Getting down to the end here with the roster breakdowns. I've gone through the Centers, Power Forwards, and Small Forwards so far.
Free Agents at Position:
- Marquis Daniels (team option) - I'm really not sure if the Pacers are going to pick up the option on Daniels right now or not. I don't think that I would, but that is just the cheap side of me talking. Daniels does a lot of things very well, but doesn't do one particular thing great. If he was brought back, that is great, if not, then it is a cap saving move that I fully understand. With Mike Dunleavy being out for an extended period of time, I don't know that the team would want to go with two younger players at this spot.
Under Contract at Position:
- Brandon Rush - Will be the starter going into the season unless there is some kind of trade, which I don't see happening. A very capable defender and should start to get his offensive game clicking.
- Mike Dunleavy - It is hard to say how long he will be out, but it hurts the team in a few ways. If he can't play because he is injured, then the team is losing out on his skills and their second leading scorer. Also, the amount of money that Dunleavy makes sort of puts a stranglehold on the cap number for the Pacers.
Possible Draft Picks at Position:
There are a lot of slashers in this group, but who is the best? James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, and Tyreke Evans will most likely be gone by the time the Pacers pick. That leaves the next group of Terrence Williams, Chase Budinger, Wayne Ellington, and Gerald Henderson.
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Budinger, but he is knocked for his "lack of passion", which I don't get. Not everyone has to be a rah-rah type of guy on the court, why does it matter that he isn't? Williams is sort of like what I said about Marquis Daniels. I don't like Henderson's game and I'm not sure how Ellington will fit into the NBA.
A few guys that I like in the second round are Jermaine Taylor, Lester Hudson, and Stefon Jackson. All are scorers in the mold of Morris Almond and Rodney Stuckey. Though, Stuckey has transitioned into more of a hybrid point/shooting guard this season.
Possible Free Agents at Position:
- Eddie House - has a player option for Boston. Could be a great perimeter threat for the Pacers.
- Dahntay Jones - high energy level, solid defense. Perfect sixth man type.
- Keith Bogans, Damien Wilkins, Morris Almond, and Rashad McCants would all provide scoring off of the bench.
Possible Trade Targets:
Like with the Small Forward situation, I don't see a trade for another Shooting Guard. It would clutter and complicate things. Actually, let me backup just a little. The only way I see a trade for a shooting guard would be if Brandon Rush were to be included in that trade for a different starting two-guard, say a Joe Johnson type of player. But, with his salary and the salaries of most of the good two-guards in the league, Indiana would have to include a few contracts in the trade.
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