Crazy Draft Night Leaves Plenty To Ponder

by Cornrows on Jun 26, 2008 10:35 PM EDT

Wow, what a crazy night at the Fieldhouse! I was really amped when talented combo guard, Jerryd Bayless fell to the Pacers' pick at 11. The fans gathered at the arena shared my excitement. After catching our collective breath, the Raptors selected Roy Hibbert for the Pacers leaving everyone happy and ready to go home.

But WAIT!

The Pacers traded Bayless and Ike Diogu to Portland for their top pick, Brandon Rush, along with Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts. Confusion, outrage, and utter disbelief followed.

But after letting the details settle in, the deal makes more sense. I know the Pacers loved Rush after working him out and in fact some thought he might be the pick at 11 even if Bayless was available. Jack comes in as a hard working back up point guard with good size and durability. Sexy? No. Serviceable? Yes. Plus, he's cheap ($2 mil) and a restricted free agent after this year if things don't work.

For the Pacers, Bayless seemed like a good fit, although he wasn't considered a point guard. A combo guard with plenty of scoring talent would've been a nice complement to TJ Ford, nonetheless. As for Ike Diogu, he just wasn't a good fit for Jim O'Brien's system. He wasn't a bad compliment to Jermaine O'Neal, but J.O. is gone now.

So in essence, the Pacers traded Jerryd Bayless for Brandon (I almost typed Kareem) Rush and Jarrett Jack. Along with Roy Hibbert coming in the Toronto deal, the Pacers took big strides in changing the direction of the team tonight.

You have to manage your expectations here a bit if you remain dismayed. The Pacers are essentially rebuilding, so regardless of what player or players they added tonight, they weren't going to suddenly be contenders for a deep playoff run. What they did do was gather up a few more assets in three young players, including one, Rush, who could be a solid talent for years to come. Either way, they now have more flexibility to make additional moves and take advantage of other opportunities to improve as they arise in the future.

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This Draft crushed my spirit.

This organization has once again proven to me that they are completely incompetent.

The thing is I was on Cloud 9 when Bayless fell to us. I was so excited. It’s the first good pick any of my teams across sports have made since the Pacers got Granger. Finally there was reason to be genuinely excited about the Pacers again.

Then the Hibbert pick came.

What a terrible pick. Think about it logically for a second. The team has stressed how they want to run the floor in a more uptempo manner. So what do they do? Draft a the player in the draft who least fits that system. Hibbert couldn’t run the floor to save his life. Agh!!!

But it was ok. Very dumb, but not a huge deal. After all, they still had Bayless.

Then disaster struck.

Now I want to be clear about one thing. I love Brandon Rush. He’s a great player who I always liked at Kansas. He will be a very good player for the Pacers, I’m sure. That being said…

No matter which way you slice it, the Pacers essentially traded the #11 pick for the #13 pick. Really. Jack is a backup point guard and McRobberts is, not only one of my least favorite players ever, completely worthless (he got dominated by every good big guy he faced in college). It’s just mind-numbingly stupid. If you wanted Rush over Bayless, then just draft him there and not get the fans hopes up.

Bayless is a potential star. The Gilbert Arenas comparison is too easy. This was the equivalent of us passing on Granger for Hakim Warrick or Jarret Jack (oddly enough that works). It’s inexcusable. Completely inexcusable.

I may just give up on having a favorite NBA team. I’m sick of the Pacers making me depressed.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 11:41 PM EDT 0 recs

To continue what Seth wrote lol \/ \/

by pacers33 on Jun 27, 2008 12:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

I couldnt agree with you more on everything you said, I still feel sick to my stomach in confusion

It makes me really pissed off at the Pacers to be quite honest….

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 27, 2008 12:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

Bird shot himself in the foot

Maybe he doesn’t want any fans to go to our home games. I’m actually starting to think that. If you read any of the comments for an Indystar article, you’ll read something along the lines of this…

I gave up on the Pacers years ago. All they are is a bunch of thugs. I haven’t been to a game since 2004. Until they trade Tinsley, you wont catch me dead inside Conseco. The Pacers suck. Why bother? At least we have the Colts. (FIRE BIRD appears in almost every comment)

So what does Mr. Bird do tonight?

