8p9s Roundtable: Pacers Trade Deadline Reactions

Jared Wade

Jan 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) looks on from the bench at a timeout during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Indiana Pacers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

David West Indiana Pacers — Jan 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) looks on from the bench at a timeout during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Indiana Pacers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers did nothing at the trade deadline. Well, sure, they made some phone calls and reportedly were in the mix for Reggie Jackson before the Oklahoma City Thunder found a better deal than whatever it was that Larry Bird may have had on the table.

How disappointing was it to see the Indiana Pacers do nothing while so many teams made moves?

Tim Donahue: From a “rescue me from my boredom” perspective, it was devastating. In terms of actual team building, it doesn’t carry much weight. The Pacers are in an odd situation, where they aren’t good, but it’s difficult to determine how much is bad and how much is injuries. Judging by the rumors the Pacers were linked to, it’s probably better that none of them came to fruition. Their only real trading assets of any values are future picks, and they really need to start using those to get younger players at this point.

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Jon Washburn: In the moment, it was somewhat deflating, because everyone likes to have something new and fun to talk about it. Now? It’s not so bad. Indiana couldn’t offer anything close to what Miami sent to Phoenix for Dragic, and after that, there just honestly weren’t that many enticing players available. I’m not really a fan of Reggie Jackson’s game and don’t see how it would fit in with this roster anyway. So if anything, I think the Pacers dodged a bullet by not bringing him in.

William Furr: I was O.K. with it. I hoped for Goran Dragic. I love the idea of him and George Hill in the back court. But realistically, the Pacers just didn’t have many true assets to trade other than draft picks. This pick shouldn’t be in the mid 20s like it has been in recent years, so hopefully they can acquire a low-cost asset in the draft to develop.

Ryan Barth: It feels as if this team has been acquiring players (off the DL) since the beginning of the season. I can’t fault standing pat at the deadline, as Frank Vogel has had enough trouble finding continuity with his lineups without integrating any more new blood. In other words, if George Hill hits back to back 3s, don’t mess with the rotations, just ride it out.

Next: Is Larry Bird Too Complacent?

Is Larry Bird being too complacent in trying to re-position this Indiana Pacers roster?

Donahue: It’s always risky to let things play out, as you might give up some control. It’s always risky to move aggressively in any direction, as you may miss some opportunities. Hell, it’s just always risky. Many would want him to start the tear down, but that’s just not how the Indiana Pacers roll. Bird’s successes have been born of his patience. It’s sometimes excruciating to watch, but the Pacers are better off playing the slow game under his direction.

Bird’s successes have been born of his patience. It’s sometimes excruciating to watch, but the Pacers are better off playing the slow game under his direction.

Washburn: No, I think he’s being rational. Larry Bird believes the Indiana Pacers’ fastest road to success in 2015-16 is to “bring the band back together.” I don’t know if he is correct in this assessment, and I could also see the Pacers sliding further into the abyss with one or two more injuries, but it seems that the Legend took as much emotion out of the decision as possible and played it pretty reasonably.

Furr: Not at all! This team was going to be hard pressed to compete this year with all the injuries and Paul George trying to work the rust off late in the season. The better time to build will likely be after this season, through draft, trades, and free-agent acquisitions.

Barth: No. He is just being smart by not panic-dealing picks knowing this year’s first-rounder could be a lottery pick in what is expected to be a very deep draft class.

Next: Beating the Heat

Can the Indiana Pacers now leapfrog the Miami Heat to make the playoffs after the move they made to acquire Goran Dragic?

Donahue: Maybe. Dragic is a pretty big talent that they added without giving up any current rotation players. This move should have solidified the Heat as the seventh Eastern Conference playoff team, but the disturbing news that Chris Bosh may miss the rest of the season with blood clots in his lungs is potentially crippling. This type of situation is about more than a loss of talent, it’s about real-life pain and fear. It’s an emotionally daunting experience, and it is difficult to know how it will affect a team as they are forced to deal with things more important than wins and losses.

