2012-13 Indiana Pacers
Draft Grades, Needs, Free Agents, Season Preview
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Indiana Pacers
2011-12: 42-24, 3rd in Eastern Conference
2012-13 Predicted Conference Finish: 5th
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Roy Hibbert/Ian Mahinmi/Miles Plumlee
PF: David West/Tyler Hansbrough/Jeff Pendergraph
SF: Danny Granger/Sam Young
SG: Paul George/Gerald Green/Lance Stephenson/Orlando Johnson
PG: George Hill/D.J. Augustin/Sundiata Gaines/Blake Ahearn
Head Coach: Frank Vogel (3rd season)
Indiana's offseason was:
... different. When Larry Bird was running the show, the Pacers did it the right way by building through the draft and making smart decisions in free agency. New management had its hand forced when the team matched the Blazers' max offer for big-man Roy Hibbert. $58 million over four years is a lot to pay Hibbert, in my opinion, but Indiana didn't have much of an option. The Pacers also re-signed George Hill to a 5-year, $40-million deal, which, again, I feel is on the high side.
Indiana gave up too much to acquire an, at best, average NBA center in Ian Mahinmi. This deal came days after the Pacers made the dumbest pick in the NBA Draft by reaching for Miles Plumlee late in the first round. They also brought in D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green to add depth in the backcourt, but it still felt like an "un-Pacer-like" offseason.
2012-2013 will be a success if:
... the bench play improves. Depth and skill from the second unit was a weakness last year, and Indiana tried to upgrade its reserves in the offseason. Frank Vogel knows what he will get from his starting lineup, but the question mark comes with the likes of Tyler Hansbrough, Mahinmi, Augustin, Green, and whoever else earns minutes.
2012-2013 will be a disappointment if:
... one of the stars gets dinged up. Simply stated, the Pacers cannot afford to lose Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, or Paul George for an extended amount of time. Hill and David West are more replaceable since Indiana has decent backups for those two guys, but there just is not enough talent on the wing and in the middle to make up for what the team would lose if Granger, George, or Hibbert went down.
Looking Ahead to Next Summer:
Power forward will be the position to keep an eye on as David West becomes a free agent and Tyler Hansbrough will be a restricted free agent. Hansbrough could be extended during the season, and while providing some valuable leadership, West must be more effective to get an extension that would net him the $10 million per year he is currently making. Augustin's deal was only for one year as well, so point guard will be another spot to keep an eye on.
2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 16
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Indiana Pacers
2011-12: 42-24, 3rd in Eastern Conference
2012-13 Predicted Conference Finish: 5th
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Roy Hibbert/Ian Mahinmi/Miles Plumlee
PF: David West/Tyler Hansbrough/Jeff Pendergraph
SF: Danny Granger/Sam Young
SG: Paul George/Gerald Green/Lance Stephenson/Orlando Johnson
PG: George Hill/D.J. Augustin/Sundiata Gaines/Blake Ahearn
Head Coach: Frank Vogel (3rd season)
Indiana's offseason was:
... different. When Larry Bird was running the show, the Pacers did it the right way by building through the draft and making smart decisions in free agency. New management had its hand forced when the team matched the Blazers' max offer for big-man Roy Hibbert. $58 million over four years is a lot to pay Hibbert, in my opinion, but Indiana didn't have much of an option. The Pacers also re-signed George Hill to a 5-year, $40-million deal, which, again, I feel is on the high side.
Indiana gave up too much to acquire an, at best, average NBA center in Ian Mahinmi. This deal came days after the Pacers made the dumbest pick in the NBA Draft by reaching for Miles Plumlee late in the first round. They also brought in D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green to add depth in the backcourt, but it still felt like an "un-Pacer-like" offseason.
2012-2013 will be a success if:
... the bench play improves. Depth and skill from the second unit was a weakness last year, and Indiana tried to upgrade its reserves in the offseason. Frank Vogel knows what he will get from his starting lineup, but the question mark comes with the likes of Tyler Hansbrough, Mahinmi, Augustin, Green, and whoever else earns minutes.
2012-2013 will be a disappointment if:
... one of the stars gets dinged up. Simply stated, the Pacers cannot afford to lose Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, or Paul George for an extended amount of time. Hill and David West are more replaceable since Indiana has decent backups for those two guys, but there just is not enough talent on the wing and in the middle to make up for what the team would lose if Granger, George, or Hibbert went down.
Looking Ahead to Next Summer:
Power forward will be the position to keep an eye on as David West becomes a free agent and Tyler Hansbrough will be a restricted free agent. Hansbrough could be extended during the season, and while providing some valuable leadership, West must be more effective to get an extension that would net him the $10 million per year he is currently making. Augustin's deal was only for one year as well, so point guard will be another spot to keep an eye on.
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Walter
06-21-2011
05:05 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 1)
 24
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First comment... we're going to have comment boards like this all over the site soon. We're still working out the kinks, so this is not the finished product.
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2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 16
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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