RealGM Analysis
2007-2008 Finish: 36-46
2008 Draft Picks: 11th, 41st
Pre-Draft 2008-09 Projected Starters:
PG Jamaal Tinsley
SG Mike Dunleavy
SF Danny Granger
PF Jermaine O?Neal
C Jeff Foster
Key Reserves:
SG Marquis Daniels
PG Travis Diener
SF Shawne Williams
PF Troy Murphy
What the Pacers Do Well:
The Pacers were a few injuries away from capturing a playoff spot last year. They made positive strides under new Coach Jim O?Brien and look forward to returning to glory in the East next season.
Danny Granger made a case for being considered for an All Star selection next season. He averaged a team and career-high 19.6 points per game while also contributing 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 40.4% from downtown.
Also having a career year was shooting guard Mike Dunleavy. In his first full season as a Pacer, Dunleavy poured on 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while hitting from 42.4% from deep. He and Granger were a dynamic duo and look to build upon their success next season.
When Jamaal Tinsley was on the floor, the Pacers were clearly a better team. He put up a solid 11.9 points and 8.4 assists in his time on the floor over 39 games. His backup also stepped up big time this year and proved he belonged in the NBA. Travis Diener started 21 games in his first season as a Pacer and produced a solid 6.9 points and 3.8 assists while filling in for the oft-injured Tinsley.
Shawne Williams made a name for himself early in his second year in the league, putting up a solid 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in the month of November, including a 21 point, 11 rebound game in an upset victory in Denver. He had moments of brilliance throughout the season but finished with a very respectable 6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds, still only at the age of 22.
Greatest Areas of Improvement:
Upgrade at Point Guard
While Tinsley is a very serviceable point guard option while healthy, he has not been very reliable over the past five seasons. Only once has he started over 43 games since 2002-03 and can no longer be counted on to guide this team to the playoffs. They need some fresh blood at the position, and no, I?m not referring to Travis Diener.
Legit Big Men
Same goes for franchise cornerstone Jermaine O?Neal. JO has started more than 47 games only once since 2003-04 and is basically being paid $21M a year for the next two years where he?ll likely only be available for roughly 40 games per year. Other than him, their bigs are the menacing Jeff Foster, the lanky long range shooting Troy Murphy, career underachieving Ike Diogu, and the substance abusing David Harrison. Not exactly a rotation of high quality options in the paint?
Who?s Gone Number 11 Recently?
Over the past five years, the Warriors and Magic have dominated this selection spot. The Warriors used the 11th pick in 2003 and 2004 on two foreign born players who have thrived in their system and have been key members of the team since being drafted. Conversely, the Magic have swung and missed twice when picking 11th overall. They toyed with the legendary Fran Vazquez of Spain, only to get nothing at all from him over the past 3 seasons. Then, they went the other way and selected the top player in college basketball. Redick also never panned out and is mired on the bench, wishing he had a chance to land with another squad. The jury is still out on Acie Law, but he is looking like the real deal after his rookie season in Hotlanta.
2007
Acie Law, Atlanta Hawks
2006
J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic
2005
Fran Vazquez, Orlando Magic
2004
Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors
2003
Mickael Pietrus, Golden State Warriors
Who Should the Pacers Target?
For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Pacers should target in this year?s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina?s Prospect Report piece.
This is the guy the Pacers need. Yes, they have had Jamaal Tinsley starting at the point, but that is no longer a sentence taken seriously in Indiana. Augustin is the team leading point guard whom they need to get the ball into the hands of all of their shooters. He would be an immediate upgrade and would contend for starting minutes at the onset of the season.
While many fans in Pacer Nation are crossing their fingers for Augustin to drop to 11, it is entirely possible he will no longer be an option when David Stern calls their name. However, if Augustin is off the board and DeAndre Jordan is still chillin? in the Green Room, they might as well call themselves blessed. Jordan is the type of monster this team needs. Get him to shadow Jermaine O?Neal for a season or two, and we could be looking at one of the best power forward/center combos in recent memory come 2010.
Westbrook would fit next to Mike Dunleavy like a glove. The rangy point guard out of UCLA is a defensive menace and has the ability to distribute the ball and score when necessary. Next to Dunleavy?s playmaking ability and stroke from the outside, this potential backcourt duo could be deadly.
Who Do the Fans Want?
According to Andrew Perna?s Indiana Lottery Summit, an interactive column featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Pacer Draft discussion, the fans of Indy have made it known that they would an upgrade at either the point guard or power forward position. There really was no clear-cut consensus among Pacer Nation as they were able to mention 13 different players they?d like to select with this pick. However, I tallied up their wish lists and DeAndre Jordan and Russell Westbrook came in behind the eventual fan decision with the eleventh overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft:
D.J. Augustin, PG ? Texas
Picks Over the Past Five Years
The Pacers were without a pick last year but made some solid picks in recent years past. Danny Granger was an absolute steal with the 17th pick in 2005, and Shawne Williams was taken in the same slot the following year and is beginning to show flashes of similar potential.
2007
None
2006
Shawne Williams, 17th
Alexander Johnson, 45th
2005
Danny Granger, 17th
Erazem Lorbek, 46th
2004
David Harrison, 29th
Rashard Wright, 59th
2003
James Jones, 49th
Previous Editions of the 30 Teams, 30 Days Series
30 Teams, 30 Days: Chicago Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Miami Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Minnesota Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Seattle Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Memphis Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: New York Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: LA Clippers Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Milwaukee Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Charlotte Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: New Jersey Draft Preview
Whom do you want the Pacers to draft at number 11? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions.