Your Offseason Plan

[MUpacersSIC]

What is your ideal (relatively) realistic offseason plan for the Pacers?

Here are my two scenarios... one trading Sabonis, and one keeping him.

SCENARIO #1:

Trade
IND Incoming:
Jaylen Brown
#20
#22

BOS Incoming:
Domas Sabonis
#18 Pick

Draft Targets:
-Nickeil Alexander-Walker (SG)
-PJ Washington (PF)
-Luka Samanic
-Tyler Herro
-Matisse Thybulle
-Darius Bazley
-Goga Bitadze
-Nic Claxton

Free Agency
-Sign Malcolm Brogdon (4/$72mil)
-Sign Kevon Looney (3/$12mil)
-Sign Julius Randle (4/$60mil)
-Sign Richaun Holmes (2/$8mil)

Roster
PG Malcolm Brogdon/Aaron Holiday/Shamorie Ponds (#50)
SG Victor Oladipo/Nickeil Alexander-Walker (#20)/Edmond Sumner
SF Jaylen Brown/Doug McDermott/Mattise Thybulle (#22)
PF Julius Randle/TJ Leaf/Alize Johnson
C Myles Turner/Kevon Looney/Richaun Holmes


SCENARIO #2:

Trade
IND Incoming:
#27
#31

BKLN Incoming:
#18

Draft Targets:
-Nickeil Alexander-Walker (SG)
-PJ Washington (PF)
-Luka Samanic
-Tyler Herro
-Matisse Thybulle
-Darius Bazley
-Goga Bitadze
-Nic Claxton

Free Agency
-Re-Sign: Bojan Bogdanovic (3/$54mil - $17/per)
-Sign: Malcolm Brogdon (4/$72mil - $18/per)
-Sign: Austin Rivers (3/$21mil - $7/per)
-Sign: Kevon Looney (3/$12mil - $4/per)

Roster
PG Malcolm Brogdon/Aaron Holiday/Shamorie Ponds (#50)
SG Victor Oladipo/Austin Rivers/Edmond Sumner
SF Bojan Bogdanovic/Doug McDermott/Mattise Thybulle (#27)
PF Domas Sabonis/TJ Leaf/Alize Johnson
C Myles Turner/Kevon Looney/Nic Claxton (#31)

[Wizop]

I don't see a Sabonis or Turner trade. a draft day deal for picks is very Pritchard though. I don't see a rookie coming in ahead of Sumner though.

will 18 keep Bogie? that's our limit. is it possible to construct a sign and trade deal with a team wanting to give him more?

Sent from my phone.

[Grang33r]

By all accounts, this draft takes a serious dip after like 7/8 picks, not sure why the Pacers would want to move out of 18 to get more picks later on? I think the better move would be try to move up a few slots and take your chances there.

[Wizop]

By all accounts, this draft takes a serious dip after like 7/8 picks, not sure why the Pacers would want to move out of 18 to get more picks later on? I think the better move would be try to move up a few slots and take your chances there.

you move back if you think the talent is flat. see Ballard re colts draft.

I don't know what asset we have to move up. my hope is that bigs are valued over wings giving us a shot at a SF.

Sent from my phone.

[MUpacersSIC]

By all accounts, this draft takes a serious dip after like 7/8 picks, not sure why the Pacers would want to move out of 18 to get more picks later on? I think the better move would be try to move up a few slots and take your chances there.

Simply because getting two chances are better than one if everything from 14-35 is similar. It’s a huge benefit to have rookie scale contracts on your roster to fill spots with, even if they don’t contribute.

[Moooose]

My quick take on the original topic (Not my ideal scenario but hopefully realistic in terms of salaries.. well, hopefully):

I am taking the conservative approach, with no trades.

