State of the Franchise
Projected Cap Space (before luxury tax): $12.9 million
Background: The Indiana Pacers’ season, along with Paul George’s leg (SF IND), was distorted in a horrifying fashion this year. The superstar got his foot stuck between the bottom of the basket and the ground, and the rest, well… I suggest you check out the video (actually, don’t). In the end, the 24-year-old had to sit out this year, though people are optimistic about his return for 2015-2016 season. This doomed Indiana to a playoff-less year, much less a fourth straight conference finals appearance. The departure of immature but talented SG Lance Stephenson in free agency was the nail in the coffin to this season. Big men PF David West and C Roy Hibbert are still around, as is PG George Hill, but without George and Stephenson, the Pacers are all too thin on the wing, leaving them out of the playoff picture, even in the ridiculously weak Eastern Conference. All is not lost, however, as George will likely return next year. It is up to President Larry Bird and the rest of Indiana’s front office to do all they can to restore this team to the championship contender it once was before George’s gruesome injury by then.
Current Financial State: With roughly $64 million in cap committed and a few slight overpayments, Bird and his crew will have a tough time finding impact players to create a championship team upon George’s return. But since when has a “tough time” ever stopped Larry Legend? George will be making $16.9 million next season, a steal for a superstar of his caliber (assuming he returns at full strength), though that number will increase by $1.2 million each year until it expires after the 2018-2019 season. Hibbert and West have player options for $15.5 million and $12.6 million, respectively, which they will certainly accept. Those big men account for the bulk of the non-George contracts, with Hill being slightly overpaid at $8 million. SF CJ Miles and C Ian Mahinmi will pocket $4.4 and $4 million respectively, while role players Solomon Hill and Damjan Rudez, whose contracts combine for a total of $2.5 million, are the only other commitments Indiana has beyond this season. A few key role players will hit the open market this summer, and they represent perfect trade chips for Indiana this season. Which leads me to this next paragraph.
Targets: It is critical that the Pacers use their cap space and expiring contracts this season to fetch another piece for a title run upon George’s return next year. One big name on the open market with a relatively low asking price is Oklahoma City Thunder PG Reggie Jackson. Jackson has stated that he wants to be a starter, and with superstar PG Russell Westbrook ahead of him on the Thunder’s depth chart, Jackson has become increasingly frustrated with his role there. One workable trade possibility would go as follows: Indiana sends the expiring contracts of PF Luis Scola, SF Chris Copeland, PG Donald Sloan and bench warmer PF Shayne Whittington, as well as a 2017 first rounder and the Golden State Warriors’ second round draft choice this year, which could very well end up being the last pick in the draft. In turn, the Thunder would send PG Jackson, as well as the huge expiring contract of C Kendrick Perkins, who is absolutely critical to making the finances of the deal work, as well as dropping the Thunder under the luxury tax line. For Oklahoma City, this is the exact sort of haul they wanted for Jackson. Sloan can run the point for the second unit perfectly, while Scola and Copeland will likely carve out meaningful roles in head coach Scott Brooks’ rotation. The picks are just a sweetener, and the Thunder can plan for the future all the while dodging another luxury tax bill. For Indiana, this works out well, too. Watson, Scola, and Copeland, while pivotal role players, do not have contracts extending beyond this season, anyways. Perkins’ ridiculous overpayment of $9.7 million fortunately comes off the books this year, and while losing the picks hurt, it is well worth it if it means getting Reggie Jackson in exchange.
The Fit: Jackson is a budding star whose talent and potential is undeniable. Behind Westbrook, Jackson has not been receiving the playing time he deserves. He was on full display when Westbrook and fellow superstar SF Kevin Durant were injured in the beginning of the season. In the month of November, Jackson averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 38.2 minutes per game, despite shooting just 41.5% from the field and turning the ball over 3.2 times per game. On the year, Jackson is averaging around 14 points, 4.5 assists, and 4 rebounds in just under 30 minutes per game, almost identical stats to last year, though inefficient shooting and turnovers continue to be an issue. However, at just 24 years old and cooped up behind Westbrook for his whole career, Jackson has plenty of room to grow and sort out these issues, which are common in younger players. Jackson, along with West and Hibbert, all figure to become key pieces in Indiana’s title run upon George’s return.
