When you make it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat, you are an elite team. Period.
But that does not mean you are a legitimate championship contending team.
And if the Indiana Pacers are going to take that next step, they need to upgrade their backcourt in some way. George Hill and Lance Stephenson are nice players … but that’s the nicest thing you can say about them. When one of the other, or both, had a bad game in the playoffs, the Pacers usually lost.
So what is the cure?
Well, for starters, Rajon Rondo is out there to be had. So is Eric Gordon.
Do the Pacers have the assets to acquire either of them? That’s the tough part of the equation. Boston wants no part of George Hill’s contract, which pays him $8 million per season for three more years. Boston wants no part of Gerald Green. It’s a been-there, done-that sort of thing.
Certainly Paul George and the expiring contract of Danny Granger could get it done, but Larry Bird would never trade his best player for a wingnut like Rondo. But what about Granger and three future first-round picks? Would that get it done?
I discussed that issue, along with the additions of Chris Copeland and C.J. Watson in this interview with Michael Grady and Joe Staysniak on 1070-The Fan in Indianapolis this morning.
Sheridan, though clearly a knowledgeable guy, is mostly wet on this one. George Hill is very good and getting better. Last season was his first a full time starting point guard, and his squad gets to the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals (and if not for a dubious coaching decision in the final 2.2 seconds of the first game…who knows?), against the defending and eventual champs; without its leading scorer the previous five seasons to boot. He has the capacity to become a poor man’s Chauncey Billups (if he isn’t already). True, C.J. Watson may not be much more than a slight upgrade over Augustin as a backup PG, but the (inside) Pacers secret is that, IF either Granger can come back at 85% of what he was OR Solomon Hill can be a rotation guard at SF, Paul George reverts to the SG and Lance Stephenson is ready, willing and able to play heavy minutes at the point behind G. Hill. While Andre Miller would be an obvious upgrade at backup PG over Watson, you can’t give up anything other than a future pick or package of picks for someone that age, or (better yet) a similar package that includes Gerald Green.
Meant to say if “Solomon Hill can be a rotation contributor at SF…”
but i do agree watson is mediocre….but….still an upgrade over Augustin. Andre Miller is 110 yrs old though. Karl used him…..he can be effective….but boy, id not trade for him. You could roll the dice to pull in a guy like Beaubois…………still upside there…maybe…….sure has athletic talent………or will bynum…….THATS an upgrade………or darren collinson…….all are gone now,….but that would have been smarter. I agree though knicks are done, and i dont think nets are contenders. Williams is ….i dont want to say shot….but close to it. I dont buy the nets. just dont. Disagree about Cavs…thats a mess………disaster….on all levels……..Detroit though is better…..drummond……i still see they need pg and josh smith has to learn how to play. Chicago might be the only other serious contender.
first off, who said Rondo was available? This is one of the tedious journalistic assumptions that gets thrown out there. It actually makes little sense. So the whole premise here is flawed. George HIll is better than “nice”. He had a very good year. In fact he had a decent post season….the problems were not george hill. Nor were they lance stephenson. Find me another two guard without the same level of flaws…..I cant think of any…….the league doesnt have a lot of good two guards right now. Lance can be effective on defense. And occasionally on offense, too. But Hill is very good. I cant think of any reason Indiana is looking for another point guard? WHY???? Its not what is missing…..they got a back up……so thats an upgrade. What they need is reliable ball handlers at other positions. They need a good bench point forward…..because George is a terrific player, but has lousy handle and Granger has shot knees (nobody is going to trade for granger….he’s damaged goods). Now copeland did help….he can shoot. Lousy defender…but ok…..he CAN shoot. Id say thats an upgrade too. Soloman Hill might be the guy……small forward with handle…its why they picked him. And if Miles Plumlee improves (except his ball handling is exactly his problem…his only one actually) then thats a plus too, mahini is terrible. So……i dont get the point of any of this. AND Pek is a great signing…jesus….how is that not obvious.