Free agents:
Re-sign Bojan Bogdanovic ($45M / 3 years)
Sign Tobias Harris ($75M / 4 Years)
Sign Patrick Beverley ($15M / 2 years)
Sign Terrence Ross ($12M / 1 year)
Sign TJ McConnell ($2M / 1 year)
Sign Kyle Guy and Simi Shittu to Two-way contracts


Draft:
18th pick = Nickeil Alexander - Walker / Romeo Langford / Bruno Fernando / Mfioundu Kabengele / Tyler Herro
Assumed probable pick: Bruno Fernando

50th pick = Carsen Edwards / Jalen Lecque / Luguentz Dort / Jaylen Hands / Jontay Porter
Assumed probable pick: Luguentz Dort

Roster:
PG = Beverley / Holiday / McConnell
SG = Oladipo / Ross / Sumner / Dort (DP)
SF = Bogdanovic / McDermott / Johnson
PF = Harris / Sabonis / Leaf
C = Turner / Fernando (DP)

Two-way contracts = Guy / Shittu

Justification:
PG = Though the Pacers could go for bigger names like Kemba and Rubio, I would prefer Beverley if we are to go the Tobias Harris route. Also, I think we need someone like Beverley who can fuel the intensity of the team and he is someone we could use in guarding the SG's while Oladipo is recovering. McConnell is decent and would bring the natural playmaking skills that Beverley and Holiday are lacking. Another option is Elfrid Payton who was Oladipo's teammate back in Orlando.

SG = I am torn between Jeremy Lamb and Terrence Ross. I chose Ross just because he could be better in playing the reserve role. Though Lamb would likely be cheaper. Dort is intriguing and I there were rumors before about him being followed by Pacers scouts.

SF = Bringing back Bogey would be key.

PF = I would have preferred Julius Randle but we need more of a legit offensive threat to carry the team especially while Victor is out.

C = Fernando or Kabengele, I believe, would fit well next to both Turner and Domas (especially Kabengele as he can play 4). But Fernando is the more established offensive player who can contribute right away. He can be paired with Domas in the 2nd unit for rim protection too as he is also more physical than Leaf. If Tobias would come to Indy I think there's a chance Boban would come too, if we can afford them both.

Two-way contracts = I think Kyle Guy and Simi Shittu would both end up undrafted. It is surprising and confusing that Shittu is not getting much attention considering he was phenomenal for team Canada.

[Scoot McGroot]

My quick take on the original topic (Not my ideal scenario but hopefully realistic in terms of salaries.. well, hopefully):

I am taking the conservative approach, with no trades.

Free agents:
Re-sign Bojan Bogdanovic ($45M / 3 years)
Sign Tobias Harris ($75M / 4 Years)
Sign Patrick Beverley ($15M / 2 years)
Sign Terrence Ross ($12M / 1 year)
Sign TJ McConnell ($2M / 1 year)
Sign Kyle Guy and Simi Shittu to Two-way contracts


Draft:
18th pick = Nickeil Alexander - Walker / Romeo Langford / Bruno Fernando / Mfioundu Kabengele / Tyler Herro
Assumed probable pick: Bruno Fernando

50th pick = Carsen Edwards / Jalen Lecque / Luguentz Dort / Jaylen Hands / Jontay Porter
Assumed probable pick: Luguentz Dort

Roster:
PG = Beverley / Holiday / McConnell
SG = Oladipo / Ross / Sumner / Dort (DP)
SF = Bogdanovic / McDermott / Johnson
PF = Harris / Sabonis / Leaf
C = Turner / Fernando (DP)

Two-way contracts = Guy / Shittu

Justification:
PG = Though the Pacers could go for bigger names like Kemba and Rubio, I would prefer Beverley if we are to go the Tobias Harris route. Also, I think we need someone like Beverley who can fuel the intensity of the team and he is someone we could use in guarding the SG's while Oladipo is recovering. McConnell is decent and would bring the natural playmaking skills that Beverley and Holiday are lacking. Another option is Elfrid Payton who was Oladipo's teammate back in Orlando.

