Caught in the Web Indiana Pacers blog by Conrad Brunner
Pacers hope Hill brings leadership to floor
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In one night, with one phone call, George Hill suddenly was transformed into a veteran, a leader, a player who will no longer follow examples, but set them.
When the Pacers acquired the 6-2 guard from San Antonio during the NBA Draft on Thursday, they knew they were adding a player they could use at either backcourt spot, either as a starter or key reserve, and could count on him for productive offense and consistent defense.
But they also want more from the former Broad Ripple and IUPUI star.
"We look to him to have some leadership skills for us," said team president Larry Bird during Hill's introductory press conference today at Conseco Fieldhouse. "We've been talking about it for five years here. Even though he's just a three-year vet, he brings a lot to the table.
"We're honored to have him be a part of our team because we know what he is on and off the court so it's a major plus for our franchise. We're going to continue to build our franchise with young men like him. Going forward our players will watch and listen and learn from him because he's played on teams that have won multiple championships and he's played with players in this league that do things the right way. So maybe we can all learn something from him."
For Hill, this swift and sudden transformation may take a little getting used to, one of many major adjustments on the table in the aftermath of the trade.
"You're making me feel old and I'm only 25 years old. I think it's going to be a great experience," he said. "Being a Spur for three years I've learned a lot from guys like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker. Just trying to bring a little leadership out of the things I know how to do to help win games, the right and the wrong and things like that.
"I'm just going to try to use that to my advantage, try to help this team win basketball games and lead them in the right direction."
A young player couldn't ask for better examples than Hill had in San Antonio. The Spurs have won relentlessly, methodically and prolifically for the better part of two decades, hanging multiple championship banners along the way.
"The biggest thing was learning there's how to be a pro and how to be professional," Hill said. "They say a lot of people are just pros but you want to try to be professional on and off the court, carry yourself a certain way, the way you go about working out, the way you go about presenting yourself and things like that. That's probably the biggest thing I took from them is being a professional and not just a pro."
Leaving a situation like San Antonio, of course, was not and will not be easy for Hill. He was deeply entrenched with the team and the community. His best friend was DaJuan Blair; the two were known as Big and Smalls (Hill, FYI, was Big, while the 6-7 Blair was Smalls).
But this trade brought the realization of one of Hill's lifelong dreams -- to play for his hometown team.
"(The trade) was hard to process for a while," he said. "Once you spend three years in an organization you kind of get in a relationship. You start liking the players and getting friendships and things like that so leaving the organization was tough but at the same time I knew it was a great opportunity and a lot of doors open for me coming home.
"I had to embrace it and learn it's just a business. It happens to the best of us. You have to learn how to accept it and move on and make the next step even better."
Whether starter or reserve, Hill fills many needs
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Or maybe George continues to start with Hill coming off the bench at both guard spots. Mix in A.J. Price as a solid point guard in reserve and Lance Stephenson as an up-and-coming two-position backcourt threat, and it's tough not to like what you see.
Small wonder, then, Larry Bird was clearly thrilled with his ability to acquire Hill from San Antonio Thursday night in a trade for No. 15 pick Kawhi Leonard and a pair of second-rounders.
"We're excited about it," Bird said. "I mean, usually you have a draft and everybody's excited but to get a player like George, I think he's really going to help us."
Just exactly how Hill figures into the rotation remains to be seen but it's unlikely he's a threat to Collison. He might supplant George as the starter at shooting guard but that won't mean reduced opportunity for last year's top pick.
Collison, Hill and George will get their share of minutes. It appears Stephenson is on the road to an increased profile. The players most affected, then, figure to be Mike Dunleavy, Brandon Rush, A.J. Price and Dahntay Jones.
Those four combined to play 257 minutes in the playoffs, almost as many as starters Collison and George (279). Of that group, Price played the most postseason minutes, a strong indicator of where he stands. Dunleavy is a free agent, Rush has played himself to the fringe of the rotation and Jones' future role remains unclear.
So there is room for Hill, not to mention need. A large-framed, long-armed guard considered San Antonio's best perimeter defender as well as a consistent offensive threat, Hill brings a well-rounded game that can help the Pacers in a variety of areas.
"I'm not the coach. I don't know where he's going to play. He's going to play," said Bird. "He can play the one and two. He's got experience. We know that Paul is still very young but it's not going to interfere with the minutes these guys have. He's just a good player that we feel we needed and I think he makes us a lot better. …
"By getting George, I don't think this hurts Lance at all. Lance can play the one or the two, George can play the one or the two. I think they can play together. Paul can go down and play some three, and Paul can play some one and two. It's just now we've got to get some experience and we're sitting in a pretty good position for free agency. Now, we've just got to go out and who we can get to make this team better."
Experts give Pacers high marks for trade
Though they emerged from the NBA Draft without a selection, the Pacers' acquisition of Hill drew praise from experts both local and national.
Chad Ford of ESPN.com Insider gave Indiana a B-plus in his draft grade report:
"On one hand, I really like that the Pacers opted out of the draft. They need help now and getting hometown hero George Hill could be considered a coup. The Pacers, along with a number of teams, have tried to pry Hill away for years. His versatility, toughness and playoff experience on a veteran roster all help accelerate the Pacers' rebuilding project. He can step in immediately and give them something they need: a guard who can create his own shot and defend.
"On the other hand, Leonard was one of my favorite players in the draft. I thought the Pacers were going back to 2005, when Danny Granger falling into their laps. But there's a time and place for everything and the Pacers have plenty of young talent already. They're ready to win and Hill helps them in that quest."
Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports listed Indiana as one of his draft-night winners:
"The Pacers not only filled a need for a shooting guard in Hill, but also landed an Indianapolis native who should be a hit with the fans. The Pacers finished last in the league in attendance last season. The former IUPUI star, Darren Collison and Paul George give the Pacers a young core of perimeter players. For Hill, the Spurs could’ve sent him to a lot worse places than his hometown team."
Even noted Pacers-basher Bob Kravitz of The Indianapolis Star offered up praise for the move, calling it "one of the best draft nights" in recent Pacers history:
"Hill isn't a terrific pickup simply because he's a local guy, although that isn't going to hurt any at the box office. (Think owner Herb Simon was loving this move?) Hill is a terrific pickup because he's a proven commodity, an established, grown-up, NBA guard entering his fourth season who can play the point and the two-guard. He makes the Pacers bigger and deeper and more formidable in every conceivable way, leaving absolutely no reason this team shouldn't be better than .500 next season and for years to come."
Homecoming for Hill
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With one stunning draft-night deal, Larry Bird accomplished both.
The Pacers acquired George Hill, a product of Broad Ripple High and IUPUI by dealing No. 15 pick Kawhi Leonard, the No. 42 pick in the second round (used on 6-10 Davis Bertans, an 18-year-old forward from Latvia) and the rights to 2005 second-round pick Erazem Lorbek to San Antonio on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old Hill has averaged 9.9 points in three NBA seasons including a career-high of 12.4 in 2009-10.
"We're very pleased to get a player that's got some NBA experience like George does," Bird said. "We've been after him for awhile and San Antonio always told us they didn't have any interest in trading him. Today I guess they thought it was the right time. They waited to see who was there at 15 and they were on the line, they made the call and we got it done."
The Pacers were the beneficiaries of some surprising moves that allowed Leonard -- a projected top-10 pick -- to slip into their hands, giving them the commodity the Spurs prized.
The first shocker came when Cleveland selected Texas forward Tristan Thompson at No. 4 overall.
A three-team trade involving Sacramento, Milwaukee and Charlotte scrambled the top-10 priorities as well, with the Bobcats moving up to the No. 7 pick and reaching for big man Bismack Biyombo of the Congo. The Kings, who obtained the No. 10 pick from the Bucks in the deal, selected Jimmer Fredette of BYU.
When both of Kansas' Morris twins were taken with the two picks immediately in front of the Pacers -- Markieff going No. 13 to Phoenix, Marcus going No. 14 to Houston -- Leonard was on the board and the Pacers capitalized.
"That was our deal, no question about it," Bird said. "If we could do that deal we would've taken him over just about any young player in this draft at No. 15. He's been in some big games and he'll help our kids along. We're a better team tonight than we were yesterday."
Hill led IUPUI to a school-record 26 victories his senior season, averaging 21.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.3 rebounds as a senior. The Spurs drafted him No. 26 overall in 2008.
"It’s tough but at the same time things happen for a reason," Hill said in a statement released by the Pacers. "My hat is off to San Antonio for the opportunity I had here and I'm really looking forward to coming home to Indiana and helping the Pacers win games."
This was the fourth draft-night trade in Bird's four years at the helm.
He made two trades in his first draft in 2008, acquiring Roy Hibbert and T.J. Ford in a package deal that sent Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto. He also dealt top pick Jerryd Bayless in a package to Portland for Brandon Rush, Josh McRoberts and Jarrett Jack.
In 2010, he engineered a swap of second-round picks with Oklahoma City that landed Magnum Rolle in exchange for Ryan Reid.
Lorbek, 27, has been playing in Europe since being drafted by the Pacers, averaging 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds for Regal Barcelona last season.
Best available or need? Why not both?
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To Larry Bird, the answer is simple as he heads into his fourth NBA Draft tonight as the man in charge of the Pacers' basketball operations.
"Best player available," Bird said. "The position really don't matter."
That approach has been evident, and productive, in the past two years. In 2010, despite an abundance of veteran wing players on the roster, Bird took another when he selected Paul George with the No. 10 pick. And despite the presence of all those others, George finished the season as the starter at shooting guard.
In 2009, despite a glaring need at point guard and a number of prospects at that position still on the board, Bird went with power forward Tyler Hansbrough at No. 13. Though Hansbrough's rookie season was a washout due to vertigo, like George he finished last season in the starting lineup.
And Bird managed to acquire one of the point guards he passed up, No. 21 pick Darren Collison, in a trade that sent veteran power forward Troy Murphy to New Jersey, thus clearing the path for Hansbrough.
See how it all works out?
With a roster well-stocked with young talent -- all five starters are under contract and the oldest is Danny Granger at 28 -- the Pacers can approach tonight's draft from a genuine position of strength. Perhaps more than any other team, they could be in a position to roll the dice on talent, knowing the player could be a few years away from contributing, rather than feeling pressured to plug a hole with a rookie.
"We've looked at it both ways, frankly," said General Manager David Morway. "We want to find the best player for us. And if we think that is a guy that's not ready yet but has a lot of upside, then we do have more freedom to look at a guy like that right now with some of the young players we have on this team and the roster flexibility we're going to have to fill some of the other roster spots."
When the 15th pick rolls around tonight, the Pacers will have several options.
- If they want to add scoring, the might be able to choose from prolific collegians Jimmer Fredette (BYU), Alec Burks (Colorado), Marshon Brooks (Providence) or Klay Thompson (Washington State).
- If they want to add depth to a frontcourt that could be thinned by free agency, they could go with Markieff Morris (Kansas), Tristan Thompson (Texas) or Nikola Vucevic (USC).
- If they want to take a flyer on a talented international prospect that won't be able to come to the NBA for at least one season because of contract commitments, they could pick Jonas Valanciunas, a gifted 19-year-old with top-five talent whose $3 million buyout could deter lottery teams seeking immediate help.