You may think he would try to get everyone excited. Make a good deal or two. Move up in the draft and make some headlines. REDEEM HIMSELF!!!

He sure did get me excited. He had me jumping off the couch leaping for joy when we selected Bayless. But only a few moments later left me staring blankly at the screen saying,”WHAT DID HE JUST DO?”

He traded Bayless for basically Portland’s CRAP.

I know now what I did not know before, and obviously it took me a little longer than the average pacer fan to realize that BIRD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING!!!!!

I don’t know what took me so long. I was actually pretty excited for this draft.

I guess the keyword there is “was”

by pacers33 on Jun 27, 2008 12:18 AM EDT 0 recs

Couldnt agree with you more either

I am starting to lose hope to the franchise I have loved so much….. Why is Thomas run out of New York so fast when Bird slides under the radar…. I am personally starting to think Bird is worse than Thomas…. seriously I dont care what Bird says the move was horrific…. you can look at it like the whole Alford and Reggie Miller draft but Alford wasnt projected as the possible third overall pick of the draft… we got a steal in Bayless…. I was so happy… I had texted all of my Cavs fans rubbing it in their face… they were giving me props…. envious…. somewhat jealous….. 20 minutes later…. they were laughing at me rubbing it right back in my face…. what the hell is Larry doing here? I hope he has a plan…. because frankly the Hibbert move was the icing on the cake where I truly lost hope…. like seriously if Ike Diogu doesnt fit in with our team how the hell is the slower and less athletic Roy Hibbert??? Looks like we are building a college All-Star team… in my mind with these picks Bird would have picked Christian Laettner over Shaq!!!

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 27, 2008 1:02 AM EDT 0 recs

and...

This was the first draft in a long long time I actually cheered loudly…... so joyful for Bayless….. so dumb by the Pacers…. I just pray for Bird it pans out… the only bright side in my mind is Bird has positioned the Pacers to perfectly make a run at the number 1 pick next year…. Ricky Rubio…. it just seems like there is no reason for all of this madness… none of it makes sense… they are seeing the big picture… Bayless and Granger were a perfect combination…. Bayless could have come off the bench for Granger at the 2 Dunleavy at the 2 and Ford at the 1

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 27, 2008 1:04 AM EDT 0 recs

Karma Brent, Karma

Trail Blazers are really cool

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jun 27, 2008 2:22 AM EDT 0 recs

BTW

Thats what a Pritchslap feels like.

No hard feelings though, Pacers still have an awesome logo.

Trail Blazers are really cool

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jun 27, 2008 2:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yes

It must sting these poor Pacers fans, that sharp burning sensation of a brisk slap to the face quickly snapped all of fans that amazed by the steal they got. Ouch!

But on a different note, a few pointers about your new players. Jarrett Jack loves to do a couple of things: 1. Step out of bounds right before he makes a good move to the hoop and 2. Turn the ball over in clutch situations. McBob will occasionally get your hopes up by making a sweet move or trowing down a powerful dunk, but then after watching him get dominated in the D-League by some 6’5” small forward from Ohio Polly-tech you realize that he is not good at all.

But, if you are feeling down, just remember the steal you got for O’Neal. Oh, he was plagued by injuries and always underachieve. But it’s okay, you traded him away for Ford! Just remembered, Ford is a shorter and weaker version of Jarrett Jack.

Well, maybe you will get a good chance at winning the draft lottery next year. But who knows, maybe some team with little chance of winning the first pick will steal it from you. That would suck.

Good Luck!

by alexfoster on Jun 27, 2008 3:00 AM EDT up 0 recs

man,

have some class. This is not how Blazers fans behave. Are you a closet Faker fan or something?

by premthegrem on Jun 27, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think I'll let Rush play a few games

before I declare he and this trade a bust. Bayless is a “missing piece” for Portland, but the Pacers weren’t one player away from being a solid, young team ready to make a run at future championships like the Blazers are. In fact, I got the feeling from Bird that the salary cap flexibility next summer is most beneficial.