Washburn: Before the Chris Bosh injury news came out, I thought it was incredibly unlikely. Dragic is a pretty big talent, and they added him without giving up any important rotation players. However, the possible loss of Bosh, combined with any more missed time from Dwyane Wade could be catastrophic for Miami. This could allow the Pacers to catch them. Reaching the 8-seed probably means a quick exit to a very good Hawks team. But sliding into the 7th slot could actually give them some hope, depending upon the matchup.

Furr: Probably not. It’s possible that Paul George comes back at 75%-80% strength, C.J. Miles evens out, George Hill stays healthy, and the Pacers resemble the squad they had last year — with better spacing. It’s not likely though.

Barth: That team is a whole lot better now with Hassan Whiteside emerging, Dwyane Wade coming back healthy after the break and finally adding an explosive PG in Dragic. The Chris Bosh development could changes things but it’s too early to know. There is no reason the pacers can’t catch Charlotte though.

Next: Pistons, Nets, and Celtics

Can the Indiana Pacers out-play the Pistons, Nets, and Celtics, given the moves they made, the rest of the way to get into the playoffs?

Donahue: They have a shot. The schedule has 16 home and 12 away, and George Hill’s minute limitation has just been lifted. If the Pacers can continue to build on their recent improved play, then they can make the playoffs in the East. This is regardless of Paul George’s return. That being said, they will probably need to win 16-to-18 of their final 28 games to grab a slot. The hole they’ve dug themselves is pretty deep.

The Pacers were simply playing better basketball than these teams heading into the All-Star Break and have gotten healthier since then.

Washburn: Absolutely. The Pacers were simply playing better basketball than these teams heading into the All-Star Break and have gotten healthier since then. Even without Paul George, I think the Pacers could and will finish ahead of all three of these teams the rest of the way. Can they catch Charlotte? That might be a little tougher.

Furr: I think it’s likely the Pacers outplay at least one of those teams; trades aren’t always an instant salve, and sometimes players just don’t fit. I would bet the Pacers outpace the Celtics and Nets, but the Pistons may be too much for them to handle.

Barth: Those teams made somewhat lateral moves in my opinion. I don’t see them getting hot down the stretch. The talent on those rosters is equal to the Pacers and that’s before PG makes his return.

Next: Is Nothing Better Than Evan Turner?

Better Indiana Pacers move: Acquiring nobody or acquiring Evan Turner?

Donahue: Net-net, the Turner trade cost them no real assets other than a second-round pick. It’s possible that Danny Granger’s presence could have prevented some of the chemistry issues late last year, but that’s impossible to know. The team had started to struggle in late January, and the truth may be that Turner caused no harm, but offered no help, either. All that being said, acquiring Turner was — at best — no better than acquiring nobody. That seems a sufficiently damning assessment of the deal.

Washburn: The Evan Turner trade wasn’t nearly as disastrous as everyone remembers. Danny Granger was actually worse than Evan Turner throughout the close of last season and Turner (gasp) helped to turn two different playoff games against Atlanta. Overall, Turner was just not a good player, but Larry Bird still got something better than Danny Granger. I guess that means I believe that acquiring Turner was better than what the Pacers did yesterday — nothing. I will now go stare blankly into the sun.

Furr: Can I go with option C: Acquiring Lavoy Allen? But seriously, acquiring no one. Acquiring an angry, live bull to live in the locker room would be better that acquiring last year’s Evan Turner.

Barth: Acquiring nobody. The Turner trade last year is the exact same move the team could have made this time around at the deadline and Bird clearly learned his lesson: Don’t mess with great team chemistry, which the Pacers seem to have in spades at the moment.

Next: Paul George: My Ballhandling and Shooting Have Improved

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Jared Wade

Jared Wade is columnist at FanSided and editor of 8 Points, 9 Seconds. Follow him on Twitter @Jared_Wade.