- Or, they could simply put out the net and snag a player unexpectedly tumbling down the draft board, as they did with Danny Granger in 2005. This year's top candidate to drop could be Connecticut point guard Kemba Walker, who in some scenarios could slip out of the lottery.
Of course, there is also the possibility of a trade or two. Because of their abundant salary cap space and aforementioned young assets, the Pacers are in a position of strength when it comes to deal-making.
"Moving up four spots or five spots, I don't think it's going to help us at all," Bird said. "Moving down, if we got the right player, but I like where we're at. Obviously, you always like to be in the top five but I just know we're going to get a good player. It's right there."
DON'T SLEEP ON THE SECOND ROUND: Bird's regime has a strong record of finding gems deep in the draft. The Pacers grabbed A.J. Price at No. 52 in 2009 and Lance Stephenson at No. 40 in 2010. Price finished last season as the backup point guard. Though Stephenson played little, Bird has high hopes for the New Yorker, calling him "our best player" in a recent press conference.
It's clear the Pacers place nearly as much emphasis researching second-round prospects as first-rounders. Of the 48 players they brought in for pre-draft workouts, the vast majority projected either as second-rounders or undrafted free agents.
"We've put a tremendous amount of effort over the last three years looking at the second round simply because we had to rebuild this entire roster and we needed to find talent, we needed to find players and there are very good players in the second round," said Morway. "And particularly in the last couple of years, Larry and I have felt we would be able to get some good players. This year we feel the same way. It's hard to tell how the draft is going to play out because everybody sees the players differently but we're hopeful there will be a player there in the second round that will bring a skill set to our team that we're looking to fill."
PLENTY OF LOCAL FLAVOR: Though the Pacers worked out Purdue's JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, Butler's Matt Howard, Indiana State's Jake Kelly and former Brebeuf prep standout Andrew Warren (Bradley), none are first-round possibilities. The second round could be a different story.
"I like 'em all," Bird said. "You want them kids to do well and you want to see them play in the league. We're not interested in them at 15 but I think all of them will probably be drafted. At 42 there's a couple of 'em we'd probably take a look at. I wish them the best. They're all great kids and we had all of them but one in here and they all performed well."
The Pacers did not work out Butler guard Shelvin Mack, like Johnson on the bubble as a first-round prospect. They also did not bring in Tyler Hansbrough's brother Ben, the Big East Player of the Year from Notre Dame who projects as a second-round prospect. Moore is projected as a mid-to-late second-rounder, while Kelly, Howard and Warren are not projected as picks by the major mock drafts.
Bad draft? Not from Pacers' perspective
Indianapolis (June 22, 2011) -- Because of the lack of a game-changer at the top, the 2011 NBA Draft is generally viewed as pedestrian, almost completely lacking in star power.
Does that make it a bad draft?
Not from where the Pacers sit.
There may well be an absence of marquee talent in the top 10 but there is no lack of depth, which bodes well for an Indiana team sitting just outside the lottery at No. 15 in the first round.
"I actually think this is a fairly deep draft and it's a better draft than people think," said General Manager David Morway. "There aren't some of the superstars at the top of the draft but in terms of the middle of this draft there's a lot of depth, a lot of quality players and guys that are going to play in the league for awhile."
The Pacers historically have done well when drafting in this territory. They grabbed Danny Granger at No., 17 in 2005, acquired Brandon Rush at No. 13 and Roy Hibbert at No. 17 in 2008, selected Tyler Hansbrough at No. 13 in 2009 and Paul George at No. 10 in 2010.
Though Granger is the only member of the group to rise to Al-Star status, all are contributors, which is precisely the type of player team president Larry Bird hopes to find on Thursday night.
"When you say it's not the strongest draft I'm talking about the top picks," Bird said. "There's a lot of good players in this draft and a lot of teams are going to get some help. I think next year you'll see a lot of these young guys have an opportunity to play."
When the top of the draft lacks certainty, it makes preparation tougher for the rest of the teams. There is a consensus that the top four players picked likely will be Kyrie Irving (Duke), Derrick Williams (Arizona), Brandon Knight (Kentucky) and Enes Kanter (Kentucky). After that, things get muddled.
All it takes is one or two surprise picks in the top 10 to start a chain reaction like that which sent Granger tumbling down the board in 2005.
"It's much tougher (to project) this year," said Morway. "We have a fairly good feel of nine or 10 players that will for sure be taken before us. But as far as what's going to happen after that, there's probably a group of seven to 10 guys that could go from 11 to 14."
The Pacers' workout prospects reflected the general strength of the draft.
Of the 48 players they worked out, as many as 20 have been projected as first-round picks -- with eight power forwards in that group: Kenneth Faried (Morehead State), Justin Harper (Richmond), Tobias Harris (Tennessee), JaJuan Johnson (Purdue), Marcus and Markieff Morris (Kansas), Trey Thompkins (Georgia) and Jeremy Tyler (Tokyo).
They also brought in six wing players that were first-round prospects: Marshon Brooks (Providence), Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech), Klay Thompson (Washington State), Jordan Hamilton (Texas), Tyler Honeycutt (UCLA) and Kyle Singler (Duke).
Top point guard/combo guard prospects included Jimmer Fredette (BYU), Charles Jenkins (Hofstra), Darius Morris (Michigan), Josh Selby (Kansas) and Nolan Smith (Duke).
The only center in the first-round mix they worked out was Nikola Vucevic (USC).
"There are a lot of power forwards in this draft, which is fairly unusual," said Morway. "That's definitely one of the strengths of this draft. I also think that there are a lot of guys that be effective one-twos or two-ones in the this draft. We've been impressed with a lot of those kind of guys. And there are a lot of really good shooters in this draft.
"There's a lot of depth, but there aren't guys that you look at and say, 'That's a sure-fire All-Star.' "
This may well be a bad year for the teams at the top. But for teams like the Pacers, this draft looks pretty good.
Bird wants to add depth, scoring punch in draft
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Watch Part 2 |
The Pacers' President of Basketball Operations touched on a wide variety of topics -- including a trade rumor involving center Roy Hibbert and the unresolved coaching situation -- in a media briefing Tuesday at Conseco Fieldhouse while making it clear his intent was to strengthen the team's depth, preferably by adding scoring punch.
"My goal here is to try to get the best bench I can possibly get," he said. "I want 10 players I know I can depend on every night and be consistent. I want to improve our bench and I want to have one of the best in the league and hopefully we can go out and get better players. That way we can move some of our starters back to the bench and make us stronger."
With Jeff Foster, Josh McRoberts, Mike Dunleavy, T.J. Ford and Solomon Jones all free agents, there could be plenty of holes to fill in the second unit. Bird has the 15th and 42nd picks in the draft, roughly $21 million in salary cap space with which to maneuver and a number of attractive young assets that could be used in trade packages as avenues for upgrading the roster.
"We're young and you always try to get better players but we're in a position now hopefully in free agency we can go out and plug some holes," he said. "We won 37 games last year. That's not acceptable. I think we're capable of winning more. If we get in free agency and get a good draft pick I think we can bump that up a few notches."
Trade report nixed but Bird says no one untouchable
One trade Bird shot down was the report that had the Pacers sending center Roy Hibbert and the No. 15 pick to Minnesota for the No. 2 pick with an eye on drafting Arizona forward Derrick Williams.
"No, we're not doing that," he said. "I'm not interested in trading Roy. Roy's one of our core-group guys. The draft is a good draft, not a great draft. If there was somebody at two that we were really targeting that I think would make us a lot better, then you have to do it but I believe in Roy.
"I think he's going to continue to get better. He's one of our hardest workers and as of right now -- you never say you won't trade anybody because you never know what's going to happen in the next couple of days -- but we will not trade Roy today, or tomorrow probably, or Friday."
Bird did say, however, that he does not consider any of the players on the roster to be untouchable.
"I used to say that but if we can make this team better we've got to take a hard look at it," he said. "There's some guys I would have a hard time trading but there's no untouchables. I do like our core group. I like the way they perform most of the time. Obviously they've got to get better but if we can make a trade with a player or two players and our pick to get a real good player that we know is really going to help us, we know we've got to take a look at it for the franchise's sake."
Bird targets scoring punch as priority
As for who the Pacers might be targeting in the first round, Bird said the team had identified a group of four preferred prospects and expect at least two of those to be available. He would not identify the four, however.
"We need help in a lot of areas and I'd like to get a player that can step in and play right away," he said. "Even though he's a rookie, whoever we take is going to have an opportunity to play and help us."
Regardless of position, Bird said the biggest need was to add offensive punch.
"We need some scoring and hopefully in the draft we can get it," he said. "You'd like to get it down low because that's the closest to the basket. We think Paul George is going to continue to get better and better and he's our two-three.
"If you look at our bench, we need more scoring from different areas. It really doesn't matter the position. Yeah, you'd like a solid big man that can come in and get you 12-14 points a game right off the bat, or if it's a two-guard. Anywhere you can get scoring is going to help. There's a lot of guys out there that maybe aren't great scorers but they're very, very good defensive players and we need some of that, also."
Vogel interviewing assistant coach candidates
Bird continued to indicate Frank Vogel, who posted a 20-18 record as the interim after taking over for Jim O'Brien last season, was the leading candidate for the head coaching job but that no decision was imminent.
"We're talking," Bird said. "Frank's doing all his work and he's out talking to lead (assistant) guys. Just as soon as we get that clarified we'll sit down with Frank and the assistant coaches and talk to 'em and see what direction they're going.
"I've had multiple conversations with Frank. I think Frank deserves a chance. He'll get the first and last interview but I've been talking to other people and we have a lot of interest in the job. Frank's going to get every opportunity to have this job. What we're doing now is going through the process and hopefully it won't take more than a week or two."
Could timing be right for Barac?
Indianapolis (June 20) -- Introduce the topic of Stanko Barac, and Ryan Carr smiles.
"My 7-foot-2 little brother," said the Pacers' Director of Scouting.
The Pacers acquired Barac in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft and have kept close tabs on the Croatian standout. Carr speaks to him regularly on the phone and makes periodic visits to Europe.
"These last couple of years, I've probably talked to Stanko as much as anybody," said Carr. "We have a great relationship. I talk to him all the time, making sure I know what he's going through, how he's feeling through the year. He's a great kid and he has blossomed into a really, really good player and it's been fun to talk with him as he goes through that."
As the Pacers lock in on Thursday's draft, Barac is something of a wild card. He's coming off a breakthrough season with Caja Laboral Baskonia (Spain), taking giant strides in his NBA readiness. The Pacers have a potential dearth of capable bodies in the frontcourt as Jeff Foster, Josh McRoberts and Solomon Jones all are free agents.
But a couple of factors complicate the process. For one, Barac signed a contract extension last November that ties him to his Spanish team through 2015, meaning the Pacers would have to execute a buyout to bring him to the NBA. For another, even if all parties involved considered this the right time to make the move, the looming uncertainty with the league's labor situation is a deterrent.
"Certainly whenever the market opens, I think it's a conversation we're going to entertain and discuss not only with him but his team over in Spain," said General Manager David Morway. "No question about it, he's ready to come over to the NBA. He had a very good year. He's one of the better big men in Europe.
"He's a skilled (center), he's 7-foot-2, he can shoot the ball or score on the block and he knows how to play. It's going to take a period of adjustment but he certainly can become a quality backup in this league and hopefully more."
