2007 Indiana Pacers NBA Season Preview
The Indiana Pacers are in serious trouble. They've never fully recovered from the Ron Artest fiasco a couple seasons ago and seem to be stuck in between contending for the playoffs and completely rebuilding. They really ought to go for the latter.
Jermaine O'Neal is obviously unhappy, and why shouldn't he be? He's watched the Pacers go from just a piece or so away from contending for an NBA title to being a guaranteed lottery team. Mike Dunleavy Jr. has always been overrated, Jamaal Tinsley has worn out his welcome and Danny Granger, though talented, is still a year or two away from playing a key role for a playoff calibar team. Now might be the best time to trade O'Neal. He's turning 29 this October and he's scheduled to make about $18 million this season. With or without him, the Pacers are going nowhere, so they might as well go nowhere with more cap space and some future prospects to build around.
However, Larry Bird isn't stupid. He knows better than to trade O'Neal for junk or simply to clear cap space. Still, one would think that a player of O'Neal's calibar should be able to attract sufficient talent to make a deal worth it.
Statistics Projections/Depth Chart
- Center: Troy Murphy 11.5 ppg, 9.3 rbpg (back up: Jeff Foster)
- Power Forward: Jermaine O'Neal 20.7 ppg, 9.1 rbpg (back up: Ike Diogu)
- Small Forward: Mike Dunleavy 13.3 ppg, 5.4 rbpg (back up: Shawne Williams)
- Point Guard: Jamaal Tinsley 11.6 ppg, 6.3 apg (back up: Travis Diener)
- Shooting Guard: Danny Granger 16.1 ppg, 4.8 rbpg (back up: Marquis Daniels)
Key Losses
None worth noting.
Key Additions
Nothing much to report here either. So far, Kareem Rush might be the team's biggest addition.
Team Rumors
Jermaine O'Neal continually comes up in trade talks. First, the Chicago Bulls pursued him, then it was the New York Knicks. Currently, the Los Angeles Lakers have been rumored to be trying to lure him away from the Pacers and have reportedly made offers that include Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum.
Also, the Pacers have been trying to deal point guard Jamaal Tinsley for some time. Don't be surprised if he gets dealt sometime before the season starts.
Prediction
The Pacers will be awful this season, mostly because they won't trade Jermaine O'Neal because teams won't offer them what the Pacers feel he's worth. As a result, O'Neal will be unhappy, which will cause players' morale to be extremely low. Basically, this will be a continuation of how last season ended for them. They were in the running for the playoffs before dropping like a rock at the end of the season. Expect them to win 10 fewer games than last season, giving them a record of 23-59, which will be good enough for a decent lottery pick in 2008.
Fantasy Spin
The Pacers are looking sick, and that goes for its leader, Jermaine O'Neal as well. He didn't seem motivated or healthy at the end of last season and fantasy owners can expect similar nagging injuries, especially if the Pacers struggle. Don't gamble on him too high in your fantasy draft.
Danny Granger might be a steal between picks 70 or 80, depending on how your league is set up. Mike Dunleavy's inconsistent, but the Pacers are thin, so he might not be a bad bet either. Jamaal Tinsley can still play, but don't expect him to be healthy for an entire season. Also, it's up in the air as to whether or not Troy Murphy can become the same rebounder he was in Golden State.
NBA Eastern Conference Team Previews: Atlanta Hawks; Boston Celtics; Cleveland Cavaliers; Chicago Bulls; Charlotte Bobcats; Detroit Pistons; Indiana Pacers; Miami Heat; Milwaukee Bucks; New Jersey Nets; New York Knicks; Orlando Magic; Philadelphia 76ers; Toronto Raptors; Washington Wizards
NBA Western Conference Team Previews: Dallas Mavericks; Denver Nuggets; Golden State Warriors; Houston Rockets; Los Angeles Clippers; Los Angeles Lakers; Memphis Grizzlies; Minnesota Timberwolves; New Orleans Hornets; Phoenix Suns; Portland Trail Blazers; Sacramento Kings; San Antonio Spurs; Seattle Supersonics; Utah Jazz
