8p9s Roundtable: A Very Different Indiana Pacers
By Ben Gibson
Will Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young be the starting big men for the Pacers on opening day?
Furr: They’d better be unless the Pacers work some kind of magic and sign Kevin Durant.
Barth: Yes. This is the prototype for Bird’s frontcourt vision: two fast, athletic big men who can score. The defense is another matter, but that’s why Dan Burke is the man. Ian Mahinmi will likely be making $60+ million somewhere else next season, so it’s safe to assume Turner and Young are penciled in.
Eggers: Almost assuredly. I don’t see the Pacers making any other moves for big men other than rotational signings. Young is a solid, solid power forward, and Turner is ideally a star center for the next decade. I wouldn’t even expect the Pacers to re-sign Mahinmi at this point, as his services will be too expensive to put him on the bench. Young’s services are too expensive for a bench guy as well, actually. The Pacers made good moves the past two years to get their frontcourt. No need to mess it up.
Medworth: I think so. Indications are that Larry has moved away from Ian Mahinmi at this point and will go with Thad and Myles and I think I’m okay with that. But the bench will need some help.
Neal: Yes. It seems the team has turned the rim protection duties over to Turner. I can’t see how they can bring back Ian Mahinmi for the money he would get on the open market and round out the roster. If they do bring Mahinmi back, he would have to start, which means either Turner or Young would be on the bench and that doesn’t make much sense. I think the Pacers roll with Turner and Young and fill out the front court in free agency.
Next: Is Jeff Teague better than George Hill?