Stepping into the starting lineup after Tiago Splitter joined the San Antonio Spurs last season, Barac averaged 22.5 minutes, 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in EuroLeague play, shooting .577 from the field and .625 from the 3-point line.
"He's a center, I would say in the mold of a Rasho Nesterovic," said Carr. "He can really shoot the ball but he's also really effective on the block. He understands how to move on the floor. He's not the greatest athlete but his IQ on the floor helps him move in a way that puts him in the right spots.
"He has played for a coach that is disciplined and tough so he knows how to be coached. He has played in a system with a lot of pick-and-rolls, which will help him when he gets here and I think most of all, this year especially he has gained a lot of confidence in himself and in his game after playing behind Splitter for a number of years. This has been a great year for him."
The timing was never right for Erazem Lorbek, a second-round pick of the Pacers in 2005 who became a star in Europe and opted to remain overseas. Will it ever be right for Barac?
"There has to be timing between us and their team coming to an agreement and a time where Stanko feels like he's ready to come," Carr said. "I think he's a good player. I think he could add something to our team and I'd like to see him here but at the same time there are a lot of factors that have to come together."
How to become a draft expert in 3 weeks
Indianapolis (June 17) -- Three weeks, eight workouts and 48 prospect interviews later, I can humbly admit to having become an unqualified expert.
Not on the NBA Draft so much, but on holding a video camera steady while asking questions of players.
Hey, it's not as easy as it looks.
This has been one of the more interesting and entertaining workout seasons in recent memory for a number of reasons.
Wrote a blog about it. Want to read it? Here it goes.
LOCAL INTEREST: The Pacers came right out of the gate with Purdue's JaJuan Johnson in the very first workout on May 26 and if you haven't had a chance to see his appearance on that week's edition of Pacers Crate, you definitely should check it out. He's an impressive person with a great personality.
His teammate, E'Twaun Moore, had the misfortune of being in the same workout as Butler's Matt Howard on June 7. Though Moore is by far the better NBA prospect, Howard's accomplishments at Butler have earned him local legend distinction. Howard probably won't be drafted and might need a year overseas before being NBA ready but if there's a place for Brian Cardinal in The Association, there's a place for Howard.
Indiana State's Jake Kelly worked out on June 6, hoping to show scouts that his injury problems with the Sycamores are in the past and his game is on the rise. And then there was Andrew Warren, the Indianapolis Brebeuf product who starred at Bradley. Take a minute to check out his interview video from the June 7 workout, just go watch his impersonation of President Barack Obama announcing his selection on draft night.
BROTHER ACTS: Kansas twins Marcus and Markieff Morris look very similar but there are some important differences in their games. As Markieff likes to point out, he's the true power player of the two, while Marcus is more comfortable facing the basket. It'll be interesting to see if they beat the draft record of the Lopez twins -- Brook was No. 10 and Robin No. 15 in 2008.
And then were the Thompson non-Twins, Klay and Mychel. Though Klay, a big-time shooter from Washington State, is a much better prospect and a legit option for the Pacers at No. 15, Mychel has a much more engaging personality -- which I suppose one must develop when one fails to shoot as high as 39 percent at any point in one's college career.
WORKOUT WONDERS: I always hesitate to draw too many conclusions about what I see in the workouts, because the media is only allowed for the tail end of the sessions that generally last at least 90 minutes, but it's impossible not to be impressed by some of the prospects.
It didn't take long watching Jimmer Fredette go to work to develop serious concern he won't be available at No. 15 on Thursday. He's a better athlete than you think and has a lot of subtle yet effective moves that he uses to either create shots or space. Everybody knows he has area-code range, but in the workout he looked much more like a future point guard than a college gunner trying to prove he's not a 'tweener. And based on his Crate performance, he has a future as an analyst, say, 15 years down the road.
Kansas guard Josh Selby had no problem getting to the basket against anyone in his workout, dunking easily in traffic and showing scouts he's much more than just a jump shooter. He probably came out at least one year too early but I suspect he'll have a long and productive career.
Much was made (thank you, Michael Grady) of Marshon Brooks' explosive performance in the closing stages of his matchup with Klay Thompson in the June 7 workout. But observers who watched the entire workout said Thompson got the better of Brooks for the balance of the duel, a fact later confirmed by both players.
I didn't notice much from Tyler Honeycutt, the athletic wing player from UCLA, during the workout. But afterward he missed some of the most impressive dunk attempts of the month.
Jeremy Tyler, the guy that caused the huge uproar a few years ago when he skipped his senior season of high school ball to begin his pro career overseas, was not what I expected. I was prepared for a knucklehead but Tyler was very impressive both in terms of his physique and skill set but his intellect and charisma. He's been living with Bob Hill (and family) while playing for the former Pacers coach in Tokyo and appears to have grown from that experience.
YOU SAY 'TWEENER, I SAY VERSATILE: Not sure if this will stick in terms of how this particular draft goes down in history but it sure seems like The Year of the Combo Guard. The Pacers brought in at least a dozen backcourt players that fit that mold -- either they were smallish shooting guard in college that will have to be able to run the point at least part-time to succeed in the NBA, or they were big point guards that will have to show they can shoot it well enough to spend time on the wing.
Of course, if any of them turn out to be along the lines of, say, Jamal Crawford, that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Bird thinks Carlisle's first title won't be last
"Rick puts a lot of time into it and he's very dedicated to the sport but he had a team that was perfect for him," said Bird. "He likes to get ball movement, he likes guys that play hard and I'm not surprised they won. I think Rick's got a future where he's going to win a few more."
Bird and Carlisle became friends when the younger player joined the Boston Celtics in 1984, winning one championship together.
When Bird was hired to coach the Pacers in 1997, he hired Carlisle as one of his two assistant coaches (along with Dick Harter). With Carlisle serving as de facto offensive coordinator, the team won nearly 70 percent of its games in three seasons and reached the NBA Finals in 2000.
When Bird stepped into the team's front office in 2003, one of his first moves was to hire Carlisle to replace Isiah Thomas as head coach and the Pacers responded with a franchise-record 61 victories and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The talented but volatile team soon combusted, however, and Carlisle left the Pacers after a 35-47 record in 2006-07 -- the only losing record, and only non-playoff season, in his tenure as a head coach with the Pistons, Pacers and Mavericks.
Bird has no regrets about the decision to part ways with Carlisle.
"Not really. It was time to move on," he said. "Me and Rick have been friends for a long time and he was ready to go. I'm very happy for him. Hopefully we can get this team better and maybe he'll want to come back someday."
With Dallas, Carlisle had a team that meshed perfectly with his temperament and coaching emphasis. He had solid, proven veterans willing to subvert their egos in the quest for a championship. He had a legitimate superstar in Dirk Nowitzki. And he had a deep roster that afforded him the matchup flexibility he manages so well.
"They've got a lot of talent and they've got some older guys. I don't think their locker room was a problem out there," Bird said. "I think they were all dedicated to get as far as they possibly could and giving themselves an opportunity to win a championship. They got in position to do it and they took advantage of it.
"I thought Miami played very well. They did a good job this year to give themselves an opportunity to win a championship but it was just Dallas' ball movement, Rick made some changes and the guys stepped up and it really helped them down the stretch. He puts (J.J.) Barea in the game and changes tempo and then Jason Terry gets hot and of course Dirk's Dirk. Even when Dirk wasn't shooting the ball well his teammates kept them in the game."
Pacers to work out Faried, Vucevic on Friday
The final schedule pre-draft workout Friday features Morehead State power forward Kenneth Faried and USC center Nikola Vucevic, both projected as mid-to-late first-round prospects by various mock drafts.
A 6-7, 225-pound power forward who has drawn comparisons to Dennis Rodman for his prolific rebounding and overall tenacity, Faried set the NCAA modern-era record with 1,643 career rebounds, averaging 12.3 overall and 14.5 last season (to go with 17.3 points), leading his No. 13 seeded team to a stunning upset of No. 4 Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Vucevic is a 6-11, 260-pound native of Montenegro who has been climbing in the mock drafts on the strength of strong workout performances. He averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds last season at Southern California.
Other participants scheduled are combo guards Andrew Goudelock (College of Charleston), Diante Garrett (Iowa State) and Charles Jenkins (Hofstra) and post prospect Trey Tompkins of Georgia.
Big East standouts hope to enhance draft status
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Such is the case for the six players schedule to work out for the Pacers on Thursday in Conseco Fieldhouse. Though several were accomplished collegians, their NBA Draft prospects are modest.
Big East standouts, Austin Freeman of Georgetown and Rick Jackson of Syracuse, headline the group that also includes Frank Hassell of Old Dominion, Willie Reed of Saint Louis, Mychel Thompson of Pepperdine and Billy White of San Diego State.
The 6-3 Freeman was the preseason Player of the Year in the Big East and averaged 17.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a senior. Though diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes late in his junior season, he has adapted well and did not miss any games last season.
Jackson (6-9, 240), was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2010-11, leading the league in rebounds (10.3, seventh nationally) and blocked shots (2.5). He also led the Big East in field goal percentage (.588) while averaging 13.1 points.
Hassell (6-9, 255) averaged 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds for Old Dominion and had 20 points in the Monarchs' 60-58 loss to Butler in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Reed (6-9, 220) is a slender power forward prospect who averaged 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks as a sophomore at Saint Louis but was suspended for his junior season due to a violation of the school's code of conduct.
Thompson (6-7, 200) is the eldest of three athletic offspring of former No. 1 overall pick Mychal Thompson. His younger brother Klay, considered by many mock drafts as a strong possibility for the Pacers with No. 15 overall in the first round, was a standout at Washington State while Trayce is a baseball player in the Chicago White Sox organization. Thompson averaged 14.6 points and 5.9 rebounds at Pepperdine.
White (6-8, 235) was one of the standouts that led San Diego State to national prominence last season, averaging 10.3 points and 4.4 rebounds. He finished his career as the school's all-time leader in field goal percentage (.600).
This will be the Pacers' seventh pre-draft workout involving a total of 42 players.
Howard hopes NBA teams value intangibles
Going strictly by the measurables, the 6-8, 230-pound Butler power forward lacks prototypical height, bulk and athleticism for an NBA big man, but the more teams see of Howard, the more they tend to like.
He won't rise above the crowd for a thunderdunk, break anybody's ankles with a crossover or rain threes from all over the court.
But he will dive to the floor in pursuit of an errant entry pass and deftly scoop the ball back into the hands of a teammate for the game-winning shot, as he did in one of the workout scrimmages.
"Some things are going to go your way and hopefully some teams do look for that and appreciate those types of things," Howard said. "I think draft success is not measured on drafting guys with intangibles. It's measured on what type of impact player you can get right away. That maybe is a little bit of a challenge but that's just the nature of it and I can't worry about it."
In making consecutive appearances with Butler in the NCAA title game, Howard was the other guy both times. In 2010, Gordon Hayward was the apple of the NBA's eye and wound up a lottery pick. This year, the hotter prospect is guard Shelvin Mack, who could be a first-round pick.
Howard's prospects improved when he shifted from center to power forward and extended his shooting range last season, hitting .398 from the 3-point line while averaging 16.4 points and 7.7 rebounds. When you're an undersized big man, being able to stretch the defense can be a major plus.
