Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Thankfully, I don't think Alvin Gentry is going to purposely tank the season because he's mad at our assistant GM.I almost dread this feeling of optimism because I know any second now the other shoe is going to drop.
Thankfully, I don't think Alvin Gentry is going to purposely tank the season because he's mad at our assistant GM.I almost dread this feeling of optimism because I know any second now the other shoe is going to drop.
He sneakily improved cap flexibility (Can get off Jackson/Lyles/Lamb this off-season with Holiday, Harkless, Davis, Len all coming off the books the following year), kept all his future picks, vastly improved the talent spectrum ( on defense especially) while still infusing this team with talented youth (Sabonis 25, DDV 24). Hopefully DDV can be somewhat of a buy-low contract this off-season ($8-10mil range) and there's a small window where we should have the cap space to make a splash before having to re-up Barnes and Sabonis to bigger contracts.
It's an incredible spot to be in heading to the off-season. Holmes should be a sought after asset on his contract. We'll potentially have 5 expiring contracts if we keep Lyles. Lamb should be fairly affordable and certainly not more expensive than his last contract if he plays well down the stretch here.
Went from a C to a B+. I like the Bagley trade. Doesn't get an A, because he would've gotten more value last summer.
The above sums up how I felt in the past 48 hours.
I will say, my initial take on the Haliburton trade was a bit hasty. I understood and agreed with the decision that Fox in his prime is ready and thus putting Sabonis next to him is the correct move in terms of leaping from mediocre (which we know all too well) to contending.
I just vehemently disagree with giving up the young guard oozing with potential.
But even in an alternate universe where Pacers actually wanted Fox more than Haliburton, and we managed to put Ty and Sabonis together instead, it'll still arguably take longer for that team to flourish. At the end of the day, McNair is a hired gun with specific tasks and goals, it simply makes more business sense to keep the one who's all but ready to go instead of the alternative where it might take a few years longer, which, to quote Kyle Shanahan, we can't even guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive tomorrow and who knows if McNair would still be with the franchise then to see the seed he planted in that alternate universe.
I was going to quit the team based on the organization not making sane decisions. But ultimately, I just didn't want to follow a losing franchise that isn't capable to correct course. After having seen last night's game, I am not saying I was all wrong yet but I gotta give credit to McNair for at least having the stones to follow through with his plan and making the "win-now" decisions that might not be the most popular, which, also to his credit, he had declared as such from months ago, during our worst period as a team as the rest of the world laughed at him for not choosing to tank.
I was upset in the moment of the trade because I did enjoy Haliburton and everythinghe brought to the team from top to bottom.
Reality is that it is a lot more difficult to find a talented big man than a talented guard. There used to be rule that you're not supposed to trade a big man for a small man. The team that gets the big usually comes out on top. The personality of Haliburton is irreplaceable, but there are a lot opportunities to replace his production. Extremely difficult to find a Sabonis type player.
Agreed. It's very savvy GM'ing. It cannot be overstated how hard it is to acquire all-star talent in the modern NBA without 1) sacrificing first round pick(s), and/or 2) taking on another team's dead weight/bad contracts. Somehow, Monte managed to acquire an all-star talent in Sabonis while preserving his first round picks, improving his cap flexibility, jettisoning the Kings' own dead weight/bad contract in Hield, and bringing back additional pieces in Lamb/Holiday on ending/near-ending deals who can bolster the team's depth on the wing.
Then he followed it up by dropping more dead weight in Bagley while bringing back a potential core piece in DiVincenzo and a couple more pieces in Lyles/Jackson on ending/near-ending deals to further bolster depth and length on the wing. Taken together, these two moves represent a pretty stunning achievement. Again, that's stated in a vacuum. Monte's plan may not work out. But if it does, and if these were the first steps on the path to eventual playoff contention, then you're looking at an all-timer of a trade deadline for a small market franchise.
I was upset in the moment of the trade because I did enjoy Haliburton and everythinghe brought to the team from top to bottom.
This is underappreciated post of the year quality here.Thankfully, I don't think Alvin Gentry is going to purposely tank the season because he's mad at our assistant GM.
This is merely speculation, but I have a sneaking suspicion he's referring to trading Fox last summer. He'll beat that drum until it breaks, then beat it some more.You think he could have got more for Bagley at any point in the last 12 months? I'm very surprised that he got what he did, whether now or at any point in the last year
You think he could have got more for Bagley at any point in the last 12 months? I'm very surprised that he got what he did, whether now or at any point in the last year
This is merely speculation, but I have a sneaking suspicion he's referring to trading Fox last summer. He'll beat that drum until it breaks, then beat it some more.
Tyrese stings on an emotional level, but after last night’s game it’s hard to argue too much from a basketball perspective.
Fox.
