NBA Franchise of the Year: Passion. Pride. Pacers.

[mfbmike]

Nice pick in Hansbrough. Is he going to have to work for the starting jor or is he the starter from the get-go?

Isn't Sean starting anyway? Nice pick though

I don't know. I'm torn. Turns out Psycho T is rated 82. Sean is still around a 78 or so. I might just have Hansbrough start and have Sean play heavy minutes off the bench. Sean can also play C. :hand:

[Flight24]

quick correction-- pick 5 james harden went to arizona state not marquette.

nice work though man

[Deviant]

WTF?!?!?! This morning, you won a game...

...now, you're in the draft. TF mike?

Congrats on completing the season, man!

[Irish]

This dynasty is really good, ive been quietly following from around page 67.

Got me back into playing 2k9 again.

[Primetime]

Hansbrough? Rush is going to delete this thread for you picking him.

[Flight24]

hansbrough fills in for wilcox quite nicely.

[Skins2K9]

congrats on finishing the season Mike.I hope you go far in your next season

[DoubleDeuce]

Following! THIS IS AWESOME

[Primetime]

This chise is teh secks.

[mfbmike]

Pacers Offseason: Bird Not Jumping Into Free Agency Pool Just Yet



Even with some pretty big names like Carlos Boozer, Shawn Marion, and Mike Bibby testing free agency waters this offseason, Indiana Pacers GM Larry Bird isn't ready to jump into the free agency pool just yet.

"Looking at our roster right now, we don't have any holes," explained Bird. "We want to go after people who are difference-makers over the next few years. We've got a chance to have a major haul of cap room next year. Very few teams in the NBA will be able to match that figure. So we just don't want to sign people for the sake of signing them. We're trying to improve the team without spending our room just to spend it."

"It's an over-the-cap league. There aren't that many teams that have room virtually every year. It can be a real advantage to have the room. Sometimes the best deals you can make, are the ones you pass on."

While the Pacers may pass on signing a big name this free agency, the chances of them not making any moves are slim to none.

"We have some deals we are working on behind the scenes to better our team. We don't want people to think we are just sitting on our hands here."

This free agency class is actually one of the weakest in years so it's no surprise to see Bird shying away from signing one this year. However, next year, there will be a surplus of talent that could potentially fall into free agency. While the Pacers may not be able to take place in the bidding wars for Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh; Bird has his eyes wide open for another big name in 2010. Possibly Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, or Amare Stoudemire.

[mfbmike]

Pacers Offseason: Don Nelson Wants Jamal Crawford Gone



The Warriors swapped Al Harrington for Jamal Crawford earlier this past season mostly because Don Nelson and Harrington couldn't get along. Now, Nelson wants Crawford to leave, telling the guard in a recent team meeting that if he doesn't grab hold of his own destiny by opting out, then the Warriors will make every effort to trade him.

News of Nelson's message to Crawford was first reported last week, though it wasn't until recently that Nelson finally confirmed that's exactly what he said. "I've always been very open and honest with my players and I did tell him he probably would either opt out or we would move him this offseason," Nelson said, He continued:

"Wherever Jack plays, there's not many minutes left. Wherever Monta plays when he's healthy, there won't be very many minutes left," Nelson said. "Those positions should be backed up by somebody making less than 8 or 9 - or whatever his contract is - million dollars a year. So he makes too much money as a backup player."

Here's the problem: Crawford did not opt out, and a quick glance at his contract and a basic understanding of the current economic climate should have told Nelson that he wouldn't have. Crawford is slated to earn more than $19 million over the next two years. Had he opted out, he might not have made that money up in three or four years, let alone two.

Honesty can be refreshing, but telling a player he has no future in the organization does little to inspire confidence, let alone trade value. The rest of the league now knows just how desperate the Warriors will be to move Crawford this summer, destroying any chance to get equal value in return.

Seeing how desperate the Warriors are to trade the combo gaurd this summer, it's rumored the Pacers and Warriors are in deep trade talks. It is no secret that T.J. Ford's inability to shoot the 3 has frustrated Pacers GM Larry Bird on more than one occasion last year. Ford's ability to force opposing teams into turnovers with his stingy defense and push the ball back up court quickly in transition could appeal to the Warriors who were only 2 years ago, one of the most exciting teams to watch in basketball with their run and gun, uptempo, and high scoring style of play.

[LC AAU]

Get him dude, and DerMarr

[Mit]

Don't get Crawford. Haha. I personally don't like him. Who do you plan to pursue this offseason, though?

[Skins2K9]

get Crawford

[Justo]

sign crawford