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8p9s AMA Mailbag: Are Any Trades on the Horizon for the Indiana Pacers?

By William Furr

Dec 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) dribbles the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) dribbles the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Welcome back to the 8 Points 9 Seconds mailbag, where we take your Indiana Pacers questions and make you feel internet famous because we answered them!

We’ll be using a consistent email for this process: 8p9sAMA@gmail.com. You can feel free to shoot questions over to that email or reply on Twitter to @8pts9secs using hashtag #8p9sAMA or visit our Facebook page to leave comments.

You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.

Matt B: Any trades you see on the horizon? 

The Indiana Pacers have a few things going for them in the trade market, namely that they own their future picks and they have several medium-sized expiring deals. Chase Budinger ($5 million), Ian Mahinmi and Jordan Hill ($4 million each), and Solomon Hill ($1.4 million) all expire after this season.

The Pacers could combine those for a medium to large deal, but trading both Ian and Jordan Hill would leave the front court relatively bare. Despite Ian Mahinmi and Jordan Hill’s resurgent play this year, they both would have moderate (at best) value as trade assets (remember, the Pacers didn’t exactly get into a bidding war to obtain Jordan Hill’s services), and they’re not going to obtain anyone who’s probably going to be considered a game changer without acquiring either long-term money or a significantly flawed player with baggage.

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Chase Budinger and Solomon Hill have likely close to zero trade value, other than pure cap relief. And since most teams already have a boatload of cap space next summer (the cap is going waaaay up), small deals like this aren’t big difference makers.

The Pacers could sweeten the pot potentially with a first-round pick, but it’s rarely been the Indiana Pacers style to trade their picks away. I do feel like there’s a move to be made, but I doubt it will be anything substantial. There are always small moves out there, and there might be a few needle-movers available in need of a change of scenery, which leads into the next question …

Jack P:  Should the Pacers go after Markieff Morris?

In a nutshell, for any Pacers fans who haven’t been following the Suns situation, brothers Markieff and Marcus Morris took smaller contracts to stay and play together for the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix then traded Marcus Morris to Detroit. Markieff has been toxic to the team ever since, and the situation has degraded to the point that he’s barely playing for them.

He’s handled the situation with what appears to be a significant lack of maturity, and is on the trade block. The rumor is that his value is so low, other teams are offering peanuts and demanding the Suns attach *another* asset in return for them taking Morris.

There are ways the Pacers could match salaries to trade for Markieff: any two of Ian Mahinmi, Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger, and Solomon Hill would work salary wise. However, that’s not much of a return for a (when he’s engaged and locked in) very good player like Markieff Morris.

Even if Phoenix would accept some combination of expiring contracts from the Pacers, you have to ask if the Pacers want him. He has a diverse skill set that would benefit most any team, and he’s on an extremely team friendly $8 million-per-year contract. If getting away from the team he feels betrayed him would be enough to reinvigorate him and get him back on track, this isn’t even a question, you do it and integrate him.

It’s impossible to tell if his baggage would come with him, however, and some of you may remember a promising Pacers team being torn asunder by chemistry issues just a few years ago. I think Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh will do their due diligence — and Bird loves him a reclamation project — but I’m not sure this is a move the Pacers front office are comfortable tackling considering that they already have Turner and can be free-agent-market players this summer.

Joseph A: What do you see at Myles Turner’s ceiling? 

Josh F: Could Myles Turner become a future All Star with the NBA moving into the Small Ball era?

Fellow 8points9seconds writer Jeremy Comstock took a GREAT swing at this question earlier in the year, so I’m going to link you back to his piece.

Swaglessz: Paul George has a reputation as a serial complainer. How much of his frustration is justified, and do you think it’s negatively affecting his game? 

Paul George has spent his entire NBA career under Frank Vogel. I think Vogel is a great coach, probably top five (certainly top 10 if not), but Vogel does bark at the officials a lot and can be very demonstrative. The Pacers veteran guy for several years, David West, also had a tendency to spend an inordinate amount of time concerning himself with the officials.

The Pacers have had a few bad breaks recently, but PG spends entirely too much time preoccupied with the officials, and I think it does affect his game heavily sometimes. I’m hoping that he will take a page from Monta, who typically walks away from the refs when he’s upset, instead of yelling, rolling his eyes, and losing his focus.

Andrew C: What do you attribute the inability to close out games to? Lack of leadership, misfortune, coaching…?

Metalrodsforbones: Why/how do the Pacers keep getting into these situations where they’re blowing leads and losing in OT?

It is likely a combination of various factors but to me the biggest reason is that the guys have to get used to each other. Execution steps up towards the end of games, and the Pacers been using different lineups and guys who now only have 30 something games playing together. It’s hard to instinctively know who’s gonna help where, how hard someone’s gonna hedge a screen, etc.

Continuity is super underrated and Frank is trying to find the right lineup, but that means more adjusting. GHill/Monta/Stuck/PG/Ian played together late and that is one lineup we’ve barely seen this season. I guess Stuckey (??) was playing small forward and handling small forward responsibilities, PG was (for really the first time) playing the 4, and a perimeter of Monta/GHill/Stuckey have very little time together.

Dylan: How soon is too soon to have a date at a Pacers game? She says she doesn’t like the NBA, has never been to a game though.

I’d say 90 days under a few conditions. (A) Make sure that she doesn’t hate sports in general. If she does, it’s probably a bust. (B), Make sure you buy good seats and that you have other activities planned (might I recommend Nicky Baline’s?). (C) Maybe most important, don’t ignore her if you do go to a game. If she’s willing to learn about your interests, educate bit by bit and pay attention to her and the game both. (D) Don’t cheer too intensely, dress like an adult (no team gear, DEFINITELY no jersey), and don’t be afraid to leave early if the game sucks and she isn’t into it.

Adam C: In your opinion, who has the higher ceiling, Paul George or Jimmy Butler? 

My opinion is Paul George, but I may be biased. To my eyes, PG is more fluid and natural in his game. Jimmy Butler is a great player and may well wind up being the better player, but to my eyes, PG13 has the higher ceiling.

Nathan M: Why are the Indiana Pacers taking deep 2s at the end of games? Paul George and Monta Ellis are good free-throw shooters, why aren’t they attacking and trying to get to the line? 

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Tough question to answer. Monta Ellis has attacked the basket repeatedly. I remember clearly the 17-footer at the buzzer), but I think that play was drawn up for PG to get the switch and attack the opposing point guard and Monta settled for the jumper as time waned and the play became broken.

I don’t know if PG is a confident enough ball handler to consistently get to the bucket. He winds up shooting midrange jumpers when he goes one on one quite a bit regardless of whether it’s end of game or not — and often seems to have that as his goal when attacking — so it’s not surprising that he does it at the end of the games.

I do agree that the offense needs to run more in end game situations, and the Pacers need to get better looks, instead of just going to iso-ball.

Daniel D: A few months ago this would’ve been a dumb question, but who do you think the best Indiana Pacers player has been this year?

There are no dumb questions (or so said my elementary school teacher …), but, yeah, it’s Paul George. You know this.

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