Valid, for sure, with a sample size of one…but it also could have been a mess from jump street, so it at least shows what’s possible. While the adrenaline/energy might dip and moods might fluctuate…the cutting, moving, passing, spacing, and improved defense could easily stay to some degree, and I’m comfortable banking on that being just enough to push us off the treadmill of mediocrity.IDK how long you’ve been watching, but I’ve seen tons of new players come in via big trades and it looks great initially when the energy and change is new for all the players and fans — but it invariably settle back down.
Seen it and been fooled by it far too many times to count.
Barring some historic run into and through the upcoming playoffs, I wouldn’t start seriously judging until midway through next season.
Did you watch last night? It's ok if you didn't. What we saw was coordination and IQ and leadership not just raw powering through an emotional week. In fact while Holiday did nice in the invisible stats yesterday, if anything you think it's possible the trade shook his shooting which was noticeably poorer than both his season and career stats would indicate.IDK how long you’ve been watching, but I’ve seen tons of new players come in via big trades and it looks great initially when the energy and change is new for all the players and fans — but it invariably settle back down.
Seen it and been fooled by it far too many times to count.
Barring some historic run into and through the upcoming playoffs, I wouldn’t start seriously judging until midway through next season.
Sabonis was only available now because Carlisle misused him so badly that it was eating into his value and made the Pacers look so bad they finally decided to rebuild. Last summer, everyone assumed Rick would turn Sabonis into Dirk for some reason.I don't think Indiana makes this same type of trade, for Fox last off season
Sabonis was only available now because Carlisle misused him so badly that it was eating into his value and made the Pacers look so bad they finally decided to rebuild. Last summer, everyone assumed Rock would turn Sabonis into Dirk for some reason.
He brought the 5 out scheme he was using in Dallas with Luka with him to the Pacers. The problem is his guards, while good, aren’t Luka and he was using Sabonis like Zaps or Dwight Powell (putting him out along the three point line or in the dunker slot). Sabonis is talented enough that he was still putting up stats in that system but it was a complete waste of his talents.What did Carlisle do with him?
This is underappreciated post of the year quality here.
I almost dread this feeling of optimism because I know any second now the other shoe is going to drop.
Hahaha right there with you, SLAB.
Not sure if I'm angrier at Monte for trading Hali or for giving me hope with all these moves!
Siiiiiiiigh..... see y'all in the game thread Saturday..
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……… at least until we lose exactly one in a row and Tyrese has his first big game and win for the Pacers.
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Im already over it. Lol
We traded a guy who may or may not be an all-star in a few years for a guy who is one now. And it’s not like the current All-Star is old either. Hali is unbelievably likable but it’s not like he was Luka Doncic out there taking over and carrying Garbo teams to wins and playoff appearances on his back and his back alone.
maybe one day Tyrese will be that guy. And maybe one day Domas is going to bolt in unrestricted free agency. But until those happen, I think I’m going to let myself enjoy this.
……… at least until we lose exactly one in a row and Tyrese has his first big game and win for the Pacers.
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I think we need to understand that "win-now" probably starts next year.It is very hard to make up 5-6 games when u only have 25 left. Pels clearly improving and are getting CJ.It seems that Kings would have to overtake Lakers or Clips for that play-in spot.To be fair both teams are reeling so maybe.The above sums up how I felt in the past 48 hours.
I will say, my initial take on the Haliburton trade was a bit hasty. I understood and agreed with the decision that Fox in his prime is ready and thus putting Sabonis next to him is the correct move in terms of leaping from mediocre (which we know all too well) to contending.
I just vehemently disagree with giving up the young guard oozing with potential.
But even in an alternate universe where Pacers actually wanted Fox more than Haliburton, and we managed to put Ty and Sabonis together instead, it'll still arguably take longer for that team to flourish. At the end of the day, McNair is a hired gun with specific tasks and goals, it simply makes more business sense to keep the one who's all but ready to go instead of the alternative where it might take a few years longer, which, to quote Kyle Shanahan, we can't even guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive tomorrow and who knows if McNair would still be with the franchise then to see the seed he planted in that alternate universe.
I was going to quit the team based on the organization not making sane decisions. But ultimately, I just didn't want to follow a losing franchise that isn't capable to correct course. After having seen last night's game, I am not saying I was all wrong yet but I gotta give credit to McNair for at least having the stones to follow through with his plan and making the "win-now" decisions that might not be the most popular, which, also to his credit, he had declared as such from months ago, during our worst period as a team as the rest of the world laughed at him for not choosing to tank.
Did you watch last night? It's ok if you didn't. What we saw was coordination and IQ and leadership not just raw powering through an emotional week. In fact while Holiday did nice in the invisible stats yesterday, if anything you think it's possible the trade shook his shooting which was noticeably poorer than both his season and career stats would indicate.