The Pacers are gathering assets to rebuild. Not sure what everyone was expecting.

by Cornrows on Jun 27, 2008 8:49 AM EDT 0 recs

Wrong

I going to have to go ahead and disagree with you here brother. If the Pacers are truly rebuilding then Bayless is the pick and we should have kept him. He has more upside than Rush and could one day become a star in this league. Rush on the other hand would have been a fine pick for us had Bayless not fell into our laps. Rush is a role player on a good team. He was never “the man” at KU. He never took over games and willed the team to victory. So his attributes would seem to carry more weight on a team that is going to make the playoffs.

If the Pacers are truly trying to gather assets to rebuild they did not do it with this trade. Does anyone actually believe that Jack is more of an asset on the open market than Diogu. And we know McRoberts was a cheap attempt to pacify the hometown crowd in Indy, however from everything I’ve heard he’s not that popular around town anyway. The whole spurning IU to go play for the hated Dukies might have something to do with it.

I believe what everyone was expecting was for the Pacers to get it right this time. They did with Bayless and then the F’d it up with this trade. It’s the equivalent of your best friend lucking into a dime piece at the club only to kick her out of bed the next morning so that he can go back to his ex-girlfriend who no one likes and is no better than a 6 with make-up and a good hair day.

Oh and by the way I wish Bird would enlighten us as to who they want to make sure they make a run at with the salary cap flexibility.

The bottom line is the Blazers stole this draft from the Pacers and the fans hate the fact that the night went by and Tinsley is still on the payroll. If they wanted to really make the fans in Conseco happy they should have at least announced that Tinsley was being cut as soon as possible.

by ThirtyOne on Jun 27, 2008 11:26 AM EDT up 0 recs

I understand the point of view

I guess I didn’t realize Bayless was so dominant. Don’t worry Tinsley will be bought out.

by Cornrows on Jun 27, 2008 11:33 AM EDT up 0 recs

as i am pissed

we really gotta let the dust settle, see what moves are made i guess, theres no chance in hell that theyre going into the season wit this roster…and everyone check out the new icon…

by captain flitzy on Jun 27, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up 0 recs

Come On

I’m not saying he is dominant. What I’m saying is that he has a chance to be an All-Star in this league. Rush does not have that. I guess the main issue for me is the conflicting message. The Rush trade says we are trying to win now, the JO trade says we are trying to win in a couple years. I don’t know what the Hibbert pick says other than we need a new head coach if Hibbert wants to actually see playing time because this guy does not fit our current system.

by ThirtyOne on Jun 27, 2008 11:38 AM EDT up 0 recs

I'm just saying

let Rush play for a year before giving up on his NBA talent level.

by Cornrows on Jun 27, 2008 12:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Rush

During his time in college I have seen everyone of Brandon’s games either in person or on TV. In fact I even seen him play numerous times during his AAU days. I think I’m decently qualified to judge his talent level. Brandon is what he is, a solid NBA role player with no chance to be an All-Star. Not only have I watched every single game (I live in Lawrence, KS and my wife and most of my friends are huge Jayhawk fans) but I’ve seen Brandon around town on several occasions. He’s a loner more than any Jayhawk player that I can remember and I’ve never gotten the impression that him and his brother get along all that well. His brother tried to get him to go to Missouri and Brandon ended up at KU if that tells you anything about how tight they are.

Listen CR I’m not trying to sour you on Rush, he is what he is, but Bayless will be the better pro in my opinion. I don’t know why you are so quick to drink the Pacers Kool-Aid on this decision. It’s almost like at the beginning of last season when you tried to sell me on the new and improved Jamal Tinsley and I kept telling you that he hadn’t changed. How’d that turn out for you?

by ThirtyOne on Jun 27, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Kareem liked Brandon enough to sit in the green room with

him. Kansas is a way more legit basketball program than Missouri, if you get the chance to play in a program like Kansas, you go. Why do people always try to judge potential?? Teams in the 1996 draft preferred Kerry Kittles and Samaki Walker over Kobe Bryant… Teams in 2001 preferred Eddie Griffin over Joe Johnson and Richard Jefferson…and there are plenty more examples.