SG = I am torn between Jeremy Lamb and Terrence Ross. I chose Ross just because he could be better in playing the reserve role. Though Lamb would likely be cheaper. Dort is intriguing and I there were rumors before about him being followed by Pacers scouts.

SF = Bringing back Bogey would be key.

PF = I would have preferred Julius Randle but we need more of a legit offensive threat to carry the team especially while Victor is out.

C = Fernando or Kabengele, I believe, would fit well next to both Turner and Domas (especially Kabengele as he can play 4). But Fernando is the more established offensive player who can contribute right away. He can be paired with Domas in the 2nd unit for rim protection too as he is also more physical than Leaf. If Tobias would come to Indy I think there's a chance Boban would come too, if we can afford them both.

Two-way contracts = I think Kyle Guy and Simi Shittu would both end up undrafted. It is surprising and confusing that Shittu is not getting much attention considering he was phenomenal for team Canada.

Quite optimistic to base a plan around the concept that Tobias will take essentially half what he will get offered elsewhere to sign here for 4 years.

[Wizop]

Sign Tobias Harris ($75M / 4 Years)

back when he was in Detroit and we had PG, I would have loved Harris. I don't see it now as it blocks the Turner/Sabonis duo. now if we're ready to give up on the duo, then I'd feel differently and could get behind a sign and trade for a 4. I'm not there now though.

[Moooose]

Quite optimistic to base a plan around the concept that Tobias will take essentially half what he will get offered elsewhere to sign here for 4 years.

Well, then let's make it 3 for $75M. But if we are to spend $30M / year on a player then it shouldn't be Tobias. 4 years from him is what I am hoping for though. And though it's laughable, I honestly believe we could bargain some more with the inclusion of Boban. For whatever contract he's worth, my concept is getting Tobias by surrounding him with people he already knows.

back when he was in Detroit and we had PG, I would have loved Harris. I don't see it now as it blocks the Turner/Sabonis duo. now if we're ready to give up on the duo, then I'd feel differently and could get behind a sign and trade for a 4. I'm not there now though.

I would love to see Domas in the starting lineup with Myles but it has been 2 years now and still ain't working. Unless Domas develops the versatility of Thad Young, I truly believe they would not co-exist in the starting lineup.

[Scoot McGroot]

Quite optimistic to base a plan around the concept that Tobias will take essentially half what he will get offered elsewhere to sign here for 4 years.

Well, then let's make it 3 for $75M. But if we are to spend $30M / year on a player then it shouldn't be Tobias. 4 years from him is what I am hoping for though. And though it's laughable, I honestly believe we could bargain some more with the inclusion of Boban. For whatever contract he's worth, my concept is getting Tobias by surrounding him with people he already knows.
.

Let’s say he takes a fair pay-cut, and would accept 3/$90m here. He’d be giving up a little over $12m in that scenario over the 3 years. Instead of the little over $32m in the first year he’d be eligible for and offered elsewhere, he’d theoretically take the lesser from us of $28.5m in his first year. In theory, I’m your plan, we’d give up on Beverley and Ross. You could still sign McConnell, and then sign Boban with the room exception. Would that be an ok summer for you? Where we end up with, say:
Holiday/McConnell/Guy
Oladipo/NAW/Sumner
Bojan/Doug/Alize
Tobias/Leaf
Myles/Dom/Boban

It’s not awful. Tobias is still young enough I could see him as a long term answer a the 4 with Myles. I don’t know that I see any way we could effectively play Dom/Boban together or Boban/Leaf, even, though. I assume we end up moving Dom for someone else in this case though.

[Wizop]

I would love to see Domas in the starting lineup with Myles but it has been 2 years now and still ain't working. Unless Domas develops the versatility of Thad Young, I truly believe they would not co-exist in the starting lineup.

as I tried to say before, if that is your view you trade one or the other.

Sent from my phone.

