Training camp two weeks away — 10 Pacers questions

Written on September 16, 2014 by Scott Agness

The “offseason” has nearly come and gone. We are two weeks from the start of Indiana Pacers training camp (Sept. 30).

Much like the NFL, the NBA has become a year-round league affording teams, players, and reporters alike very little off time.

The Pacers season is right around the corner…

For the Pacers, they played through May in the Eastern Conference Finals. Even before their season concluded, the team had prospective players in for workouts. After exit interviews over the first weekend in June, the staff turned its full attention to the NBA Draft. The Pacers didn’t have a first-round pick — they traded it in July 2013 to Phoenix for Luis Scola — and when assessing their cap situation along with players available at 57, they opted to trade the pick to New York.

Afterwards, Larry Bird bluntly said, “Well, that was a waste of two weeks.”

When the Pacers lost out on Lance Stephenson in free agency, they had to go to Plan C. They signed Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles, Damjan Rudez, and Shayne Whittington. A few weeks later, Paul George went down — changing the team’s outlook for the upcoming season. From contender to fringe playoff team. There is no plan to replace George’s contributions.

Heading into the 2014-15 campaign, Frank Vogel and his entire staff are back for their second full season together. Media day will be held on Monday, Sept. 29th with camp opening the following day.

For the record, I’m officially calling this season “The Year of Discovery.”

Prior to camp, below are 10 key items that need to be addressed:

Solomon Hill is expected to have a much larger role in his second NBA season.

  1. How much of this season should be about this group, and how much should be with the future in mind?
  2. More to that, at this point is it worth signing a player using the disabled player exception?
  3. Frank Vogel is on the last year of his second deal. Almost two years (Jan. 7, 2013) after becoming the interim head coach (and taking over for his mentor Jim O’Brien) on Jan. 30, 2011, team officials extended his deal through the 2014-15 season. This upcoming season, without George and Stephenson, will be his toughest test yet. Should he receive an extension prior to the season or will management let the year play out?
  4. How long will Ian Mahinmi’s shoulder keep him out? Is it anything serious or something that may linger?
  5. Does the team have what he needs at the wing spot to get through the season?
  6. Did Roy Hibbert get his mind right over the summer?
  7. What can be done about the offense? New scheme? More effective player usage?
  8. Can the coaches better utilize Luis Scola, as Argentina showed during FIBA World Cup play just how effective the 34-year-old’s game can be when utilized more than just in pick-and-roll situations?
  9. How involved will Paul George be with the team? How can he benefit?
  10. Will the team play the safe move – and probably the right call – and officially declare George out for the season?

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