Rush has the accomplishment of being basically the best player on a national championship winning team. Not too many other players in this draft can say that.

We already have T.J. Ford for god sakes. We couldn’t keep Bayless because it would turn into the same situation he was in in Toronto

by pacers33 on Jun 28, 2008 12:48 AM EDT up 0 recs

one more time

I’m not drinking any kool-aid, I just want to let the kid take the court first. I haven’t seen every game he’s played since he’s been a youngster so I haven’t closed the book on his development. And again, with Bayless, he obviously has All-Star potential but I still wonder why he dropped. Can’t be because he’s a combo guard because Westbrook and Gordon appear similar.

As for Tinsley, I always agreed with your reasons for wanting him dealt. But I call ‘em like I see ‘em and he was playing the best ball of his career over the first six weeks or so of the season. I’m also a dreamer, as in, maybe he’s finally figured it out. I was never under the delusion that things could go south.

by Cornrows on Jun 28, 2008 9:58 AM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks Larry

I want to thank Larry Bird for this disappointing draft.

The Jerryd Bayless was great, but he trade him and Diogu for Brandon Rush, Jarret Jack and McRoberts…are you kidding me?

Then with the 41 pick we’ve got Jawai…and that gave me a lot of hope, his denominated THE NEXT SHAQ…I saw some videos of him, his young, agressive and huge.

But then comes Larry again.
Send the kid to Toronto with Jermaine and what did he get for us?
Hibbert, Ford, Nesterovic and probably Baston.

Thak you very much Larry Bird…thank you for making us the Timberwolves of the next season. Is great to trade quality for quantity.

Pacers Forever

by Hansel on Jun 27, 2008 9:55 AM EDT 0 recs

Indeed.

Cornrows: One thing I wasnt expecting was Bayless to fall to us, he did and Bird screwed it up.

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 27, 2008 11:16 AM EDT up 0 recs

And Danny Granger is our Al Jefferson

by pacers33 on Jun 27, 2008 11:51 AM EDT up 0 recs

Our frontcourt

after these two trades is horrendous. We might as well just trade away Jeff Foster. He deserves to play for a contender.

by pacers33 on Jun 27, 2008 11:59 AM EDT 0 recs

Larry Bird Absolutely needs to go

It absolutely hurts my soul how inept Larry Bird is when it comes to running this franchise. I can say with a straight face that I’d rather have Isaiah calling the shots.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Jun 27, 2008 12:09 PM EDT 0 recs

It seems the only people who don't like this pick are the fans

Chad Ford’s Draft Grade:

Indiana Pacers Grade: A

Round 1: Brandon Rush (13), Roy Hibbert (17)

Round 2: None

Analysis: To evaluate the Pacers, you have to take a step back a day to see how everything unfolded. They traded the chronically injured Jermaine O’Neal and a second-round pick for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston and the No. 17 pick. That means they added a starting point guard coming off a career year, significant cap space in 2009 and a prospect.

Then Indiana swapped No. 11 and Ike Diogu for No. 13 and picked up a solid backup point guard, Jarrett Jack, and a local hero, Josh McRoberts.

So in the course of two days, the Pacers rebuilt their team in a way that improves it now and in the future. The Pacers should be much more exciting to watch with a Ford/Jack/Rush/Mike Dunleavy backcourt. The additions of Hibbert and Nesterovic give them some much-needed size. And with several major expiring contracts, including Nesterovic, Marquis Daniels and Jeff Foster, they’ll have some significant trading chips at the trade deadline or real cap space in the summer of 2009.

Kudos to president Larry Bird and general manager David Morway for one of the most sophisticated rebuilding efforts I’ve seen.

by rturk89 on Jun 27, 2008 12:11 PM EDT 0 recs