Watson Buyout Allows Pacers To Add Backcourt Help

by Tom Lewis on Jul 18, 2009 8:46 AM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

Darnell Mayberry reports on Earl Watson's departure from Oklahoma City. Watson agreed to a buyout prior to his release worth half of the $6.6 million owed him for next season. What the Pacers will pay him next year is still unknown, but I hope they're not making up the differenece. Half of the difference would be nice.

Mike Wells reports on Watson's signing with the Pacers and the team's effort to add inexpensive defenders to the mix for next year. Watson can cover the ball from the point and should offer a solid backup option next year. Nothing flashy but also not risky and in the end this obviously isn't an exciting move unless it sets the team up for a bigger trade this summer.

One thing the move indicates is that the Pacers won't be scraping up loose change to match Jarrett Jack's offer from the Toronto Raptors. Assuming A.J. Price signs, there are currently five point guards on the roster, although Jamaal Tinsley doesn't really count since he won't be playing.

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Big Earl

This could turn into a decent pick up for the Pacers. I have always liked Earl Watson. Good defender and can get to the hole. He could get a lot of minutes with us. I would expect at 10-12 ppg and 6-7 apg for him primarily as a back up.

by davis72 on Jul 18, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

seems like a decent move

assuming the price is right. I’m surprised a guy his age would be willing to take a one-year deal. you would think that at 30 he might want more job security. Perhaps he sees an opportunity here to turn into a starter on a decent team, and of course, we all know that JOB can inflate your stats a bit.

"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."

by psvirsky on Jul 18, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

Plus, why would he take a contract buyout when he was due 6.6 million next year?

All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!

by rollonubears on Jul 18, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

He was probably due for a serious role reduction next year. For him, I understand this as a proving move for Watson:

You’ve got a guy who takes half of his next year deal (including whatever he’ll make here) to go play elsewhere and turn heads, hopefully for a good deal next summer. If he stays in OKC, he makes his full $6.6 mil, but his offers next year are going to be limited if he’s spending a lot of time riding pine.

While I do have concerns over Watson’s season last year, at the very least, we should expect to get the very best Earl Watson can be, which can’t hurt us at all.

It’s really a win-win move for us as long as the money isn’t outrageous. It doesn’t threaten T.J. Ford as the starter outside of himself, so he’s going to be happy, and then you’ve got Earl Watson, an already capable backup, playing the best ball he can as a back-up to prove he’s still got it in him for another decent deal.

And I don’t know if I’d mind $2-2.5 mil deal. I probably wouldn’t be outraged if it inched closer to $3.

by Nathan S. on Jul 18, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Very good analysis. Rec’d.

All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!

by rollonubears on Jul 18, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Is it still not conceivable that what the Pacers really want to do here is rid themselves of TJ Ford, with a trade, and that by bring Earl Watson as their primary back-up PG, what this would then allow them to do is:

Match the offer for Jack [6-3]
Trade Ford for a Wing player who the Pacers really to cover themselves with given the injury status of Mike Dunleavy
Sign Earl Watson [6-0 nothing]
Install Jack & Watson as their PG rotation with either Diener or Price as their emergency PG

Just a thought … that might also make some sense, if the opton to decline to match the contract offerred to Jack has still not been made official by the Pacers’ front office.

Rationale?

Going with a tandem of Jack and a solid veteran like Watson is a much more palatable dish for the Pacers to swallow as opposed to the miniscule tandem of Ford & Watson with Diener/Price as the No. 3.

khandor

by khandor on Jul 18, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions