Small Forward Position - ideas going forward?

[boomershadow]

I think it's easily safe to say that the small forward position is the Pacers' position with the least depth. Even before the injury to Glenn Robinson III, it was definitely the position with the least apparent talent. After the injury, the team had to keep 37 year old Damien Wilkins who is now not even getting rotation minutes. There is still some hope that GR3 becomes one of those second round picks that ends up surprising everybody, but we have also been hoping for that for what seems like awhile now. I still have some hope for that, but we won't be seeing that soon. Bogdanovic was supposed to be the shooter that could open things up for the starting lineup, but he's shooting 20% from 3 for this season so far and is only a 36% shooter from 3 point range for his career. And we knew going into the season that he would be a defensive liability even against second units, much less against the elite superstar wings that are found throughout the league.

So....what does the team do from here? Either this season or during the off season by trade or free agency, the small forward spot seems to be the one that needs upgraded the most.

Do you think either GR3 or Bojan is on the team next year?

[Wizop]

Barring an offer we cant refuse, scout Doncic and Bridges and Kentucky one and dones.

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[Bobby The Brain]

If a good deal for a promising small forward pops up, of course you consider it, but there's no need to rush into anything.

Looking at the projected upcoming draft, two of the top prospects, Michael Porter and Luka Doncic, project as SFs, and a third, Marvin Bagley, is a tall, slender forward compared to Lamar Odom, so he may end up a SF, too. This is just the top of the draft. There are other SF prospects in the lottery.

Long story, short: We should be in a position to draft one of the top small forward prospects in June.

If we're still unhappy with the small forward position, post-draft, there are a few decent small forward prospects in free agency:

Jimmy Butler is the only A-list free agent who's not completely unfathomable, although the Wolves will have to flop hard for him to walk away from Minnesota. Also, he'll be 29 by the time next season starts, which puts him way out of line with the rest of our starters.

Khris Middleton has a $13M player option he'll almost certainly decline. He's younger than you think (he turned 26 in August), and has a very nice complementary skillset. He'd be a great get, with the added bonus of taking a talent away from a division rival.

Tobias Harris is another solid SF from a division rival who's a free agent in 2019. He's 26 in January. I don't like him as much as Middleton, but he has the talent to be a great third or fourth wheel on a 50+ win team.

Harrison Barnes has a player option, but at $25.1M, it's unlikely he exercises it. If he does, you'd have to think he's looking for similar per-year money, which is just too much.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist should be available. He's been a huge disappointment as a second overall pick, and is terrible offensively, but he could turn into a decent utility man. With that said, I'd almost certainly take Glenn Robinson, III over him if given the choice.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is promising; he's basically a better, younger version of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The problem is, he's a restricted free agent, and knowing the Nets' situation, it's unlikely they'd let one of their few good prospects walk. This is assuming we'd even make an offer.

Shabazz Muhammad was readily available this past summer, and we passed on him, so I'm not sure what our interest will be in 2019. Still, he's a solid young small forward.

If we could land Butler, Middleton, or a reasonably-priced Harris, I'd be satisfied. Outside of those three, and maybe Hollis-Jefferson, there's nothing to get excited over here . . .

Let's hope we land a stud in the draft.

[Pacersike]

Anyone who fits next to Dipo, Sabonis, Turner I guess

There is a good chance we will try to draft him and I have alway likes Washington's depth at that position.
But this season they are starting both Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter god damn it, I was hoping they would trade 1 of them.

As backup small forward I believe Bogdanovic can be a really good one for the Pacers and if 3 can improve his game some more, we might have a good one to start games too. With Dipo in town, and Sabonis and Turner, I don't feel like we need a star player at the 3.

It's Turner's team now, with Oladipo as his sidekick and Sabonis has a lot of potential. We have to try to make the playoffs every year without going too fast so that we have a chance to draft some other good players in the #11 - #19 area.

I believe 3 can be good enough for holding the position but I think some other team might pay him what we don't want to pay him.

[Miller4ever]

GRIII on paper is such a good fit. This injury is a selfish blessing for us because he might not get that overpaid Solo Hill money and we can re-sign him long-term.

[basketballwacko2]

Barring an offer we cant refuse, scout Doncic and Bridges and Kentucky one and dones.

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I like Bridges from Michigan State.

[Wizop]

Barring an offer we cant refuse, scout Doncic and Bridges and Kentucky one and dones.

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I like Bridges from Michigan State.

Is Jupiter aligned with Mars? We agree.

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[SmashMouthRod]

I would entertain trading the 1st round pick. Because it might be valuable enough to get us a guy like Josh Jackson, and another player thrown in. I like Josh Jackson or Devin Booker much more than any of the potential top 5-10 selections. Phoenix just gave Warren an extension . Booker is their centerpiece. But might can be had for a good offer. One of the three will be the odd one out. If I'm GM, I would call and ask about Booker and Jackson.

Collison
Oladipo
Booker or Jackson
Sabonis
Turner

[Wizop]

I'd rather swap picks than lose it completely.