[pacers70]

The Pacers are in an awkward situation. Our core is Vic/Turner/Sabonis. The best position for Turner and Sabonis is Center. If we stick with those 3 as our core, then we need to figure out how Turner and Sabonis can play effectively together for significant minutes. In my opinion we need to have athletic, good defensive players at PG, SG and SF.

We also need a star caliber player to put along side of Vic...and hope Vic returns to an all-star or near all-star level.

Here is my suggestion.

Draft a long, athletic SF with the idea that he will eventually be the backup SF. Second round pick the best player available.

Sign Tobias Harris to start SF. He is the star caliber player to put along side of Vic. He is long, athletic and the same age as Vic.

Sign Justin Holiday. I don’t think Vic will be ready opening night. J. Holiday can start at SG until Vic returns. He then moves to the bench to battle for backup minutes on the wing.

Re-sign DC. His role will be to mentor A. Holiday. If Aaron is not ready opening night, start Collison and work Aaron into the starting lineup.

Re-sign O’Quinn as our 4th big. We struggle with more physical bigs, O’Qinn gives us a big body to bang with them. If everyone is healthy he should play anywhere from 5-6 minutes to 15-20 minutes depending matchups and foul trouble.

If everyone is healthy by the end of the season we are starting A. Holiday/Vic/Harris/Turner/Sabonis. We have O’Qinn and Leaf as backup bigs. Collison as backup PG. McDermott/J.Holiday/Sumner/1st round pick battling for backup wing minutes. We also have Alize Johnson and our 2nd round pick to round out the team.

I think Aaron Holiday is going to be a very good player, I just don’t know if it will happen next year or not. I also think Leaf and Sumner will become good rotation players. My plan gambles on that happening sooner rather than later.

[Scoot McGroot]

The Pacers are in an awkward situation. Our core is Vic/Turner/Sabonis. The best position for Turner and Sabonis is Center. If we stick with those 3 as our core, then we need to figure out how Turner and Sabonis can play effectively together for significant minutes. In my opinion we need to have athletic, good defensive players at PG, SG and SF.

We also need a star caliber player to put along side of Vic...and hope Vic returns to an all-star or near all-star level.

Here is my suggestion.

Draft a long, athletic SF with the idea that he will eventually be the backup SF. Second round pick the best player available.

Sign Tobias Harris to start SF. He is the star caliber player to put along side of Vic. He is long, athletic and the same age as Vic.

Sign Justin Holiday. I don’t think Vic will be ready opening night. J. Holiday can start at SG until Vic returns. He then moves to the bench to battle for backup minutes on the wing.

Re-sign DC. His role will be to mentor A. Holiday. If Aaron is not ready opening night, start Collison and work Aaron into the starting lineup.

Re-sign O’Quinn as our 4th big. We struggle with more physical bigs, O’Qinn gives us a big body to bang with them. If everyone is healthy he should play anywhere from 5-6 minutes to 15-20 minutes depending matchups and foul trouble.

If everyone is healthy by the end of the season we are starting A. Holiday/Vic/Harris/Turner/Sabonis. We have O’Qinn and Leaf as backup bigs. Collison as backup PG. McDermott/J.Holiday/Sumner/1st round pick battling for backup wing minutes. We also have Alize Johnson and our 2nd round pick to round out the team.

I think Aaron Holiday is going to be a very good player, I just don’t know if it will happen next year or not. I also think Leaf and Sumner will become good rotation players. My plan gambles on that happening sooner rather than later.

Tobias is a 4. He hasn’t really played the 3 more than situational minutes for almost 5 seasons now. If you sign him, he’s starting at the 4 and either Myles or Dom are going to the bench.

[ahartleyvu]

What do you guys think the market will be for our FAs??

Evans - obviously not re-signed

Thad - can we get him on a discounted deal? Would love if we could get him on a cheap 3 year deal. 3/24? Is that way off?

Collison - decent vet pg, I’m good with signing him but hoping he takes a pay cut. Does he take 2/18?

