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Indiana Pacers (Last Year: 35-47)
Live 2009 NBA Draft Grades:
13. Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina
The Pacers needed a power forward or point guard so I guess Hansbrough makes sense. I think this is a bit high for him and I’m not sure he is a starter at the next level. I would have rather have seen them add someone with a little more athleticism since Hansbrough is all fundamentals similar to Troy Murphy. (Pick Grade: Meh)
52. A.J. Price, PG, Connecticut
With Jarrett Jack being a restricted free agent, the Pacers needed to grab a point guard with one of their picks. Price is battle tested and could play 12 minutes a night right away, which is more than you can ask from a second-round pick. (Pick Grade: LOVE IT)
2009 NBA Offseason Transactions:
2008-09 Season Summary:
While the Pacers missed the post-season for the third straight season, there was optimism for this team at the end of the year. Danny Granger took the �leap,� developing into an All-Star and finishing fifth in the league in scoring while Troy Murphy quietly put together one of the most unappreciated seasons of any player in the league, setting the team record for double-doubles and total rebounds. Rookies Roy Hibbert and Brandon Rush made promising strides throughout the season, and don’t forget, Mike Dunleavy missed 64 games due to bones spurs in his knee. With the talent they had in house, Indiana probably met expectations.
2009-10 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Roy Hibbert/Jeff Foster/Solomon Jones
PF: Tyler Hansbrough/Troy Murphy/Josh McRoberts
SF: Danny Granger/Mike Dunleavy
SG: Brandon Rush/Dahntay Jones
PG: T.J. Ford/Earl Watson/Travis Diener/A.J. Price
NBA Free Agents:
PF Maceo Baston (UFA)
SF Stephen Graham (UFA)
2009-10 Team Salary: Approximately $58.9 million
2009-10 Expected League Salary Cap: $57.3 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. An athletic power forward – The Pacers enter the off-season with three bigs under contract, none of whom you could consider as being very athletic. Foster and Hibbert are not very mobile while Murphy is known more for his rebounding and three-point range. Indy could use an athletic compliment to these three, a guy who is fearless at attacking the basket and is tenacious on the glass. Unless they win the draft lottery or reach with their selection, there likely won’t be a player like this available when they pick, so this need must be addressed via free agency or trade.
2. Get defensive – In his end of the season press conference, both head coach Jim O’Brien and president of basketball operations Larry Bird made no bones about the fact that Indy will address the need to become a better defensive team this off-season. The Pacers allowed the fifth most points in the league in ’08-’09 and while Granger blew up as a scorer, he took a major step back as a defender. Either bring in a defensive-minded player or figure out to get this group to D’ it up.
3. Find a new home for Jamaal Tinsley – While the Stephon Marbury/Knicks soap opera received a lot pub throughout the league last season; the Pacers had a similar situation with Jamaal Tinsley. The point guard was pretty much told to stay home by management who failed in their year-long attempt to trade him. As a result, Tinlsey was paid $6.75 million to stay away from the team and is still owed $14.7 million for the next two years. Bird insists other teams were interested in Tinsley, but no deal could ever be reached. Really? At this point, wouldn’t you trade Tinsley for a box of headbands just to get rid of his salary?
Written by Paul Banks of NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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