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[winter_mute_13]

If we're still unhappy with the small forward position, post-draft, there are a few decent small forward prospects in free agency:

As you say, Butler or Middleton would be very nice, but unlikely to sign here. Tobias Harris (and a lot of the other guys you mentioned) should be playing PF primarily. Mostly I don't expect much from FA.

My hope is also on the draft. In addition to the other prospects mentioned, I'm keeping an eye on French swingman Yves Pons.

I would entertain trading the 1st round pick. Because it might be valuable enough to get us a guy like Josh Jackson, and another player thrown in. I like Josh Jackson or Devin Booker much more than any of the potential top 5-10 selections. Phoenix just gave Warren an extension . Booker is their centerpiece. But might can be had for a good offer. One of the three will be the odd one out. If I'm GM, I would call and ask about Booker and Jackson.

The Suns would be crazy to trade Booker. And I imagine it's way too early for them to give up on Jackson. Warren isn't really anything special, and shouldn't affect the Suns decision-making in any way. It's much more likely that they'll be looking to offload Warren in a year or 2.

[basketballwacko2]

I would entertain trading the 1st round pick. Because it might be valuable enough to get us a guy like Josh Jackson, and another player thrown in. I like Josh Jackson or Devin Booker much more than any of the potential top 5-10 selections. Phoenix just gave Warren an extension . Booker is their centerpiece. But might can be had for a good offer. One of the three will be the odd one out. If I'm GM, I would call and ask about Booker and Jackson.

Collison
Oladipo
Booker or Jackson
Sabonis
Turner

I don't see the Suns letting go of Booker or Jackson any time soon.

[IMF]

I kinda think there might be some under the radar guys like Robert Covington or Jerami Grant in OKC that could be had for value. I'm less looking for a star type than a guy who can be a Swiss Army knife multiple position defender as well as a floor spacer. Someone to be a better version of what Solomon Hill was supposed to be.

I don't think we're adding any star talent through free agency so this sort of player is who id target. I'd look to add big time talent through the draft.

[pacers70]

I think GRIII will be a good back up wing.

Let’s face it, no high quality free agent will sign with us. We will probably wind up drafting between 12 and 18.

The only way we will fill the SF slot is via trade. I don’t know who would be available, but we have some decent trade chips. Bogdanovic and Collison are on pretty good contracts. We also have TYoung on a good contract with a player option. I think CoJo is on an expiring contract. I hope we make a move by the trade deadline.

My dream is that Leaf proves that he can play SF. I know that probably won’t happen but you never know.

[Pacersike]

GRIII on paper is such a good fit. This injury is a selfish blessing for us because he might not get that overpaid Solo Hill money and we can re-sign him long-term.

Mintz does owe us a favor

[Grang33r]

Barring an offer we cant refuse, scout Doncic and Bridges and Kentucky one and dones.

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I like Bridges from Michigan State.

Love Bridges and i think he's like a perfect fit.

That said, i'm not too big on free agents for the position. I think we need to respect the process and go with the flow. Obviously enjoy how they are playing right now, but also be committed to the process. Oladipo may be the star we desperately needed and he's a few years older then most of our other future core pieces but Sabonis (20), Leaf (19), Turner (21) are very young. I think the best way to go is continue to add via the draft until we are absolutely in win now mode and i don't think that will be for a few years.

[Vorda]

Barring an offer we cant refuse, scout Doncic and Bridges and Kentucky one and dones.

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Dončić will be probably 1st pick... he is playing fantastis season so far... 27p, 8,r, 5a in Euroleague... and he is only 18... we will not have chance to get him...

We will have to find players through the free agency... we need PG and SG... I think that we have to go all in and try to sign I. Thomas and Covington... we could opt out Collison,Bojan or Big Al so we will have around 50 millions in salary to spend... correct me if I'm wrong...

Thomas-Oladipo-Covington-Sabonis-Turner with Joseph, Lance, GRIII, Leaf, Young on the bench - we could be contender again on the east

[Wizop]

Dončić will be probably 1st pick

certainly possible and maybe he even deserves to go 1st, but I don't think a European player has ever gone that high. he should go very high though and since I don't expect to be picking in the top 4 or 5 I agree he's likely to be gone. Bridges is much more likely to still be on the board and other names will emerge as the college season goes on.

[boomershadow]

I know free agency historically hasn't favored us very well with the exception of David West, but we are gonna be a team with cap space when not a lot of other teams do. And fingers crossed we are gonna look like a young team on the rise.

[verysalt]

Small forward ? Super cheap option exist right now in New York. Mindaugas Kuzminskas was "discovered" by Phil Jackson so naturally he isn't getting any play time this year even last year he was pretty decent as bench player.

[Jstock12]

Small forward ? Super cheap option exist right now in New York. Mindaugas Kuzminskas was "discovered" by Phil Jackson so naturally he isn't getting any play time this year even last year he was pretty decent as bench player.

He can definitely score (especially in transition), but really struggled on the defensive side last season. He's more like a 15mpg guy off the bench.