Joseph - i think he should be more of a plan C or last resort. Good defender I just think we should use our resources somewhere else. If we can’t upgrade and Collison is too expensive, I’m good with it. Holiday should be ready for more minutes.

Bogie - at this point I think we really need his scoring. I hope he hasn’t priced himself out of here. What type of contract is he going to get? Honestly I have no clue what he’d command.

[Wizop]

Draft a long, athletic SF with the idea that he will eventually be the backup SF. Second round pick the best player available

.

that's my first choice too but my hope would be that he'd eventually start. we can talk more on this in the draft thread.

Sign Tobias Harris to start SF. He is the star caliber player to put along side of Vic. He is long, athletic and the same age as Vic.

if the plan is to play Turner and Sabonis more together and see how it goes, Harris is counterproductive. I stick with Thad.

Sign Justin Holiday. I don’t think Vic will be ready opening night. J. Holiday can start at SG until Vic returns. He then moves to the bench to battle for backup minutes on the wing.

I'd be happy cornering the market on Holidays. at the right price, I'd bring back Matthews for that role.

Re-sign DC. His role will be to mentor A. Holiday. If Aaron is not ready opening night, start Collison and work Aaron into the starting lineup.

DC or CoJo but not both. CoJo has the advantage of being able to play both backcourt spots.

Re-sign O’Quinn as our 4th big.

I see Leaf in that role so I let KOQ walk. there is also a small chance that the BPA in round 1 will be a center. I much prefer a wing but you take what the draft gives you unless the quality is close.

[Wizop]

Thad - can we get him on a discounted deal? Would love if we could get him on a cheap 3 year deal. 3/24? Is that way off?

probably. some discount might be available for a 3 year all guaranteed deal though. I can see the team offering a shorter, but more expensive deal, and Thad looking for his last contract.

Sabonis can be extended although the salary doesn't kick in for a year. I do it if only to get past the poison pill year. I see this as the test year for the big lineup. Thad strikes me as a much better option than a big money free agent to get us through the test.

[pacers70]

The Pacers are in an awkward situation. Our core is Vic/Turner/Sabonis. The best position for Turner and Sabonis is Center. If we stick with those 3 as our core, then we need to figure out how Turner and Sabonis can play effectively together for significant minutes. In my opinion we need to have athletic, good defensive players at PG, SG and SF.

We also need a star caliber player to put along side of Vic...and hope Vic returns to an all-star or near all-star level.

Here is my suggestion.

Draft a long, athletic SF with the idea that he will eventually be the backup SF. Second round pick the best player available.

Sign Tobias Harris to start SF. He is the star caliber player to put along side of Vic. He is long, athletic and the same age as Vic.

Sign Justin Holiday. I don’t think Vic will be ready opening night. J. Holiday can start at SG until Vic returns. He then moves to the bench to battle for backup minutes on the wing.

Re-sign DC. His role will be to mentor A. Holiday. If Aaron is not ready opening night, start Collison and work Aaron into the starting lineup.

Re-sign O’Quinn as our 4th big. We struggle with more physical bigs, O’Qinn gives us a big body to bang with them. If everyone is healthy he should play anywhere from 5-6 minutes to 15-20 minutes depending matchups and foul trouble.

If everyone is healthy by the end of the season we are starting A. Holiday/Vic/Harris/Turner/Sabonis. We have O’Qinn and Leaf as backup bigs. Collison as backup PG. McDermott/J.Holiday/Sumner/1st round pick battling for backup wing minutes. We also have Alize Johnson and our 2nd round pick to round out the team.

I think Aaron Holiday is going to be a very good player, I just don’t know if it will happen next year or not. I also think Leaf and Sumner will become good rotation players. My plan gambles on that happening sooner rather than later.

Tobias is a 4. He hasn’t really played the 3 more than situational minutes for almost 5 seasons now. If you sign him, he’s starting at the 4 and either Myles or Dom are going to the bench.