"A lot of teams have said, 'Why or when did you start shooting the ball?' I think that has made a really big difference," he said. "I'm looked at as a reasonable prospect because of that."
He has adopted a new look with his locks, as well, shearing the long curls and going with a much more close-cropped style. But that decision was strictly pragmatic and had nothing to do with molding his image.
"It was more that it felt like it was about 110 (degrees) in Minnesota in a workout earlier and I was completely drenched and it was way too hot," he said with a smile. "I figured I might as well try to help myself out a little bit. There were about 80 guys in the gym. I think that was the problem."
A three-time academic All-America and the national Academic All-America of the Year in 2011, Howard clearly is a guy that can do other things besides bruise his knees and elbows in pursuit of a basketball career.
Make no mistake, though: this is exactly what he wants to do. He fully intends to be playing professionally this Fall, even if things don’t work out in the NBA.
"One-hundred percent, I want to play," he said. "It's going to be an interesting situation with the (possible NBA) lockout. I might have a decision to make based on if I'm drafted (or) if I'm not, do I want to take the chance staying over here?
"If they're having a long lockout, maybe you end up getting cut in the middle of the year and you can't go overseas. It's a tough year to be in this situation but I've just got to make the best of it and hopefully make the right decision."
Howard and Wisconsin's Jon Leuer were the only big men in the six-player group Tuesday. Purdue's E'Twaun Moore and former Brebeuf standout Andrew Warren (Bradley) battled premier shooting guard prospects Klay Thompson (Washington State) and Marshon Brooks (Providence), as well as each other.
Moore said he wants to show "that I play hard and that I play defense first. That's something any team can use and that's the first impression I want to leave."
Generally projected as a mid-second round prospect. Moore needs to show scouts the ability to play both guard spots.
"I'm going to be a combo-type guy that can guard point guards and shooting guards," he said, "so make sure I've got my ballhandling skills up and be able to knock down the open shots."
Moore, Howard headline big workout
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But the focus of the Pacers' scouting staff may be more intent on two other prospects among the six due in today for one of the most loaded of the team's six pre-draft workouts to date.
A pair of prolific shooting guards, Klay Thompson of Washington State and Marshon Brooks of Providence, also will be on hand, and both could be strong possibilities for the Pacers to consider with the No. 15 pick in the first round.
The 6-7 Thompson, son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, averaged 22.1 points last season and is considered one of the top pure shooters in the draft. The 6-5 Brooks was second in the nation in scoring at 24.6 and has the full package of moves.
Moore follows Purdue teammate JaJuan Johnson, who worked out May 26, into Conseco Fieldhouse. A 6-4 shooting guard who teamed with Johnson to win 107 games in four years together with the Boilermakers, Moore has s solid shooting stroke and smooth overall game but questions about his athleticism and explosiveness lead to his projection as a mid-second round pick.
Another productive player with a winning pedigree, the 6-8 Howard played a key role in Butler's consecutive trips to the NCAA title game, averaging 16.4 points and 7.7 rebounds last season while being named the Academic All-America of the Year. Undersized for a traditional NBA power forward, Howard needs to show he can hang with bigger bodies.
Also do in are Andrew Warren, a product of Indianapolis' Brebeuf Jesuit, who starred at Bradley. The 6-6 Warren led the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring (18.8), 3-pointers made per game (2.4), free throws made (4.2) and minutes (36.7). His uncle Tony starred for Butler, his cousin Johnny Davis is a former Pacers player and veteran NBA coach and his godfather is former Pacers star Chuck Person.
Matching up with Howard will be Wisconsin's Jon Leuer (6-11), who struggled to a 1-of-12 shooting game in a 61-54 loss to Butler in the NCAA Tournament.
This will be the Pacers' sixth workout, fifth in the last eight days, with a total of 36 players.
ISU's Kelly following NBA dream
Kelly's thought at that moment?
"OK" he said, "this is real."
Having dreamed of the NBA for years, Kelly now has the chance to make it happen.
Most of the other prospects, including UCLA's Malcolm Lee, Georgia Tech's Iman Shumpert and Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins, are relative veterans of the workout circuit. They are on the NBA's draft radar, although as second-round prospects.
Kelly's journey is just beginning and he has a long road to travel, but it couldn't have started at a better place.
The former Indiana State guard, a native of Terre Haute who played part of his high school career at Carmel in suburban Indianapolis, Kelly grew up a Pacers fan and of course played at the same college as Bird and Carl Nicks, the Pacers' scout who is helping run the workouts.
"It's awesome," Kelly said. "Reggie Miller's my favorite player. I've got 1,000 of his cards and jerseys at home and it's just cool to be in this building in front of guys like Larry Bird and Carl Nicks and just be working out with this group of guys.
"Larry's always been great to me. He called me when my mom passed away, he's always stayed in touch."
Kelly's life was forever changed when his mother Julia was killed in a plane crash in Florida in 2008. An honorable mention All-Big 10 selection after leading Iowa in scoring (11.6) that sophomore season, Kelly transferred to Indiana State in order to be closer to friends and relatives.
"It hasn't been hard to focus on basketball," he said. "That's been my escape. It's all I've wanted to do. If anything, it's helped."
Hurdles just kept presenting themselves. A torn left knee ligament shortened his junior season to 12 games. Mononucleosis and a stress reaction in his foot cut his senior season down to 21 games. But he was on the court when the Sycamores won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to clinch the school's first NCAA Tournament berth since 1991. They lost to Syracuse in the first round.
A combination of factors -- the injuries that limited his productivity, Indiana State's equal opportunity offense and the school's relatively low national profile -- all have mitigated against Kelly's stock as an NBA prospect.
"There's definitely more to me than met the eye the last two years," Kelly said. "I tore my ACL my junior year and I was sick basically all of last year. It's just one of those things, it's tough timing with things but the way I played at Iowa and the things I can do now I think will show. …
"I think (scouts) need to see everything. The last two years I haven't been able to show what I can do and I just want to prove everything I can do on the court -- my ballhandling, my shooting, the way I play unselfishly and all that."
Though he hasn't had any workouts until now, he has been working. After finishing Ed Schilling's program at Champions Academy locally, he spent eight weeks training in Phoenix.
"Just been getting in shape, getting healthy and working on my game," Kelly said. "I'm 22 years old, I've played four years of college ball and I'm ready to move onto the next level."
He will have more workouts, in which he hopes to play himself onto the NBA's draft radar. He knows the odds are stacked but he's made something of a habit of overcoming adversity.
Though grounded in reality, he will not relinquish his dream.
"That would mean everything to me, that would make it all worthwhile, all my hard work and everything I've been through," he said. "I just think that would be a dream come true, for sure."
Purdue's Moore, Butler's Howard due in Tuesday
There will be even more local flavor to the Pacers' workouts on Tuesday.
Purdue guard E'Twaun Moore and Butler forward Matt Howard are scheduled to be among the six players to take the court for the Pacers' scouting staff and front office.
The others are Marshon Brooks (Providence), Jon Leuer (Wisconsin), Klay Thompson (Washington State) and Andrew Warren (Bradley).
Of bad memories and brotherly bonds
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Along comes a day like today, however, to remind you why these opportunities must be appreciated.
Maybe there weren't any elite prospects among the six that worked out for the Pacers Friday on the practice court at Conseco Fieldhouse, but there were some impressive and interesting stories.
Brown moving past bad Butler memory
Start with Gilbert Brown.
The name was rattling around in the back of my head for a reason I couldn't quite recall until Michael Marot of The Associated Press jogged the memory. Brown was the guy that missed the free throw with 1.4 seconds left that left the door open for Butler's 71-70 upset of top-seeded Pitt in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Brown was the guy fouled inexplicably near midcourt by Butler's Shelvin Mack. He made the first free throw to tie it but missed the second. Pitt's Nasir Robinson then fouled Butler's Matt Howard battling for rebound position, and Howard made the game-winner with eight-tenths of a second left.
You remember that, but you forget Brown had 24 points, made 8-of-11 shots including 4-of-5 from the arc, with four rebounds and three assists in that game.
"It's tough, it's tough," said Brown of the memory. "That whole game, just looking back at it, the ups and downs of it, going through it, and then coming down to those final seconds with the fouls and the missed free throw, it was tough to swallow at the time but you have to move on because there's to come for me with my professional career.
"You think of it as the past and a moment lost but it only motivates you to be a better player."
Brown averaged 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists for Pitt and is trying to climb onto the draft radar. His is not a popular name in mock drafts, not even in those that project the second round.
"One of the biggest things I'm trying to demonstrate is that I'm a defensive stopper," he said. "I'm capable of guarding one through four at any moment in the game. I'm also a reliable shooter. I want to show them I'm more of a player than they already think I am coming out of Pitt."
Not separated at birth, but soon by the NBA
Markieff Morris is not only trying to carve his own identity as a draft prospect, he's preparing to play basketball without his twin brother for the first time in his life.
He teamed with Marcus through three seasons at Kansas and of course through Prep Charter High (Pa.) and Apex Academy (N.J.) during their high school years. Marcus was always the top scorer, Markieff the defender and rebounder.
"We've always had differences," said Markieff. "I'm a big, he was more of a guard playing big at Kansas because he's versatile. I'm more of a banger, he's more of a three man."
Though both stand 6-9, Markieff has a more traditional big-man frame, with broad shoulders and long arms. Marcus has a better shooting stroke. Both could be drafted in the top half of the first round, with Marcus generally projected as the better prospect.
Is there a brotherly competition to see who goes first?
"It doesn't matter at all," said Markieff. "It might matter down the road, but right now we're both hoping to get drafted and hoping to produce."
So what will it be like, playing without his twin teammate for the first time?
"Shoot, I'm playing without him now, you know what I mean?" Markieff said with a smile. "I've been with him for 21 years. When that time comes I'm definitely going to be prepared for it."
Hoping to follow in George's footsteps
Greg Smith refers to Paul George as his brother, although the two are technically not related.
But Smith is trying to follow his former Fresno State teammate into the NBA, possibly with the Pacers.
"That'd be crazy (to be teammates again)," said Smith. "It'd be great, because he's my brother. Watching him, it's like he's an older brother. Watching him might help me learn the NBA game a little faster.
"Every game I could (this past season), I watched him. I love watching him play because he goes down on the floor, he's going to take charges, he's going to play hard. That's what motivates players. I just love watching him play."
After being named the conference freshman of the year while teaming with George, the 6-9, 252-pound power forward followed up with averages of 11.7 points and 8.1 rebounds as a sophomore.
He believes the attention George brought to the program helped shine enough light on his game to help him emerge as an NBA prospect.
"He showed teams that mid-majors have talent, too," he said, "and it helped a lot."
Due in Monday, June 6
Demonte Harper (Morehead St.), Jake Kelly (Indiana State), Malcolm Lee (UCLA), DeAndre Liggins (Kentucky), Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech) and Brad Wanamaker (Pittsburgh).
Texas' Hamilton among Friday prospects
Indianapolis (June 2, 2011) -- A busy week of workouts, with three in four days, wraps up Friday as the Pacers will bring in six more prospects including Texas swingman Jordan Hamilton.
