The Indiana Pacers are walking a fine line as the NBA prepares for what could end up becoming a lengthy lockout. 

While the possibility of labor unrest, and eventually lost games, would be damaging to the NBA and its increasing popularity thanks to a highly successful postseason, it would also further delay one of the most important summers in franchise history.

Regardless of whether the next collective bargaining agreement features a “hard” salary cap, the Pacers figure to have $10 million to $15 million in spending cash once free agency begins.

The handiwork of president Larry Bird and general manager David Morway has allowed Indiana to trim their once-bloated payroll nearly in half. They hovered around $66 million for the 2010-11 season. They are currently at approximately $37 million for 11-12 with eleven players under contract.

The Draft Night Deal With San Antonio

While the reaction has been largely positive in the wake of Indiana’s decision to trade the rights to three players to the Spurs in exchange for guard George Hill, there have been some critics. 

It’s true that the Pacers parted with a player in Kawhi Leonard that was worthy of being selected higher than 15th overall, but Hill filled a clear hole in the roster.

They also sent the rights to Davis Bertans, selected 42nd overall, and the draft rights to Erazem Lorbek, a second-rounder back in 2005, to San Antonio in the deal.

The crux of the deal is Leonard for Hill. The Pacers entered the draft in need of a bigger guard with the ability to create his own offense and a prototypical power forward.

As I hinted at earlier, Leonard turned into one of draft night’s biggest surprises. He slid down the board, making it hard for anyone in the mid-teens to pass on him. Having targeted Hill for quite some time, the Pacers and Spurs consumed a trade that should help both franchises in the long-term.

Indiana gets their creative two-guard and San Antonio parts with Hill, who they weren’t going to shell out money to re-sign next summer, while adding youth on the wing. Leonard goes from a situation where he would have battled for minutes behind Danny Granger and Paul George to an organization that molds players well and has been a contender for more than a decade.

Monetarily, Hill is very affordable for the 11-12 season.

Adding Hill, an Indianapolis native, not only filled a need, but it was also a public relations boon. Fans are starting to come around to the Pacers as they continue to rebound from a rough half-decade, but they still ranked last in attendance this past season.

Hill’s ability to guard on the perimeter will also free George to defend his own position and focus more on developing an offensive game that the Pacers feel could turn into one of their most dangerous weapons.

Where Do They Go From Here?

Asking for patience in recent years, Bird and Morway circled the Summer of 2011 as a watershed moment.

The two most important questions are:

-- Who will the Pacers target?

-- How much of their future flexibility will they sacrifice?

One thing is certain. They aren’t going to overshoot their boundaries and try to enter the fray for a player like Dwight Howard or Steve Nash in 2012. The Pacers know their limits and have developed a plan of attack that they’ll follow as closely as possible.

The Pacers have eleven players under contract for next season, including A.J. Price and James Posey. I mention those two because the addition of Hill might end up dooming Price (his deal isn’t protected) with Indiana, while Posey’s expiring $6.9 million contract could prove to be a nice trade chip.

Of Indiana’s own free agents, it’s still possible that Mike Dunleavy, Jeff Foster and Josh McRoberts could return. Depending on who the Pacers are able to sign or acquire via trade, they could end up being one of the deepest teams in the league.

Here is the current depth chart without incumbent free agents:

Perimeter: Darren Collison, George Hill, Dahntay Jones, A.J. Price, Lance Stephenson

Wing: Danny Granger, Paul George, Brandon Rush

Paint: Tyler Hansbrough, Roy Hibbert, James Posey

It’s probably safe to assume that Foster is re-signed, giving the Pacers twelve players. Bringing Dunleavy back would give Indiana the luxury of depth, but it wouldn’t necessarily be a prudent use of both roster and cap space. 

That leaves Indiana to add at least a pair of players this offseason. Acquiring those players via trade(s) is a possibility, but it’s much more difficult to predict who might be available and at this point there isn’t much credence to rumored deals. The structure of it all is about to change.

Looking at the list of available names, there are a few that pop out as good fits for this team. They need guys that can provide a veteran presence without being too old or a determent to their established core.

Based on pure speculation, these names would be on my white board if I was compiling Indiana’s shopping list:

Reaching A Bit?

David West – There are a number of variables that could make this completely impossible. West could cost too much or even re-sign with the Hornets. The other issue is that West clearly wants to win now.

James Jones – His shooting and past with the franchise are huge plusses. The reason I consider him a reach is that he’ll likely have his pick of contenders thanks to his 40.2% career three-point shooting percentage.

Seems Possible

Carl Landry – If West is too costly or prominent a name for Indiana, Landry is a nice second option at power forward.

Reggie Evans – He would be a perfect fit if the Pacers don’t re-sign Foster. He’d fill in as the lunch pail worker devoid of offensive ego.

Brandan Wright – They can’t afford to swing-and-miss, but taking a chance on a once-highly thought of prospect could yield a huge return.

Vladimir Radmanovic – He wouldn’t be a sexy signing, but his length and shooting would help spread the floor. Shooters are always valuable.

Von Wafer – He would add more size to the perimeter and bring the knowledge of learning how to win during his time in Boston.

Waiting Until ’12 Might Be Best…

Craig Smith – He’s undersized for a power forward, but plays much bigger than his size. 

Brian Cardinal – He fits well on a team like the Mavericks and wouldn’t make as big of an impact with the Pacers.