Projected Cap Space (before luxury tax): $12.9 million
Background: The Indiana Pacers’ season, along with Paul George’s leg (SF IND), was distorted in a horrifying fashion this year. The superstar got his foot stuck between the bottom of the basket and the ground, and the rest, well… I suggest you check out the video (actually, don’t). In the end, the 24-year-old had to sit out this year, though people are optimistic about his return for 2015-2016 season. This doomed Indiana to a playoff-less year, much less a fourth straight conference finals appearance. The departure of immature but talented SG Lance Stephenson in free agency was the nail in the coffin to this season. Big men PF David West and C Roy Hibbert are still around, as is PG George Hill, but without George and Stephenson, the Pacers are all too thin on the wing, leaving them out of the playoff picture, even in the ridiculously weak Eastern Conference. All is not lost, however, as George will likely return next year. It is up to President Larry Bird and the rest of Indiana’s front office to do all they can to restore this team to the championship contender it once was before George’s gruesome injury by then.
Current Financial State: With roughly $64 million in cap committed and a few slight overpayments, Bird and his crew will have a tough time finding impact players to create a championship team upon George’s return. But since when has a “tough time” ever stopped Larry Legend? George will be making $16.9 million next season, a steal for a superstar of his caliber (assuming he returns at full strength), though that number will increase by $1.2 million each year until it expires after the 2018-2019 season. Hibbert and West have player options for $15.5 million and $12.6 million, respectively, which they will certainly accept. Those big men account for the bulk of the non-George contracts, with Hill being slightly overpaid at $8 million. SF CJ Miles and C Ian Mahinmi will pocket $4.4 and $4 million respectively, while role players Solomon Hill and Damjan Rudez, whose contracts combine for a total of $2.5 million, are the only other commitments Indiana has beyond this season. A few key role players will hit the open market this summer, and they represent perfect trade chips for Indiana this season. Which leads me to this next paragraph.
Targets: It is critical that the Pacers use their cap space and expiring contracts this season to fetch another piece for a title run upon George’s return next year. One big name on the open market with a relatively low asking price is Oklahoma City Thunder PG Reggie Jackson. Jackson has stated that he wants to be a starter, and with superstar PG Russell Westbrook ahead of him on the Thunder’s depth chart, Jackson has become increasingly frustrated with his role there. One workable trade possibility would go as follows: Indiana sends the expiring contracts of PF Luis Scola, SF Chris Copeland, PG Donald Sloan and bench warmer PF Shayne Whittington, as well as a 2017 first rounder and the Golden State Warriors’ second round draft choice this year, which could very well end up being the last pick in the draft. In turn, the Thunder would send PG Jackson, as well as the huge expiring contract of C Kendrick Perkins, who is absolutely critical to making the finances of the deal work, as well as dropping the Thunder under the luxury tax line. For Oklahoma City, this is the exact sort of haul they wanted for Jackson. Sloan can run the point for the second unit perfectly, while Scola and Copeland will likely carve out meaningful roles in head coach Scott Brooks’ rotation. The picks are just a sweetener, and the Thunder can plan for the future all the while dodging another luxury tax bill. For Indiana, this works out well, too. Watson, Scola, and Copeland, while pivotal role players, do not have contracts extending beyond this season, anyways. Perkins’ ridiculous overpayment of $9.7 million fortunately comes off the books this year, and while losing the picks hurt, it is well worth it if it means getting Reggie Jackson in exchange.
The Fit: Jackson is a budding star whose talent and potential is undeniable. Behind Westbrook, Jackson has not been receiving the playing time he deserves. He was on full display when Westbrook and fellow superstar SF Kevin Durant were injured in the beginning of the season. In the month of November, Jackson averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 38.2 minutes per game, despite shooting just 41.5% from the field and turning the ball over 3.2 times per game. On the year, Jackson is averaging around 14 points, 4.5 assists, and 4 rebounds in just under 30 minutes per game, almost identical stats to last year, though inefficient shooting and turnovers continue to be an issue. However, at just 24 years old and cooped up behind Westbrook for his whole career, Jackson has plenty of room to grow and sort out these issues, which are common in younger players. Jackson, along with West and Hibbert, all figure to become key pieces in Indiana’s title run upon George’s return.