One of the most productive scorers in the country as a sophomore with the Longhorns, Hamilton (6-8, 228) average 18.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists, shooting .440 overall and .385 from the 3-point line. He has an NBA-ready body and all-around skills including a strong perimeter game.
Four power forwards are due in: Markieff Morris (6-9, 240, Kansas), Jordan Williams (6-9, 247, Maryland), Greg Smith (6-9, 252, Fresno State) and Malcolm Thomas (6-9, 223, San Diego State). Matching up with Hamilton will be Pitt's Gilbert Brown Jr. (6-6, 215).
Morris' twin brother Marcus worked out for the Pacers Tuesday, and both are considered solid first-round prospects. While Marcus has a more polished offensive game, Markieff (13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, .589 shooting) has size and strength advantages and could be the most NBA-ready of the two.
Williams (16.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, .538 shooting) was one of the most improved players in the country as a sophomore last season. He has the physique of a classic NBA power forward.
Smith (11.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, .574 shooting) was a teammate of Paul George, the Pacers' first-round pick in 2010, at Fresno State. He also has a big frame and is considered a strong dunker but scouts will want to see how his post game is developing.
One of the key players in San Diego State's remarkable run last season, Thomas (11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.10 blocks, .536 shooting) is a slender big man who'll need to show he can bang with bigger bodies.
Brown was a mainstay at Pittsburgh and averaged 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season while shooting .458 overall and .413 from the 3-point line.
Friday's workout brings the total to four workouts thus far involving 24 players.
Jimmer out to prove he's more than a shooter
As he made his way around the 3-point line, Fredette made his first 12 attempts and wound up needing just 22 shots to make the required 18 to complete the around-the-world drill. Even unguarded, 82 percent from the NBA 3-point line is remarkable -- moreso when you consider this display came after an intense workout of nearly 90 minutes with five other NBA Draft prospects for the Pacers Tuesday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
His ability to put the ball in the basket at Brigham Young not only made him the consensus national player of the year, it turned him into something of an international phenomenon.
"Where he shot the ball from, what he did for his team, I enjoyed watching him, seeing how many points he was putting up," said Duke's Nolan Smith, who matched up with Fredette in the workout. "It was quite a show."
Despite his prolific scoring ability (Fredette led Division I with a 28.9 average in 2010-11), the BYU guard is not widely projected to be a lottery pick in the June 23 draft. That works out nicely for the Pacers, who hold the first non-lottery pick, No. 15 overall.
For Fredette, it's the same old story -- the shooter has to prove he's a player. Is he quick enough to play point guard in the NBA? Is he athletic enough to create his shot at this level? Can he defend even a little?
Somebody asked Fredette how he'd deal with matchups like Chris Paul and Derrick Rose.
"The guys in the NBA are still trying to figure out how to defend those guys," he said, "and that's why it's turning into a point guard league."
Make no mistake, the 6-2, 195-pound Fredette considers himself a point guard. And he thinks he'd fit well with the Pacers.
"I think they play the style of play I like," he said. "They have a good point guard in Darren Collison, they use a lot of ball screens, get up and down the floor. They've got a couple of good big guys that are still young and Danny Granger, I played with him when I was on the USA Select Team and got to know him a little bit.
"So they have some very good players and obviously did well in the playoffs this year. They're a good young team and I think I'd fit in well."
Fredette didn't have to look far to find reason to believe a hotshot from a second-tier school in a non-BCS conference could carve a prominent swath in the NBA. The guy supervising the workout from his bleacher seat was Larry Bird.
"When he came in I think people doubted his athleticism a little bit. Same here," Fredette said. "It's just all about playing basketball, being able to go out there and compete, play to the system and be a winner like he was."
Honeycutt, Singler due in Wednesday
Smith's teammate at Duke, Kyle Singler, and UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt are among the six players due in for the Pacers' third pre-draft workout on Wednesday.
Joining those two first-round prospects are Joffrey Lauvergne (6-10, 240 pounds, France), Jimmy Butler (6-7, 222, Marquette), Jon Diebler (6-6, 200, Ohio State) and Jamine Peterson (6-6, 225, Providence).
One of the most productive players in Duke history, Singler (6-8, 230) averaged 17.7 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Blue Devils in 2010-11. Honeycutt (6-8, 187) averaged 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots and entered the draft after his sophomore season.
Fredette biggest of big names due Tuesday
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The consensus national Player of the Year after leading Division I scorers at 28.9 for Brigham Young last season, Fredette headlines a cast that also includes Duke stalwart Nolan Smith, Kansas' top scorer Marcus Morris, Tennesee freshman standout Tobias Harris, Florida big man Vernon Macklin and former high school star-turned international curiosity Jeremy Tyler.
Despite his flawless college pedigree, Fredette (6-1, 195, senior) is not widely projected as a lottery pick due to questions about his overall athleticism and ability to create his own shot and defend at the NBA level. Nonetheless, he was by far the most productive scorer in the nation and could prove to be a dynamic point guard prospect.
Like Fredette, Smith (6-3, 190, senior) was a highly productive collegian who needs to prove his position in the NBA. He handled the point while Kyrie Irving was injured but spent most of his career as a shooting guard. He shouldered a heavy load of the Duke offense last season and produced 20.6 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
Morris (6-9, 235, junior) led Kansas in scoring the past three seasons and continually developed his game. Primarily a post player as a freshman, he shot 34.2 percent from the 3-point line last season while averaging 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds.
Harris (6-8, 225, freshman) was impressive in his only year with the Volunteers, averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, showing excellent versatility and excellent instincts for the game, but like Morris needs to show he has the ability to hang with NBA big men inside.
Macklin (6-10, 244, senior) spent two seasons as Roy Hibbert's teammate at Georgetown before transferring to Florida, where he averaged in double figures his last two seasons, including 11.6 last year when he shot .593 from the field but .451 from the free-throw line.
Tyler (6-11, 260) caused a national sensation two years ago when he announced his intention to skip his senior season at San Diego High School in order to begin his professional career abroad. Things did not go as planned. He played just 10 games in Israel his first season before quitting the team. Tyler signed with Tokyo Apache, where he was coached by former Pacers mentor Bob Hill and appeared in 33 games, averaging 15.4 minutes, 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Johnson has combination of experience, upside
When a player is said to have "huge upside," the translation goes something like this: he's young and talented and can run and jump and dunk and do other neat things; whether or not he can actually play remains to be seen.
When you're a freshman or sophomore, that's when you can have huge upside, because there is still mystery to your game. If you're a four-year player, however, scouts have seen you so many times, have such thick files, have so many hours of film, the book on you already has been written.
Guys with upside are exciting, intriguing, risky. Guys with experience, well, aren't.
And then there is JaJuan Johnson of Purdue, who hopes to demonstrate experience doesn't necessarily eliminate the possibility of upside.
One of six players in the Pacers' first pre-draft workout Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse (along with power forward Justin Harper of Richmond and guards Josh Selby of Kansas, Chris Wright of Georgetown, Corey Fisher of Villanova and Darius Morris of Michigan), Johnson is trying to impress scouts with the fact that he is far from a finished product.
"A lot of teams say you played four years, you might not have as much upside," Johnson said. "But the biggest thing with me, I didn't start playing basketball till the seventh grade so I'm still learning and still developing each year. In college I felt like I added something to my game and I feel like I can definitely continue to do that at this level."
His numbers at Purdue speak of a player still very much on the rise. His vital statistics -- minutes, points, rebounds, assists and blocks -- all improved in each of his four seasons, from 16.6 minutes, 5.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.0 blocks as a freshman to 35.4 minutes, 20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 2.3 blocks as a senior.
Being named the Big 10 Player of the Year for his senior season certainly was an honor but might prove to be something of a draft albatross. Run down the list of former winners and it's hard to find many even in the NBA, let alone in prominent roles (notable exceptions include Evan Turner and Devin Harris).
Though exceptionally athletic at 6-9, 220 pounds, he knows he doesn't carry enough weight to bang with NBA big men. His strength, his ability to defend multiple positions, and perhaps his shooting range will be scrutinized closely by scouts prior to the June 23 NBA Draft.
"I think the biggest thing with me is I definitely don't want to lose any quickness, athleticism, things like that,": he said. "I want to keep putting weight on the right way. I don't want to rush into it and become slower and things like that. I think once I get to around 235, 240, I think I'll be able to kind of just tone it up."
It's no secret the Pacers have a need at power forward. Whether Johnson fits the profile, or whether they'd even expect the No. 15 pick to be a need-filler, is uncertain. But Johnson, who played high school ball locally at Franklin Central before heading to Purdue, believes he'd be a good fit with his hometown team.
"The Pacers definitely have huge upside," he said. "They obviously gave Chicago all they could handle (in the playoffs) and I definitely think they have a nice core of players and the franchise has turned it around. I definitely feel like I fit within the system, just bring the athleticism, energy, quickness, and be able to hit that 15-to-18-foot shot."
At the moment, Johnson does not project into the middle of the first round. Most of the top mock drafts show him on the bubble between the first and second rounds. It's unlikely he'd slip as far as the Pacers' second pick, No. 42 overall.
Wherever he winds up, Johnson intends to prove the book on his game should remain open, with many more chapters to be written.
Purdue's Johnson headlines first pre-draft workout
Indianapolis (May 24, 2011) -- That two prominent power forward prospects, including Purdue's JaJuan Johnson, are in the first group due for pre-draft workouts Thursday comes as little surprise.
That position is considered one of primary need for the Pacers, who hold the No. 15 pick in the June 23 NBA Draft.
The other four members of the group, however, are either point guards or combo guards, an area where the Pacers would seem to have plenty of depth.
Johnson and Richmond's Justin Harper, two of the highest-rated senior big men in the draft, will be joined by guards Corey Fisher (Villanova), Darius Morris (Michigan), Josh Selby (Kansas) and Chris Wright (Georgetown) Thursday afternoon. The workouts are not open to the public.
Johnson, widely projected as a mid-to-late first-round prospect, was the Big 10 Player of the Year, a member of the conference's all-defensive team and a consensus All-American for the Boilermakers. The 6-10, 220-pound Johnson averaged 20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks as a senior. Along with teammate E'Twaun Moore, Johnson played in 140 consecutive games with 107 victories, sharing the school's career records.
Though his athleticism is unquestioned, Johnson must answer questions about his strength and ability to bang inside with NBA big men.
Harper is also a slender big man (6-10, 225), who led Richmond with 17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds, shooting .534 from the field and .448 from the 3-point line. He averaged 18 points and 6.3 rebounds in the Spiders' run to the Sweet 16, including 22 points and nine rebounds against Kansas.
Selby was one of the most highly touted freshmen in the country entering Kansas but a nine-game suspension by the NCAA for accepting impermissible benefits followed by a stress fracture in his foot spoiled his season. He appeared in just 26 games, averaging 20.4 minutes, 7.9 points and 2.2 assists. At 6-3, he's undersized for a shooting guard and will have to demonstrate the ability to play both guard spots.
Morris declared for the draft after a solid sophomore season at Michigan, averaging 15.0 points and 6.7 assists.
Wright averaged 12.9 points and 5.3 assists as a senior at Georgetown but missed three games late in the season with a broken bone in his left hand and the Hoyas weren't the same. He returned for the NCAA tournament but shot just 3-of-13 in a loss to Virginia Commonwealth.
