The NBA Playoffs are like a summer movie that drags on too long.
Bird's rebuilding process continues.
You’re genuinely entertained for the first hour, maybe two. But once it starts pushing the three-hour mark, you can’t help but check the time every couple of minutes hoping the thing will mercifully end.
The NBA’s two-month version of the drawn-out summer blockbuster starts tonight. And for the fourth straight year, the Indiana Pacers don’t have a ticket to the show.
Indiana (32-50) finished with its worst record since 1988-89. The lottery-bound Pacers appeared headed toward a top-five draft pick, but won 10 of their final 14 games to finish 10th in the Eastern Conference.
There goes that impact player.
They now have just a 1.1 percent chance of getting the first overall choice. The draft is just one important decision Larry Bird faces in his third offseason, as he continues to put his stamp on the franchise — for better, or worse. Here’s what Bird should have on his mind this summer:
Cut payroll
Always easier said than done. The Pacers hand out multi-million dollar contracts like Halloween candy. Mike Dunleavy’s brittle knees made $10 million in 2009-10. T.J. Ford banked $8.5 mil to sit on the bench. Jamaal Tinsley absorbed $5.2 million from the Pacers, and he’s not on the team.
There may be trade opportunities this offseason, but the Pacers will more likely have to wait until next summer to rid themselves of the bloated contracts. Only Danny Granger, Dahntay Jones, and A.J. Price are signed through the 2011-12 season. The team has the option to pick up the deals of Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert, and Tyler Hansbrough that year. Everyone else is off the books. With that kind of flexibility, the Pacers should be a major player in free agency in the summer of 2011, when guys like Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, and Al Horford hit the market. That is, assuming they can convince a big name to sign.
Find a point guard
Like Jarrett Jack last year, late-season starter Earl Watson is as good as gone. Unless a move is made, that leaves T.J. Ford in the starting spot — again. Ford has had some bad breaks during his career (spinal and head injuries) but has never been able to solidify himself as a starter when given several chances. In Milwaukee, Mo Williams outplayed him for the job. It was Jose Calderon in Toronto. Ford was supplanted by both Jack and Watson with the Pacers. The Pacers are probably kicking themselves for passing on Ty Lawson, Darren Collison, and Jrue Holiday in last year’s draft. A.J. Price returns as a back-up, but point guard has to be a draft priority.
Find frontcourt depth
Roy Hibbert (11.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg) has given the Pacers a post presence, something they’ve severely lacked since Jermaine O’Neal’s prime. The front line behind him is more than a little thin. Jeff Foster’s back may force him to retire. Solomon Jones was solid, if unspectacular, off the bench. Tyler Hansbrough missed most of the season with an ear injury and will essentially be a rookie again. The Pacers don’t want another O’Neal situation. Outside of Brad Miller for a season and a half, they never found a solid frontcourt player to pair with O’Neal. The beating he took in the low post led to career-shortening injuries. Hibbert needs to be paired with a traditional power forward. Not current starter Troy Murphy, who can’t guard anybody and hangs out on the perimeter.
Resolve the situation with the city
It’s no secret the Pacers are bleeding money. Owner Herb Simon recently made it public that the team wants the city of Indianapolis to cough up the $15 million in annual operating costs for Conseco Fieldhouse. Has it occurred to the Pacers that in tough economic times, some businesses might have to — gasp — cut payroll to help stay afloat? It’s hard to be sympathetic to the Pacers’ cause when one person (Troy Murphy, $11 million) gets paid nearly as much as it costs to operate the building just to play a game. Maybe the Pacers will wake up and cut costs internally. More likely, the city will cave. Maybe the team will eventually pack up and move. Either way, it’s going to add up to an interesting summer for the blue and gold.
Leibrock's Sports Talk 