July 5th, 2012 at 10:26 PM
By Brian HyattThe Los Angeles Lakers got a big piece of their puzzle in Steve Nash when they were able to work a sign and trade deal with the Pheonix Suns. The Brooklyn Nets are on pace to be a big time player in the East next season. The Celtics and Heat will of course be in the tops in the East for years to come. So what do the Pacers have to do in order to become legit every season? How do they get over the hump?
The Reggie Miller days are over and the Pacers will probably never have another player that could get it done the way he could. They can't afford to let Roy Hibbert go and they have to find the right pieces to the puzzle. They don't have the money to spend like other franchises do which hurts a lot.
The first thing that has to be done is picking a direction and sticking with it. Putting together a plan every few years is not going to cut it in the small market. The Indiana Pacers history is one of a lot of ups and downs with only one NBA Finals appearance. There haven't even been very many Eastern Conference Finals appearances either.
Read more... Join the Conversation... July 3rd, 2012 at 5:12 PM
By Brian HyattThe Indiana Pacers cannot afford to lose Roy Hibbert and with the Trailblazers offering him a max deal there is really only one option for the Pacers. They have to figure out how to give Hibbert the same deal. I am having a hard time convincing myself why the Pacers would not offer him a max deal.
There are other names out there that the Pacers could go after but Hibbert was such a big part of their playoff run this past season that it really makes little sense. What would Pacers fans say if new GM Kevin Pritchard and Donnie Walsh let Hibbert get away?
After the NBA draft you have to wonder what the thought process is right now. If Hibbert does leave then what who will be on the Pacers list? Well, last night the Pacers met with Chris Kaman who is a unrestricted free agent. Other than Kaman there are not a lot of other choices out there to fill the "traditional" center position.
The Pacers do have the option to move away from having the traditional center which has been a successful move for other teams. That can be an easy decision when you have some of the top players in the league. For the Pacers I still believe the best option is to sign Hibbert.
Read more... Join the Conversation... June 29th, 2012 at 9:46 PM
By Brian HyattThe 2012 NBA Draft was full of surprises the first was Michael Kidd-Gilchrist going second when most felt Brad Beal or Thomas Robinson would like go in that spot. I have watched MKG for several years and have had many opportunities to see him in practice and game situations. I have interviewed him many times and I have to say he is different, but not in the way most people talk about. People make fun of his stutter and the anxiety he displays when being interviewed but Michael is a stand up person and relentless player who deserved to be the number two pick and who will make the Bobcats a much better team immediately.
The next surprise was Terrence Ross at number eight, this pick shocked me. I am still trying to figure it out and don't think I will ever get it.
Dion Waiters was a surprise to some but he is another kid I have seen on many occasions and I think he will live up to the draft position.
Read more... Join the Conversation... June 20th, 2012 at 12:41 PM
By Brian HyattMost of the NBA Mock Draft websites have been updated once again and there is continual movement. The constant changes occur because no one really knows what's going to happen until the night of the draft. The number one spot has not changed in quite a while because Anthony Davis will be the number one pick by the New Orleans Hornets. The rest of spots have continued to move and not everyone is in agreement on who each team will draft. For instance the Bobcats have the number two pick and there are different thoughts on who they will take. Most people believe its between Thomas Robinson and Harrison Barnes but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is also being talked about.
Once you get out of the top ten it continues to be fluid and anything can happen. Like I have said before, the Indiana Pacers are playing a waiting game to see who is left by the time they get pick their guy. Fab Melo had a great workout yesterday and I am sure they would love to draft him but he will most likely not be around for the twenty-sixth pick. Currently some of the mock draft sites are saying the Pacers will be looking at Tyshawn Taylor from Kansas. Taylor is a solid point guard but he does have a lot of question marks when it comes to discipline and playing the game under control.
Read more... Join the Conversation... June 19th, 2012 at 12:29 PM
By Brian HyattThe Pacers will be holding their fifth pre-draft workout today featuring Fab Melo. Other attendees will be Miles Plumlee (Duke), Chris Johnson (Dayton), Jarrod Jones (Ball State), Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State), and Jonathon Simmons (Houston). Fab Melo is a very raw talent with a huge upside in the eyes of many. During my time covering recruiting I was able to watch Fab Melo in the AAU circuit and my first impression was that he was not that great but I could see the potential for him to be a big time player. Fabricio de Melo is originally from Brazil but attended high school in Florida at The Sagemont School. Will Sheehey, who plays for IU, played with Melo in high school as well as AAU. Melo played two years at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim but was unable to finish his sophomore season due to academic troubles. His inability stay eligible stopped Syracuse from having a great shot to win the NCAA Championship.
Breaking down Melo's game is not all that hard as he is a good defender who seems to understand how to play the game well. His offense needs a lot of work but he can score five to seven feet away from the basket. If he is able to continue improving his conditioning, strength and offense then he can become a major factor for someone. He has a long way to go but the potential is there.
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