Fisher was a second-team All-Big East selection after averaging 15.6 points and 4.8 assists for Villanova. He was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award for the nation's top point guard but was bothered by right knee tendinitis the final month of the season.
Player Analysis: Lance Stephenson
6-5, 210 pounds, 20 years old (9/5/90) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: A prolific high school player who left college after one season in which he earned Big East Rookie of the Year honors at Cincinnati, Stephenson experienced something completely new and foreign in 2010-11 -- sitting on the bench. It proved a humbling and challenging experience for the extremely talented but extremely raw player from New York. Stephenson did not play at all in the first 57 games but interim coach Frank Vogel gave him a look in March. Stephenson played in seven straight games, averaging 13.1 minutes and produced 4.6 points and 2.7 assists with .387 shooting from the field. The Pacers lost six of those seven, however, and Stephenson would play only limited minutes thereafter.
LOOKING AHEAD: Stephenson's biggest problems came in containing a brash personality that sometimes rubbed veteran teammates, not to mention coaches, the wrong way. Late in the season, Vogel publicly demoted him to No. 4 on the depth chart at point guard -- behind previously banished veteran T.J. Ford -- in what was described as a disciplinary move. Team President Larry Bird continued to show confidence in Stephenson in his postseason press conference, suggesting the lack of leadership in the locker room contributed to the problems. Stephenson has undeniable talent to go with an NBA-ready body but needs to work on his shooting stroke, not to mention his humility, in the offseason.
KEY STATS: Stephenson's best stretch of the season came on a three-game road trip to Oklahoma City, Dallas and Houston in early March. He totaled 18 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in 54 minutes while making 6-of-17 shots. In his other nine outings, he totaled 19 points, five assists, 13 rebounds and 7-of-22 shooting in 61 minutes.
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2011-12 season.
OUTLOOK: It's easy to see the impact a 6-5, 210-pound point guard that can get to the basket at will could have on the Pacers, particularly if he can develop a more consistent mid-range jump shot as a complement. But building strong relationships with teammates, developing trust, learning tendencies, are more vital to a point guard than any other position on the floor. If Stephenson is to begin to fulfill his enormous potential, the Pacers will need to see more maturity and better judgment on and off the court.
Player Analysis: Brandon Rush
6-6, 210 pounds, 25 years old (7/7/85) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: After opening the season with a five-game NBA suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, Rush hit the floor with a flourish. He averaged 13.0 points in his first 20 appearances, scoring in double figures 14 times and at least 20 points three times including a season-high 26 (with a career-high six 3-pointers) against Toronto on Dec. 6. For a player who had been known for slow starts but strong finishes in his first two seasons, this was particularly encouraging. But the trend reversed and Rush's productivity fell off thereafter. He averaged 7.4 points in his final 47 appearances, scoring in double figures just 12 times. He averaged 11.0 minutes, fifth among the team's wing players, and 3.2 points in the playoffs.
LOOKING AHEAD: Entering the final guaranteed season of his rookie contract, Rush has much to prove because he has shown little progress in three seasons. The only statistical category that reflects growth is free-throw percentage (.755 last season after making less than 70 percent the previous two). He has the ability to dazzle when so inclined but too frequently plays without purpose. Always a strong 3-point shooter, he hoped to improve his ability to finish around the rim last season and started well in that regard but lost ground as the season moved along. He has too much talent to settle for being a 3-point specialist but without significant improvement in the offseason, that appears to be his chosen path.
KEY STATS: Rush ranked 23rd in the NBA in 3-point percentage last season (.417) and moved past Roger Brown into ninth place on the franchise's career 3-point list, finishing the season with 291. His career 3-point percentage of .402 ranks fourth in franchise history, ahead of both Reggie Miller (.395) and Danny Granger (.385) -- not to mention older brother Kareem (.389). The three ahead of him are Chris Mullin (.441), Troy Murphy (.413) and Peja Stojakovic (.404).
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2011-12 season with a qualifying offer for 2012-13.
OUTLOOK: There is no shortage of ability but for whatever reasons, Rush has not translated that into productivity. Not that long ago, the Pacers felt about Rush much the same way as they feel about Paul George now, so his is a cautionary tale: it takes more than tools to build a career. While Rush is still young enough to show another level to his game, he has yet to show the motivation necessary to get there.
Player Analysis: A.J. Price
6-2, 180 pounds, 24 years old (10/7/86) Photos | Profile | Video
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LOOKING AHEAD: A savvy player with an excellent feel for the game, Price has excelled as the backup because he plays aggressively, consistently pushes the tempo and gets the ball moving. He shows signs of becoming a capable defender. A superior shooter at UConn, Price struggled mightily in that area last season, particularly from the 3-point line. Assuming he can stay away from the charity games and have a healthy summer for conditioning and strength training, Price should make the strides next season that were hoped for in 2010-11.
KEY STATS: It was an all-or-nothing season from the 3-point line for Price. In the eight games in which he made multiple 3-pointers, he was 19-of-43 (.442) from the arc. In the other 42 games, he shot 22-of-106 (.208).
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2011-12 season.
OUTLOOK: With Darren Collison entrenched as the long-term starter and Lance Stephenson a bigger, more athletic challenger behind him, Price will be challenged to maintain his role as the prime backup. At times, he looks like a guy that could start for half the teams in the league because of his ability to run a team; his teammates tend to respond well to him on the court. Consistency of effort has never been an issue, but consistency of productivity has been, not uncommon for young players, particularly point guards. A popular player in the locker room and the community, Price figures prominently into next season's plans.
Player Analysis: James Posey
6-8, 217 pounds, 34 years old (1/3/77) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: The hope was that Posey's experience, his two championship rings (with Miami and Boston) and his veteran leadership would help the otherwise young Pacers. Though he played regularly under Jim O'Brien, coming off the bench in 41 of the first 44 games, Posey played rarely under Frank Vogel, making just eight appearances after the coaching change. A capable defender willing to take a charge, Posey was simply too much of a liability on the offensive end to warrant significant playing time. He shot just .336 overall and .316 from the 3-point line and wound up posting career lows in games (49), minutes (17.1), field goal percentage, rebounds (3.0), assists (0.7), steals (0.5), blocks (0.1) and points (4.9).
LOOKING AHEAD: Part of the issue with the Pacers is positional fit. Most of Posey's minutes came at power forward, where he defended with vigor but lacked the size and rebounding ability to be as productive as necessary. For most of his career, he has been a wing player, dividing minutes between shooting guard and small forward, but there simply is no room in Indiana's rotation at either spot. Advancing age as robbed some of the athleticism that enabled him to be a lock-down defender for much of his career.
KEY STATS: Of Posey's 241 field goal attempts, 212 came from the 3-point line, setting an NBA record for highest percentage of shots attempted from the arc (.880) in a single season.
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2011-12 season.
OUTLOOK: A Bruce Bowen-type role seems the best scenario for Posey, who could contribute as a defender and 3-point specialist, assuming he regains his stroke. As the Pacers invest their minutes in developing young players, however, playing time will be tough to come by for Posey as long as he remains in Indiana.
Bird gets back to business
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Indianapolis (May 17, 2011) -- To illustrate just how different things are for Larry Bird this offseason, consider his response when asked about tonight's NBA Draft Lottery:
"I didn't even know it was tonight," he said with a laugh. " … I'm glad we're not there. "
For the past three years, the team's fortunes have focused on the ping-pong balls, as Bird made the annual trip to Secaucus, N.J., to see if luck would smile upon the Pacers. It didn't, so he has leaned on the more reliable approach of faithfully executing a solid plan, which yielded a playoff berth and a promising performance in the first-round loss to the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.
His own return secured after a meeting last week with owner Herb Simon, Bird can now get back to business in what promises to be a very busy offseason. Not only does he have ample salary cap space with which to pursue free agents to complement a young roster that reached the playoffs for the first time in five years, he must hire a head coach and make decisions about virtually every position on the basketball, scouting and training staff.
The coaching job was the primary topic of discussion at Bird's media briefing on Tuesday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Bird called interim coach Frank Vogel a "front-runner" for the permanent job, Mike Brown and Rick Adelman as possibilities.
"I don't think we need to make the decision right away but obviously I feel Frank did an excellent job for us," Bird said. … A lot of people out there feel Frank's probably going to get the job but it's a process and we want to do everything we can possibly do to get the right guy in here."
A veteran head coach with previous stops with the Rockets, Warriors, Trail Blazers and Kings, the 64-year-old Adelman is considered one of the leading candidates to for the Lakers' job. He ranks eighth in NBA history with 945 career victories.
"I like Rick. He's done excellent," Bird said. "He had some many injuries down there (in Houston), they had a good team and he still won a lot of games. I don't know. I'll probably make a call just to see where he's at. I hear the Lakers are interested in him. Rick's a very good coach. We interviewed him last time. He's a guy that gets a lot out of his players so he could be one of the guys we call."
Brown, who was Rick Carlisle's top assistant with the Pacers from 2003-05, posted a 272-138 record in five seasons with the Cavs. Fired after losing in the second round of the playoffs in 2010, Brown served as an ESPN analyst this past season.
"There's a lot of guys under consideration," said Bird. "I like Mike. Mike did an excellent job when he was here. I thought he did a fantastic job in Cleveland but we have other guys in mind, also."
Bird addressed a number of other issues.
On his meeting with Simon: "He assured me that he wants to put the best team he possibly can on the court, he wants to do what our fans are asking us to do, get a competitive team, and do a lot of things we want our players to do in the community. Overall, I think he really liked the direction. Actually, he's all-in to get the best team he possibly can because he wants to get some excitement around here and he wants the fans to support the team."
On using the team's cap space: "You can have all the money in the world and it really isn't about the money. It's about the players you get and how they perform together. If you watch our team play you know what we need and that's what we're going to target -- needs. Big-name players are fine and dandy but they've got to fit in your system and they've got to fit in with the group we have. There's a lot of players out there we like and when free agency starts I think we'll be a player."
On trading vs. free agency as the primary vehicle for change: "Right now, we've been talking to a few teams and it seems like there's more activity now before the draft than there ever has been. I wouldn't be surprised if you see some trades around the league. There is more activity but if we can do something now, I'm all for it. … I do believe if we can get something done now it's even better for us."
On the 2011 NBA Draft class: "I don't think this is a very strong draft. There will be some players that do well in our league but there's a lot of kids that didn't come out."
Player Analysis: Josh McRoberts
6-10, 240 pounds, 24 years old (2/28/87) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: McRoberts established himself as an up-and-coming power forward with a 2010-11 season that was not only the best of his brief career, but startlingly so. He entered the season with career totals of three starts, 273 points, 211 rebounds, 62 assists and 32 blocked shots in his first three years in the NBA and blew those numbers out of the water with 51 starts, 533 points, 382 rebounds, 150 assists and 57 blocked shots. Though he moved to the bench with Tyler Hansbrough's promotion to the starting lineup for the final month of the season, McRoberts proved equally productive in both roles. As a starter he averaged 23.6 minutes, 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot .537. As a reserve he averaged 18.8 minutes, 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and shot .574. In fact, McRoberts was so productive he ranked 18th in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating per 48 minutes (26.15). Danny Granger's per-48 rating was 25.6. He scored in double figures 10 times and had three double-doubles. He flirted with a triple-double on Feb. 9 against Charlotte with 12 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists, and had a tip-in with 1:21 left that put the Pacers ahead for good.
