have to compete in free agency.

Free Agency:

Indy kept the cap hold on Ian Mahinmi and his Bird's Rights and released rights on all their other free agents. Whittington isn't picked up, and Richardson takes Robinson's spot as the developmental wing. The trades ate up most all of the cap space. With the few million remaining let's take a gamble on Anderson Varejao on a one year deal. We are going to need another center with his health of course so our Room Exception goes to Jason Thompson. Min contract goes out to Richard Jefferson to complete the roster. Mahinmi is re-signed using his Bird's Rights and I'd be willing to overpay a bit over 3 years to keep him because I think he's a key piece.

Mahinmi/Varejao/Thompson
Turner/McRoberts/Christmas
George/Ariza/Jefferson
Ellis/Belinelli/Richardson
Hill/Dragic/Young

Now mostly ignore that depth chart as I'd expect Turner to spend a ton of time at the 5 and one of Ariza/George playing a lot at the 4. Dragic might well start, but Hill fits better next to Monta so I have him penciled in as the starter, but with Dragic playing most of the PG minutes with Hill likely also seeing some backup 2 guard minutes. This team should be able to play up-tempo as Bird wants, but they can also play big when they want. Dragic, McRoberts, and Belinelli should all help the offense improve and the team still has plenty of good defensive players including the added Ariza.

Post #2 » by **loserX** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:09 pm

I really like the Stuckey/Belinelli trade, one of those "change of scenery" deals that also works positionally. That's smart. And I can see something like that Ariza deal going down.

I'm not convinced that Miami will give up Dragic, at least until they've figured out what's going on with Bosh and Whiteside. But his play this offseason shows that he's still very good when he gets to push the pace, so he'd be a great fit for what Bird wants to do. (I'm also not sure that keeping George Hill is the best move in this case. Dragic gets a little salty when he has to share PG duties!)

Given how little cap you have left over, I like your FA acquisitions too.

Post #3 » by **Texas Chuck** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:31 pm

loserX wrote:. (I'm also not sure that keeping George Hill is the best move in this case. Dragic gets a little salty when he has to share PG duties!)

yeah that's a good point. I'd hope Bird/Nate could sit him down and explain that every minute he's on the court and it will be 30+ he is the PG. Hill would be the guy going off-ball as it fits their respective skills. But he might not accept not starting either....

I really wanted to keep Hill because I think he'd make a great 3rd guard and he could play with any of the other guards.

winter_mute_13 · Post #4 » by **winter_mute_13** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:36 pm

Love the Ariza and Belinelli moves. The others, not as much

Can't really see us going after Dragic to be the backup PG. In that scenario I'd move one of G.Hill or Ellis (preferably Ellis) for a need at another position. I don't mind getting McBob back.

I want to do one of these for the Pacers too, but I'm going to cheat and wait to hear what Nate (and Bird) has to say at his introductory press conference. That should give us some clues about the direction going forward.

Blazinaway · Post #5 » by **Blazinaway** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:42 pm

Isn't Mahinmi a UFA this summer?

winter_mute_13 · Post #6 » by **winter_mute_13** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:46 pm

Blazinaway wrote:Isn't Mahinmi a UFA this summer?

Yes. Chuck's scenario assumes that the Pacers re-sign him.

Post #7 » by **Texas Chuck** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:58 pm

winter_mute_13 wrote:
Blazinaway wrote:Isn't Mahinmi a UFA this summer?

Yes. Chuck's scenario assumes that the Pacers re-sign him.

Correct. And I'm willing to go above a number I think he "deserves" in order to keep him.

giberish · Post #8 » by **giberish** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:19 pm

Three issues.

First, for a team looking to play faster, that's a big post rotation. Wouldn't it make more sense to expect Turner to play mostly at center (with Mahimi taking the rest of the center minutes and bringing in another mobile PF?

Second, Belinelli isn't a useful rotation player. his defense has been Horrible the past few years, both in SA and Sacramento (so you can't just think it's a system issue).

Third, with that guard rotation it would make more sense to start the classic pg in Dragic and have Monta as a 6th man gunner.

Post #9 » by **Texas Chuck** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:39 pm

giberish wrote:Three issues.

First, for a team looking to play faster, that's a big post rotation. Wouldn't it make more sense to expect Turner to play mostly at center (with Mahimi taking the rest of the center minutes and bringing in another mobile PF?

Varejao and Thompson are not going to be major rotation players. When everyone is healthy I'd expect them to combine for 10 or fewer minutes per game. They are there for when bigger bodies are needed/injuries. The plan is for Ian to play 24-28 mpg at center, Turner most of the rest with his remaining minutes at PF. McBob can play 12-15 with Ariza splitting his time between PF and SF tkaing up the rest.

I thought I was clear to ignore the depth chart posted at the minutes would be allocated as above.

Yeah I'm gambling a bit on Beli, but Stuckey just makes no sense on this team especially after adding Dragic so I'd rather have a guy who has shown he can shoot/score in this league. Again George Hill is going to take some backup 2 minutes as well so its not like Belinelli is playing more than 12-15 minutes.

Yeah Dragic might should start, but I can't see Monta accepting a bench role and I wanted to limit his and Dragic' time on the court together so I put Dragic on the bench tho he'd still be a high minute 6th man. But you and loserX are probably correct in that that might not be wise.