Every place I look, Harris is either listed as a SF, a SF that can play PF or simply a F. I sticking with him as a SF.

[pacers70]

Thad - can we get him on a discounted deal? Would love if we could get him on a cheap 3 year deal. 3/24? Is that way off?

probably. some discount might be available for a 3 year all guaranteed deal though. I can see the team offering a shorter, but more expensive deal, and Thad looking for his last contract.

Sabonis can be extended although the salary doesn't kick in for a year. I do it if only to get past the poison pill year. I see this as the test year for the big lineup. Thad strikes me as a much better option than a big money free agent to get us through the test.

The problem with bringing back Thad is that Nate will keep his same rotations. Sabonis will continue to come off the bench and play about 25 mpg. If you want to see Turner and Sabonis starting and playing significant minutes together, Thad must go. If you want to bring Thad back then we should trade Sabonis.

I would rather let Thad walk.

[Wizop]

Every place I look, Harris is either listed as a SF, a SF that can play PF or simply a F. I sticking with him as a SF.

look at Philly. 1) Simmons 2) JJ 5) Embiid. so as between Butler and Harris who was the 3? Butler. I also remember Harris as a 4 in Detroit. don't remember his Clipper games.

now if Boggie costs as much as Harris and we think Harris can play alongside Turner and Sabonis, fine. I'd rather have Bogie though and draft someone like Grant Williams who can play both 3 and 4.

[Scoot McGroot]

The Pacers are in an awkward situation. Our core is Vic/Turner/Sabonis. The best position for Turner and Sabonis is Center. If we stick with those 3 as our core, then we need to figure out how Turner and Sabonis can play effectively together for significant minutes. In my opinion we need to have athletic, good defensive players at PG, SG and SF.

We also need a star caliber player to put along side of Vic...and hope Vic returns to an all-star or near all-star level.

Here is my suggestion.

Draft a long, athletic SF with the idea that he will eventually be the backup SF. Second round pick the best player available.

Sign Tobias Harris to start SF. He is the star caliber player to put along side of Vic. He is long, athletic and the same age as Vic.

Sign Justin Holiday. I don’t think Vic will be ready opening night. J. Holiday can start at SG until Vic returns. He then moves to the bench to battle for backup minutes on the wing.

Re-sign DC. His role will be to mentor A. Holiday. If Aaron is not ready opening night, start Collison and work Aaron into the starting lineup.

Re-sign O’Quinn as our 4th big. We struggle with more physical bigs, O’Qinn gives us a big body to bang with them. If everyone is healthy he should play anywhere from 5-6 minutes to 15-20 minutes depending matchups and foul trouble.

If everyone is healthy by the end of the season we are starting A. Holiday/Vic/Harris/Turner/Sabonis. We have O’Qinn and Leaf as backup bigs. Collison as backup PG. McDermott/J.Holiday/Sumner/1st round pick battling for backup wing minutes. We also have Alize Johnson and our 2nd round pick to round out the team.

I think Aaron Holiday is going to be a very good player, I just don’t know if it will happen next year or not. I also think Leaf and Sumner will become good rotation players. My plan gambles on that happening sooner rather than later.

Tobias is a 4. He hasn’t really played the 3 more than situational minutes for almost 5 seasons now. If you sign him, he’s starting at the 4 and either Myles or Dom are going to the bench.

Every place I look, Harris is either listed as a SF, a SF that can play PF or simply a F. I sticking with him as a SF.

He was a guy who was given away from Orlando and Detroit as they viewed him as a SF, and he wasn't particularly groundbreaking there. When he was switched to PF, he was one of the first of this growing trend of having the tweeners play PF instead, and his career took off. You can absolutely play him at SF, but you'd be wasting your money, as he'd really only be worth half his pay at the production he'd bring night in and out at the wrong position. If you invest the $30-ish million to sign him, you should be playing him at PF.