LOOKING AHEAD: One of the best athletes at his position in the NBA, McRoberts has remarkably jumping ability, can handle well enough to bring the ball up himself and initiate the offense on occasion, is a good passer and has made major strides with his shot. Though he has four seasons of experience he still is just 24 years old, thus his game is still emerging. Because of his athleticism and skill set, he is not a traditional power forward, but rather a hybrid in the Josh Smith mold.
KEY STATS: McRoberts shot just 8-of-34 (.235) from the 3-point line in his first three NBA seasons, but was 23-of-60 (.383) in 2010-11.
CONTRACT STATUS: Free agent.
OUTLOOK: There's no doubt the Pacers would love to re-sign McRoberts, who proved not only a valuable piece in the frontcourt rotation but a popular teammate because of his ability to serve as something of a glue player. Because of his knack for the spectacular, however, there's every possibility he has captured the attention of other NBA teams coveting a player of his unusual skills, which could push his price beyond the Pacers' budget. If Frank Vogel returns as head coach, he has made clear his belief in Hansbrough as the starter, which places a ceiling on what McRoberts could accomplish in his hometown.
Player Analysis: Solomon Jones
6-10, 245 pounds, 26 years old (7/16/84) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: Though relatively young and athletic, Jones was not one of the players of that profile that benefited from the coaching change, slipping out of the frontcourt rotation almost entirely. He was on the active roster just six times in 38 games under interim Frank Vogel and made just three appearances. He played regularly in the first half of the season, averaging 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 36 games. He shot very well from the line early, hitting 19 of 22, but went 21 of 37 the rest of the way. He followed the same pattern from the field, shooting 7-of-36 in his last 14 games. He had the first double-digit rebound game of his career, grabbing 10 off the bench in the Nov. 22 victory over Miami.
LOOKING AHEAD: One of the reasons, perhaps the biggest, Jones was not a factor under Vogel is that despite his youth and skill set, he has essentially established his ceiling. While he has proven a capable reserve, Jones has not offered much evidence to suggest he could blossom into a more prominent player with more playing time. In 247 career NBA games, he has never scored more than 14 points or pulled more than 10 rebounds.
KEY STATS: In five NBA seasons, Jones' career highs are 63 games, 13.5 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.7 blocked shots. The minutes and rebound averages were established in 2010-11, though he played in just 39 games.
CONTRACT STATUS: Free agent.
OUTLOOK: The fact he was not on the active roster for any of the playoff games against Chicago, a team that challenged the Pacers' frontcourt depth and athleticism, is not a positive indicator for Jones' future in Indiana. A free spirit who has thus far relied upon his physical gifts to establish an NBA career, Jones needs to show the work ethic and commitment to improvement in order to take his game to a higher level.
Player Analysis: Dahntay Jones
6-6, 210 pounds, 30 years old (12/27/80) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: Another of the many examples of players that benefited greatly from the coaching change, Jones was an afterthought under Jim O'Brien but became a key member of the rotation under Frank Vogel. O'Brien was a system coach who required perimeter players to be 3-point threats, so Jones did not fit. Vogel built his approach around the players' strengths and took advantage of Jones' defensive ability as well as his offensive strengths -- the ability to get to the basket either off the dribble or in post-up situations. Jones made just nine appearances in the first 44 games but played in 31 straight under Vogel, averaging 15 minutes and 7.5 points. Out of the rotation in the first two playoff games, Jones was called upon to support Paul George in the defensive assignment against Derrick Rose. After racking up 75 points in the first two games of the series, Rose was limited to 63 (a 21.0 average) on 18-of-57 (.316) shooting in the final three.
LOOKING AHEAD: The most prominent free-agent signing of Larry Bird's tenure as President of Basketball Operations, Jones was brought in to strengthen the perimeter defense and provide some veteran leadership. He has proven a good defender and a better offensive player than advertised. His 10.2 average in 2009-10 was a career-high and he was very productive as a scorer last season in relatively limited minutes. One of the few players in the locker room with significant playoff experience -- he started all 16 games in Denver's run to the Western Conference Finals in 2009 -- Jones has established himself as a solid role-player.
KEY STATS: Jones started 23 of his first 34 games with the Pacers, but just five of the last 130.
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2011-12 with a player option for 2012-13.
OUTLOOK: Something of a vagabond -- two colleges (Rutgers and Duke) and five NBA teams (Boston, Memphis, Sacramento, Denver and Indiana) -- Jones has bounced around from role to role in two seasons with the Pacers. He opened as a starter, then became a top reserve, then headed to the end of the bench before returning to the rotation under Vogel. His role next season could depend upon Bird's offseason moves, one of which could be to bring more scoring to the shooting guard position. With Mike Dunleavy a free agent and Brandon Rush's name frequently mentioned in trade rumors, Jones could emerge once again as a key reserve next season.
Player Analysis: Roy Hibbert
7-2, 275 pounds, 24 years old (12/11/86) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: After a rigorous summer of conditioning, Hibbert hit the floor running in the 2010-11, averaging 16.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.06 blocks in the opening month. But his offseason work proved to be a double-edged sword. Though he was indeed more mobile and agile due to reduced weight, he also sacrificed some strength and bulk and opponents took advantage inside. By any measure, Hibbert had a solid third season overall, finishing third on the team in scoring (12.7), while leading in rebounding (7.5) and blocked shots (1.75). He also had a team-high 22 double-doubles, His game came back to life with the coaching change, as interim Frank Vogel shifted the offensive focus from the 3-point line to the post, and Hibbert averaged 13.2 points and shot 49 percent in the final 38 games. He averaged 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 44 percent in the first-round loss to the Bulls.
LOOKING AHEAD: Hibbert is much more than just a big body. He has the ability to score with either hand in the low post, is an excellent passer for a big man and a solid shot-blocker. Combine those skills with a true passion for the game and commitment to improving and the Pacers have every reason to be optimistic about his growth. No longer has the need to re-shape his body to keep pace with an up-tempo offense and can focus his conditioning on building strength, particularly in his lower body to stabilize his base to become much more of a consistent force on the block.
KEY STATS: After averaging 7.9 personal fouls per 48 minutes and fouling out 10 times in his first two seasons, Hibbert averaged 5.5 fouls per 48 and fouled out just once in 2010-11.
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2011-12 season, with a qualifying offer for 2012-13.
OUTLOOK: Gauging progress is different with young centers, who rarely burst upon the scene and often struggle for consistency in their early years. Rather, they tend to improve gradually over time (see: Rik Smits). The growth appears less dramatic but is no less significant. Hibbert is still very much in an upward trajectory, with the only question surrounding his peak. He also has leadership skills that could, and should, rise to the surface as he becomes more confident in his role. Already one of the most popular players on the roster because of his enthusiasm and effort, Hibbert isn't that far away from becoming one of the top centers in the Eastern Conference.
Player Analysis: Tyler Hansbrough
6-9, 250 pounds, 25 years old (11/3/85) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: Uncertainty surrounded Hansbrough entering the 2010-11 season, primarily because he missed most of his rookie year and much of his offseason training due to the effects of post-concussion syndrome and vertigo. Though Troy Murphy had been traded away in the offseason and the power forward position was wide open, Hansbrough found playing time hard to come by under former coach Jim O'Brien, picking up nine DNP-CDs in the first 32 games. With Vogel's installation as interim coach, Hansbrough's game came to life. He had perhaps the best stretch of any player on the team in March, scoring at least 20 points in five straight games and averaging 21.0 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting .579 from the field in a 10-game stretch. But as defenses began to adapt, taking away his pick-and-pop jumper, Hansbrough had to adjust and his numbers declined. The playoffs reflected his regular season. He shocked the Bulls with 22 in Game 1 but totaled just 34 in the final four games, though he wound up as the Pacers' second-leading scorer (11.2) in the series.
LOOKING AHEAD: Few, if any, players approach the game with the same intensity and drive as Hansbrough, who throws everything he has into every game. The only question is if he has enough room for improvement to warrant a full-time starting job or if he is better suited to a reserve role. It's probably too early to draw any conclusions either way in that regard, considering his relative inexperience and lack of ability to prepare fully for either of his two seasons in the NBA. He has a strong mid-range game and is effective, though sometimes awkward looking, in the post, with a jump hook that he releases from odd angles yet manages to find the basket. He could improve as a rebounder and defender.
KEY STATS: After playing a limited role in the first 32 games, Hansbrough averaged 26.1 minutes, 13.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in the final 48, including 29 starts.
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2011-12 season with a team option for 2012-13.
OUTLOOK: With the frontcourt rotation possibly heading for a major shakeup this summer (Jeff Foster, Josh McRoberts and Solomon Jones all are free agents), Hansbrough certainly did enough on 2010-11 to carve a prominent role in the team's plans for 2011-12 and beyond, but his eventual role remains to be seen. Though he blanches at the suggestion he was for all practical purposes a rookie this season, it really was the case given the amount of time he had missed previously. It will be very interesting to see the impact his first full summer of conditioning and training in three years will have on Hansbrough's game. He could be a much different, and better, player when he reports for training camp in October.
Bird gets chance to finish the job
Indianapolis (May 10, 2011) -- Larry Bird will get the chance to finish the job.
Bird, who delivered on his promise of a playoff team in his third year at the helm, will remain as President of Basketball Operations, Pacers owner Herb Simon said today after the two met in Los Angeles.
Simon said he was "quite pleased" with the team's improvement in 2010-11, which included a 20-18 record under interim coach Frank Vogel and the first playoff berth since 2006, and said he was "glad Larry is staying to help us continue in the positive direction we are going."
There was no announcement as to the term of the agreement. Bird is working in the final year of his contract. Simon also said David Morway will remain as General Manager.
Bird said one of his first priorities will be "to address the coaching situation."
The list of candidates begins with Vogel, who took over for Jim O'Brien on Jan. 29 and instituted the changes that led to the team's turnaround. Bird and his staff -- most of whom also are at the end of their contracts -- can also dive into preparations for the June 23 NBA Draft while evaluating possible trades and free agent signings assuming the league's marketplace opens in July.
Bird's status was uncertain after his remarks in an April 28 press conference that he hoped to remain but would wait until meeting with Simon to make his decision.
Since taking over from Donnie Walsh in 2008, Bird has almost completely turned over the roster while cutting the payroll. Of the 15 players that ended 2010-11 with the Pacers, 13 were drafted, acquired or signed in the last three years. The only two that pre-date Bird's tenure are Mike Dunleavy and Jeff Foster, who are among the team's five free agents.
Joining Dunleavy and Foster on the free-agent list are T.J. Ford, Josh McRoberts and Solomon Jones as the Pacers reportedly will clear roughly $34 million from their payroll, giving Bird unprecedented salary cap space with which to continue to build the roster.
"We're in a great situation here," he said in April. "We do have some young talent that obviously they've got to get better as they grow, but we're in position where we can be a player in the free agent market. I know the type of players I'd like to get, it's just a matter of if we can get 'em."
Bird made it clear in April he enjoyed his job and felt confident about his ability to make moves necessary for the Pacers to compete at a higher level in the Eastern Conference.
