Each week, I’ll answer a collection of questions sent to me via Twitter, @ScottAgness. Tweet me your question, or email it to me for the chance to have yours included.
Sorry, I’m late to getting to these. Enough with the delay, let’s get going.
@G_A_Golden: What position do you think the Pacers should target in the draft?
Without a first-round pick – they traded their pick to Phoenix last July in a deal that brought Luis Scola to town – the Pacers have limited options with their only selection, as of now, at 57. At that point, their best hope is that they can find a sleeper (or I suppose that somebody slips because of an issue, maybe health or personality related, and having the belief that they can fix it). Having a end-of-the-draft pick doesn’t mean they can’t get an impact player, only that their odds are lower. In 1999, the Spurs drafted Manu Ginobili at 57 – so it can happen.
@Franpro31: Do you see the Pacers moving up in the 2014 draft?
Thanks for leading me into another option for the team. Where they are at right now, coming off two straight appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals, this team is close. Close to the next level. Close to making their first Finals appearance since 2000. What this team has to be about right now is the present because they have a great opportunity. Other teams are going to get better and they need to as well. They’ll listen to offers, maybe propose a few if a player they’re high on slips. Right now, I’d say they hold steady at 57 but if the price is right, it wouldn’t surprise me at all.
@ThomasAnnam24: What is George Hill like in practice? Chances of getting Rondo?
That’s hard to say because media is only allowed in for the final minutes – if that. He’s great in the locker room and is easy to get along with. He treats his job as the professional that he is. George recognizes that this past year was his most difficult of his career. There were many things that frustrated him, his game included. His teammates got on him to be more aggressive and when he was, good things happened. Roy Hibbert and Hill are the fourth and fifth options, so big numbers on the offensive end aren’t easy. This is an important summer for him and he knows it. He likes being a Pacer and understands he has to raise his game a couple notches – especially at $8 million a year.
As for Rondo, who is a lot to handle, I don’t think their chances are very high.
@pacers3124: Would the pacers have taken Leonard in 2011 draft if they kept the pick? PG was taken the yr before. If not, who?
Good question. I’ve tried to have this answered by numerous Pacers officials but they won’t go on record about it, for obvious reasons. My feel is that Leonard was very high on their draft board. When Larry Bird’s mind is made up, he makes it happen. In 2009, he drafted a hard-working, reputable player in Tyler Hansbrough rather than one of the handful of talented point guards. That’s what he felt they needed at the time. Obviously, he’d later pay for that and in 2011 he wanted his point guard – so he made a deal for the ‘hometown hero’ in George Hill.
@ATplace2be: With West and Scola approaching the end of their respective careers, who might be suitable replacements at PF?
Presently, that isn’t a big concern. West, the backbone of this team, is under contract for at least next season and then he has an option for 2015-16. Luis Scola, who is still primarily being paid by Houston under the amnesty provision, has a non-guaranteed deal with the Pacers but was mostly solid in his work last year. He didn’t quite stack up like I expected him to, but I think part of that was fitting in and learning his role off the bench with the second unit. As we’ve seen over the years, that has been hard for every Pacer.
@Hungryhippie08: Why can’t Vogel utilize the players correctly? And why do they have to run a set play every single possession?
There’s no question that their offense needs to be refined for next year. Taking care of the ball, getting into sets, and throwing quality entry passes have to be of the utmost importance. The Pacers were too loose with the ball, part of which came as a result of their attacking style. Too frequently, the ball was stagnant and we heard”RED!” coming from the Pacers’ bench – meaning the shot clock was under five seconds. I don’t believe Vogel is using players incorrectly. He absorbs everything, from how guys play and interact with each other to what the analytics say about specific lineups. What absolutely needs to be solved is the bench’s productivity level because it has failed them in each of the past two postseasons.
Thank you all for your questions this week. Keep them coming.