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Indiana Pacers (Last Year: 35-47)
Depth Chart:
C: Roy Hibbert/Jeff Foster/Solomon Jones
PF: Troy Murphy/Tyler Hansbrough/Josh McRoberts
SF: Danny Granger/Mike Dunleavy
SG: Brandon Rush/Dahntay Jones/Luther Head
PG: T.J. Ford/Earl Watson/Travis
Diener/A.J. Price
Head Coach: Jim O’Brien (3rd
year)
2009-2010 Team Salary: $65.8 million
Projected 2010-2011 Team
Salary: approximately $62.5 million
Off-Season Grade: Barely Passed
Indiana needed to get more
defensive and athletic this offseason. They drafted a proven
winner and tough-nosed player in Tyler Hansbrough, but he certainly doesn’t
scream athleticism. Adding Dahntay Jones and Earl Watson via free
agency gives the Pacers some needed depth in their backcourt especially
since they decided not to match the Raptors’ offer to restricted free
agent Jarrett Jack. I can’t say the Pacers improved very much
this offseason which is why they receive a barely passing grade.
They really didn’t have much
room to work though. There was no cap-space flexibility and the
Pacers do not have any true assets to trade as they still have a few
bad contracts on their roster. At least they finally parted ways
with Jamaal Tinsley, but having to cut him, yet still account for his
salary under their cap and get nothing in return has to be a loss.
2009-2010 Outlook:
This is the least sexy team
in the NBA. Outside of Danny Granger, there isn’t a single player
on this roster I would pay to see play. (Well, maybe Travis Diener,
but only because I am a Marquette alum.) The Pacers have a serious
lack of athleticism and will have to play a slowed-down, half-court
game whenever possible. They were one of the worst defensive teams
in the league last season, but the additions of Hansbrough, Jones and
Watson should help improve that statistic.
What the Pacers really need
is a wing man for Granger who has proven to be an All-Star caliber player.
Murphy had a very solid season last year but is not going to be the
No. 2 option on any playoff contender. Dunleavy is returning
from injury and may miss a chunk of the season early on and T.J. Ford
has never been a consistent scoring threat. If Brandon Rush can
develop into a true scoring option, there is a slim chance Indiana could
compete for a playoff spot.
Looking Ahead to the Summer of 2010:
There is really nothing to look ahead to in terms of next offseason. The Pacers will be well above the cap and have little flexibility to sign free agents except for their mid-level. However, the summer of 2011 will be interesting. That is when bloated contracts like Dunleavy, Murphy, Foster, Ford, and Tinsley (FINALLY) will be off the books. With a lot of teams likely focusing on next summer, Indiana might be one of the major players in the 2011 offseason.
2009-10 NBA Power Ranking: 23rd
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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