"I've always said there's 30 jobs like I have and I think it's the best job you could possibly have," he said. "Yeah, there's some ups and downs but I've been in this business for 31 years, I know a little bit about it, I enjoy it, I love the games and I really love the playoffs for some reason and I really like my players.
"I've seen them grow. I know we have a lot of holes we have to fill but we're in a situation now where we can do it. I don't know if we can do it all next year but we've got to continue to get pieces and put this thing together."
Player Analysis: Danny Granger
6-9, 228 pounds, 28 years old (4/20/83) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: Though statistically the 2010-11 season may have looked like a step back for Granger, the greater reality is that as the team shifted its offensive focus from the perimeter to the post, his game had to adapt. He led the team in scoring (20.5) for the third season in a row, though it marked a second consecutive season of decline from the career-high 25.8 in 2008-09. His field goal percentage (.425) was a career low. There's little doubt of his productivity to the team's success. In the 20 games when he scored fewer than 16 points, the Pacers were 2-18. And he continued to be one of the most deadly 3-point shooters in the league, ranking sixth with 157 made, his fifth consecutive season with at least 150. The only other player in franchise history with as many is Reggie Miller.
LOOKING AHEAD: Under Frank Vogel, Granger began to rely less on the 3-pointer and more on penetration and post-ups, a trend that could serve him well in the coming seasons. Granger's 3-point attempted dropped from 5.8 under Jim O'Brien to 4.5 under Vogel, while his free throw attempts increased from 5.5 to 6.4. As he approaches his 30s, Granger will benefit from further developing the skills necessary to get to the line more frequently a la Paul Pierce, a player Vogel believes is a solid example for Granger. A strong defensive player when he entered the league, Granger took strides toward regaining his commitment to that phase of the game under Vogel and has the ability to be one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. Continued improvement of his ballhandling skills will only make him that much more of a threat, offensively.
KEY STATS: Already second to Miller in franchise history in 3-pointers attempted and made, Granger is ahead of the Indiana legend's pace. Through six seasons, Miller was 714 of 1,860 from the 3-point line. Granger is 808 of 2,099. Their percentages are almost identical (Miller at .384, Granger at .385).
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2013-14 season.
OUTLOOK: As the Pacers continue their climb up the ladder in the Eastern Conference, Granger may have to make the biggest adjustments. Not only will young players like Roy Hibbert, Paul George, Darren Collison and Tyler Hansbrough grow into bigger roles on offense, it's more possible than ever that a prominent player or two could be acquired through trades or free agency. He has been the face of the franchise for several years and filled the role honorably but it's quite possible Granger will have to learn how to share that duty in the years to come.
Player Analysis: Paul George
6-8, 210 pounds, 21 years old (5/2/90) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: The highest Indiana draft pick since Erick Dampier in 1996 at No. 10 overall (Jonathan Bender was No. 5 in 1999 but was drafted by Toronto and acquired by the Pacers in August of that year), George had to hang on tightly to survive the rookie roller-coaster. With Brandon Rush out, he opened the season in the rotation. But Rush returned and George headed to the bench for 16 straight games, 15 on the inactive list. One of the key byproducts of the coaching change to Frank Vogel was a bigger role for George, who started the final 19 games and played in the last 53 straight. He was called upon to be more of a scorer with the second unit but was not a primary option as a starter, with Vogel asking George to focus primarily on defense, rebounding and energy and he provided that in large doses -- so much so that the young coach assigned the rookie as the primary defender against league MVP Derrick Rose in the first-round playoff series.
LOOKING AHEAD: George emerged from the 2010-11 firmly entrenched in not only the starting lineup but the team's long-range plans. He'll need to add some muscle to his slender frame during the offseason while tuning up his jump shot and tightening his ballhandling. Though he shoots effortlessly from distance, George made just 29.7 percent from the 3-point line, which could be traced to a stroke that produces a sideways rotation on the ball. He has very active hands on defense and could become one of the league leaders in steals with additional experience and is an effective rebounder, particularly for a shooting guard.
KEY STATS: George averaged 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 19 starts, shooting 34 percent from 3-point range. He averaged 8.0 points and 3.6 rebounds as a reserve, shooting 28 percent from the arc.
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2011-12 season, with team options for the following two seasons.
OUTLOOK: More than any other player on the roster, George has the imprints of stardom all over his game. He has all the raw materials -- length, athleticism, quickness, hunger and passion for the game -- as well as a positive personality. If he can knock the rough edges off his offensive game, he and Danny Granger could easily become a 40-point combination at the wing positions for many years to come. The team's improvement won't completely hinge on his growth but George certainly is a linchpin for the future of the franchise.
Player Analysis: Jeff Foster
6-11, 250 pounds, 34 years old (1/6/77) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: Though not actually the oldest player on the roster (James Posey beat him by three days for that particular honor), Jeff Foster served in the elder statesman's role for the Pacers in 2010-11. The lone link to the Reggie Miller glory years, Foster was a rookie when the team reached the NBA Finals in 2000, although he wasn't on the playoff roster. One of three players to serve at least 12 seasons in Indiana, Foster ranks fourth in franchise history in games played (753), third in offensive rebounds (2,083) and fifth in total rebounds (5,206). He missed 17 of the first 19 games with injury issues but just nine thereafter, averaging 6.3 rebounds in just 16.8 minutes per game. The lone veteran to survive the youth movement under interim coach Frank Vogel, Foster kept the much younger Solomon Jones on the bench for most of the season's second half, including the playoffs.
LOOKING AHEAD: Coming off a 2009-10 season in which he played just 16 games before back surgery, Foster established himself as a player that can be highly productive in relatively short minutes. As the Pacers look to bolster their frontcourt rotation with younger, more athletic bodies, his role could further diminish -- or even be eliminated. He said after the postseason concluded he hoped to remain with the Pacers for many years to come and there's little doubt the franchise would like to retain this valued veteran under the right conditions.
KEY STATS: Foster ranked fifth in the NBA win average of 17.8 rebounds per 48 minutes played, the highest of his career for a full season.
CONTRACT STATUS: Free agent.
OUTLOOK: Though Foster's value to the Pacers is, and has been, apparent, whether he fits in the big-picture plan moving forward remains to be seen. One of three free agents in the frontcourt rotation (along with Josh McRoberts and Solomon Jones), Foster could be highly attractive to a team that believes itself to be one veteran big man away from championship contention. It is difficult to imagine an Indiana team without Foster but given the uncertainty on so many fronts this summer, it must be considered a real possibility.
Player Analysis: T.J. Ford
T.J. FORD
6-0, 165 pounds, 28 years old (3/24/83) Photos | Profile | Video
LOOKING BACK: With the acquisition of Darren Collison, Ford headed into a season as a backup for the first time since joining the Pacers in 2008 and handled the role well. He played in the first 38 games, including three fill-in starts, and scored in double figures seven times. His competition for playing time, as it turned out, wasn't Collison but rather A.J. Price, who supplanted Ford as the backup point guard shortly before the coaching change in late January. Ford did not play at all under Frank Vogel until the final two regular-season games, when he moved up the depth chart by default when rookie Lance Stephenson was dropped from the rotation. Ford made two relatively brief appearances in the postseason against Chicago.
LOOKING AHEAD: He is still relatively young at 28, still jet-quick, still able to create off the dribble, still a proven clutch playmaker and still a solid defender, so Ford should have a several productive years left. His future, though, does not appear to rest with the Pacers. The team reportedly came close to trading him each of the past two Februaries and now that he is a free agent, he can seek his own opportunity. The Pacers are grooming young trio of Collison, Price and possibly Stephenson at the point.
KEY STATS: Ford's averages of 5.4 points and 3.4 assists both were career lows, as were his totals of 41 games played, three starts and 773 minutes. The past two seasons he shot just 14-of-82 (.171) from the 3-point line, a vexing decline considering he was a .318 career shooter from the arc, including .337 his first season with the Pacers.
CONTRACT STATUS: Free agent.
OUTLOOK: Ford appeared headed for stardom before the severe neck injury that short-circuited the development of his career in Milwaukee and admittedly did not handle well his battle for playing time with Jose Calderon in Toronto. He was nothing but a solid, respected veteran with the Pacers. Though his playing time dwindled, Ford did not grumble, accepting the circumstances with class and grace. That should serve him well moving forward.
Player Analysis: Mike Dunleavy
MIKE DUNLEAVY
6-9, 230 pounds, 30 years old (9/15/80)
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LOOKING BACK: After two seasons dealing with major knee surgery and the long road back, Dunleavy entered 2010-11 healthy and optimistic that he could get his career back on track and he opened well, averaging 14.6 points in his first nine game, including 31 in the epic blowout of Denver -- 24 in the third quarter alone when he hit all seven of his shots including five 3-pointers. He also had a game-winning tip-in to beat New Orleans in late December, but those turned out to be the regular-season peaks for the veteran. He started 44 of the first 54 games before breaking his left thumb in Washington in late February, an injury that required surgery. When he returned 20 games later, rookie Paul George was entrenched as the starter and Dunleavy finished the season in a reserve role. He did experience a breakthrough with the first playoff trip of his career but he averaged just 14.4 minutes and 5.0 points on .350 shooting in the five-game loss to the Bulls.
LOOKING AHEAD: Because of his well-rounded skill set and instincts for the game, Dunleavy is a highly effective player who could be a sought-after free agent in a market that lacks in star power. He is a perfect fit for a team that relies heavily on a motion offense because he plays so well without the ball and his knee no longer is a question mark. In the right situation where he could fully exploit his ability to play multiple positions, Dunleavy could be one of the top sixth men in the league.
KEY STATS: Dunleavy was the Pacers' fourth-leading scorer during the regular season (11.2) and was second in 3-point percentage (.402). He also contributed 4.5 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game. In his 44 starts, the Pacers were 21-23.
CONTRACT STATUS: Free agent.
OUTLOOK: When Jim O'Brien was still the head coach, he made no bones about his desire to re-sign Dunleavy because the veteran wing was the quintessential player for his system. But with O'Brien gone , the identity and style of the next coach uncertain and the emergence of George as the starter at shooting guard, Dunleavy's future with the Pacers also is up in the air.
Player Analysis: Darren Collison
DARREN COLLISON
6-0, 160 pounds, 23 years old (8/23/87)
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LOOKING AHEAD: As tough as it is to handle the point guard position in the NBA, that transition has been exponentially more difficult for Collison, who played for four head coaches with four distinctly different systems in his first two seasons. He is locked in as the starter heading into 2011-12 and beyond. As a smaller point guard, he needs to build strength and stamina while protecting his quickness. The Pacers would like to see improvement as a one-on-one defender, as well. A positive personality with a solid work ethic, there's no reason to doubt Collison will continue to improve and only gain a firmer grasp on his position.
KEY STATS: Collison's 13.2 scoring average represented a slight increase over the 12.4 of his rookie season, but his assists dipped to 5.1 (from 5.7) and his shooting percentages also declined to .457 (from .477) and .331 from the 3-point line (from .400). He averaged 5.4 assists while shooting .471 in 38 games under Vogel.
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2011-12 season, with team a team option for 2012-13.
OUTLOOK: The most talented point guard the Pacers have had since Jackson, Collison essentially leveled off in terms of productivity in his second season and needs to take a significant step forward next year to cement his status with the team and re-establish himself as a rising star.
