Pacers Waiting On Cavaliers To Make The Next Move

by Tom Lewis on Feb 15, 2010 8:57 AM EST in Indiana Pacers News

The Indiana Pacers talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers about Troy Murphy are not done despite talk of a the Cavs closing in on a deal for Amar'e Stoudemire. The Pacers appear to be Cleveland's Plan B or C which may just work to their advantage.

In discussing Cleveland's deadline dealings, Chad Ford raises some interesting scenarios since the market for Stoudemire appears strong and the Cavs will have to go strong to secure the dynamic forward. Ford points out that even with Stoudemire, the Cavs could still use a forward like Murphy or Antawn Jamison to spread the floor and knock down threes. If the Cavs use Zydrunas Ilgauskas to secure Stoudemire, they may use Shaq's expiring deal to add more pieces. Then he lays out this dream scenario.

Given that the Cavs have concerns about well Stoudemire and Shaquille O’Neal would fit together, the team would consider moving Shaq if it acquired Amare. For instance, the Cavs could swap O’Neal and their first-round pick to Washington for Jamison and Mike Miller. They could send the same package to Indiana in a deal for Murphy and Mike Dunleavy.

Talk about speeding up the rebuilding process. That would do it. I just don't know how Cleveland could keep adding players and then expecting to bring back the traded players (Z and Shaq) since you can only have 15 players on the roster.

So while the Pacers are waiting on Cleveland to decide what to do, Cleveland is waiting on Phoenix. Fortunately, at least with regard to the trade deadline, the waiting is almost over.

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Comments

15 player max is completely irrelevent

Right now the Cavs are rostering

Jawad Williams
Darnell Jackson
Cedric Jackson
Daniel Green

And likely trade fodder

JJ Hickson
Leon Powe

There are six roster spots that Cleveland wouldn’t bat an eye at clearing. The 15 man roster issue is a complete non issue to any team.

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

by aaronb on Feb 15, 2010 10:13 AM EST reply actions

If that happened I would go bananas

But I don’t have much hope…

by dbcb on Feb 15, 2010 11:05 AM EST reply actions

Agreed

It would be the best news we could hope for as pacers fans.

4 draft picks this year, and even a little bit of cap space. The rebuild would get to begin one year earlier.

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

by aaronb on Feb 15, 2010 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

Dream Scenario

Trading away Troy Murphy and the black hole that has become Mike Dunleavy and their 21 mil in contracts for 21 mil more in cap space from Shaq (with a first rounder!!!) would be beyond belief.

"My game’s like the Pythagorean Theorem. It ain’t got no answer." - Shaq

by bleedinblueandgold on Feb 15, 2010 11:11 AM EST reply actions

Had the same reaction

Keep in mind, this was Ford speculating, but he offers informed speculation.

Still, if any of us around here would’ve proposed such a deal it would’ve drawn ridicule.

Indy Cornrows

by Tom Lewis on Feb 15, 2010 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

I love it...

I know it’s speculation, but I agree with the previous comments. That would be a dream come true for Pacer fans! 1) I’d be motivated to actually spend some money to go see Shaq play on a daily basis 2) It would get Dunleavy out of here, which I have been wanting ever since he got here. Not that I don’t like him because he is a great player when he is healthy, but that’s a VERY fine line! AND def. not worth the money that he is receiving….now if we can just find someone to take Ford!! Has anyone heard if there are any potential takers for TJ??

by BringbackReggie#31 on Feb 15, 2010 11:49 AM EST reply actions

In this scenario

I wonder if Shaq would stay with the Pacers or retire. I don’t know if his ego lets him play for a non-contender (in someways rightfully so).

by jantz101 on Feb 15, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Sugar Shaq would quit!

But truthfully, I can’t see the C’s letting Shaq go – he can still be a major force in the playoffs. There’s probably a million things Shaq would do rather than play for the P’s – not the least of which would involve a Louisville slugger, a tub of Vaseline, and dropping trow on center court at Conseco!!!

by FortWayneKarl on Feb 15, 2010 2:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'd imagine

That the Pacers would agree to buy Shaq out so that he could return to Cleveland. I’d be shocked if Shaq played a minute in Indy if a trade happened.

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

by aaronb on Feb 15, 2010 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

Just read this on Hoopshype from the Los Angeles Times

If Cleveland and Phoenix are unable to work out a deal, the Cavaliers reportedly have agreed to acquire Indiana forward Troy Murphy for Ilgauskas and Hickson. The team that picks up Ilgauskas would probably waive him, allowing him to go back to Cleveland in 30 days while providing salary-cap relief.

by HoosierHoops14 on Feb 15, 2010 11:59 AM EST reply actions

got the link?

"My game’s like the Pythagorean Theorem. It ain’t got no answer." - Shaq

by bleedinblueandgold on Feb 15, 2010 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

Found it....

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nba-notes15-2010feb15,0,2607531.story

Interesting, have not heard that it was a tentative agreement if things fall through with Stoudamire.

"My game’s like the Pythagorean Theorem. It ain’t got no answer." - Shaq

by bleedinblueandgold on Feb 15, 2010 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah i just wonder

if the the deal will include a pick or not?

by HoosierHoops14 on Feb 15, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

News-Herald reporting

Amar’e has no interest in playing in Cleveland. Oh, boy. This is getting fun!

http://news-herald.com/articles/2010/02/15/sports/nh2098390.txt

by Nathan S. on Feb 15, 2010 7:17 PM EST reply actions

I don't get it

If the Cavs trade Shaq and Z who is going to play center for them??? Anderson Varejao is all they got left. I just don’t see how the Cavs could trade him. There is no one else on that team that can guard the bigs they are going to see in the playoffs. I can see the Cavs going for Stadimire, but thats it. The one thing thier team could use is another big. So, why would they trade Shaq or Z for Troy “I can’t stop anybody” Murphy. Is Troy going to play great D on Dwight Howard or Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum. . . No way? I think this whole story and trade talk is PIPE DREAMS. I just don’t see anyone wanting Murphy and Dunlevey. . . you know, because they SUCK MONKEY BALLS!!!!!

by daledavis on Feb 15, 2010 7:40 PM EST reply actions

Shaq and Z

Would not play a minute for us. If we made this trade we would buy them out then they would resign back with Cleveland. These deals are only nice for us because their salaries come off the book at the end of the year, not because Shaq is gonna dominate in the paint for the blue and gold. Murph won’t have to guard any of those guys you just mentioned. Any young players or draft picks would just sweeten the deal.

"My game’s like the Pythagorean Theorem. It ain’t got no answer." - Shaq

by bleedinblueandgold on Feb 15, 2010 7:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'll really delve into my thoughts should a deal go through

But I love Murph’s positives for Cleveland. Assuming Shaq and Z are traded, they’ll likely both be waived and be back in Cleveland in a month. That’s the real deal there, but regardless, Murph spreads the floor for Cleveland. That alone is a positive. Anytime you can pull a defender away from the basket when you’ve got LeBron James on your team, you’re going to be hard to stop.

As for Murph and D, he’s not a very good defender, but he’s also never played on a team that stressed defense. Especially one that stresses it as well as Cleveland. I don’t think his defense is going to be a big a liability as people may think, especially for what he can offer the Cavs on offense.

by Nathan S. on Feb 15, 2010 7:50 PM EST up reply actions