Arin It Out tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17 2009-07-09T17:06:58Z Movable Type Pro 4.23-en Pacers Sign Dahntay Jones tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17790 2009-07-09T16:38:16Z 2009-07-09T17:06:58Z The GM The Pacers have signed Dahntay Jones to a contract for 4 years - 11mil.  This is very exciting to me.  The Pacers now have a very good perimeter defender and a solid bench scorer.

He doesn't like to get beat by Kobe Bryant....also a plus!

 

]]> Pacers Preach Summer Patience tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17765 2009-07-06T14:40:15Z 2009-07-06T14:59:35Z The GM As free agency has heated up, teams are contacting agents left and right.  Everyone is putting out feelers and kicking tires right now.  General Managers are trying to decide who fits their team the best and who will sign with them without breaking the bank.

The Pacers are doing all of these things as well, but at their own pace.  David Morway and Larry Bird have expressed to the fans that they will make moves this Summer, but a slower pace than most teams.  Part of me wants to see them hurry and strike early, but the other part of me knows that this free agent market will soon turn in favor of teams who are looking to buy.

With so many free agents and not a ton of money (relatively speaking), a lot of players are going to be signing for a lot less than they normally would.  This works in favor of the teams who are trying to improve, but not go broke doing so.

The first players I saw the Pacers were looking at were Marcin Gortat, Dahntay Jones, and Rodney Carney.  Gortat is now a Dallas Maverick, while Jones and Carney are waiting to see who else falls into place.

Over the weekend I read that the Pacers had contacted the agents for Shannon Brown and Luther Head.  The Pacers are definitely looking for wing/perimeter help this Summer.

If they can manage to sign one of the Jones/Carney duo and one of the Head/Brown duo, then I think that would be a solid Summer for the Pacers.  If they would sign both Jones and Carney then that would be a really good free agent period for them. 

I guess I will just sit and wait to see what happens!

]]> Pacers Getting Involved in Free Agency tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17746 2009-07-01T17:54:41Z 2009-07-01T18:01:42Z The GM I just got done reading an article about the Pacers jumping into the Marcin Gortat bidding.  While I am happy that the Pacers are looking to be aggressive this summer, I don't think Gortat is the player we need.  Not that I don't think he is a good player, but look at the roster at the four and five right now:

Jeff Foster, Troy Murphy, Tyler Hansbrough, Josh McRoberts, and Roy Hibbert are all in the way right now.  One or two of these players would have to be moved in order for Gortat to really be able to succeed and be worth the money.  Larry Bird has said the Hansbrough and Hibbert are untouchable...along with Danny Granger and Brandon Rush, so that makes Foster and Murphy expendable if this signing goes through.  In the end, Murphy is too much of a commodity on the offensive end, so that makes Foster the most likely to be moved this summer.  Can he be moved for a solid wing player?  That would be the ideal situation in my opinion.

Thoughts?  Who should the Pacers go after?

]]> Taking a Look at Possible Pacer Trades tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17736 2009-06-30T18:51:23Z 2009-06-30T19:12:12Z The GM Before the draft there were a lot of trade rumors involving a few Pacer players.  So far, they are just rumors, but it got me thinking about some trade possibilities this summer.

Let's take a look at three trades that I have in mind....

]]> Currently the Pacers' roster looks like this:

PG:  TJ Ford - Jarrett Jack (if he re-signs) - Travis Diener - AJ Price - Jamaal Tinsley

SG:  Brandon Rush - Mike Dunleavy (injured)

SF:  Danny Granger

PF:  Troy Murphy - Tyler Hansbrough - Josh McRoberts (if re-signed)

C:  Roy Hibbert - Jeff Foster - Josh McRoberts

There is a clear need for backups at the two and three and not a need for five point guards on the roster, so here are three trades that I propose:

  • New Jersey gets - Jamaal Tinsley, AJ Price, future 2nd round pick
  • Indiana gets - Rafter Alston, Sean Williams

This trade works salary wise and the Nets could then buyout Tinsley if they wanted.  This will help them free up more money for next summer's free agent frenzy.  The Pacers can get Alston, who has shown he is more than capable of hitting down the three pointer, which is something that is needed in the Pacers' perimeter oriented offense.

  • Washington gets - Jeff Foster
  • Indiana gets - Mike James

This trade gives the Wizards another big body, something that they don't have too many of right now.  The Pacers would acquire Mike James and his expiring contract.  He can help out at the point guard position for this season.

  • Houston gets - TJ Ford, Troy Murphy, future 2nd round pick
  • Indiana gets - Tracy McGrady, Chase Budinger

Houston received some bad news with Yao's injury and now will be looking for big men.  Murphy can bring his double-double game to Houston and help out there.  Ford and Aaron Brooks can split time similar to what Ford and Jack did in Indianapolis this past season.  McGrady is an expiring contract and his health isn't up to par, but he is worth the gamble.  If he gets injured, no big loss, because he will be off the books at the end of the season.  Budinger provides some perimeter firepower to the offense.

After the trades, the roster would look like this:

PG:  Rafer Alston - Jarrett Jack* - Travis Diener - Mike James

SG:  Tracy McGrady - Brandon Rush - Mike Dunleavy*

SF:  Danny Granger - Chase Budinger

PF:  Tyler Hansbrough - Josh McRoberts*

C:  Roy Hibbert - Sean Williams

This roster fits the perimeter offense scheme a little better, but still the post players will need some help.  With the cap space that the Pacers have now, they can go and try to sign a player like Hakim Warrick, Stromile Swift, or maybe even Charlie Villanueva.  Let's say that Indiana signs Villanueva.  Here is what the Pacers' lineup would look like going into the summer of 2010:

PG:  Alston - Jack - Diener
SG:  Rush - Dunleavy
SF:  Granger - Budinger
PF:  Villanueva - Hansbrough - McRoberts
  C:  Hibbert - Williams - McRoberts

I doubt there will be this much turnover for the second straight season, but I'd expect some kind of moves to be made this summer.  I'm just not sure where, when, or who will be leaving town.

]]> A Look at Possible Free Agent Targets tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17728 2009-06-29T19:38:00Z 2009-06-29T19:54:09Z Now that Marquis Daniels is an unrestricted free agent and Mike Dunleavy's knee could leave him out until January, the Pacers really need to focus on signing a couple players that could help them out at the two and three... The GM Now that Marquis Daniels is an unrestricted free agent and Mike Dunleavy's knee could leave him out until January, the Pacers really need to focus on signing a couple players that could help them out at the two and three spots in the rotation.

Inside, I'll take a look at a few guys that I think the Pacers could afford.

]]> First, let me just run down the roster, that way we can get an idea of what the Pacers have and don't have.

PG:  TJ Ford, Travis Diener, AJ Price, Jarrett Jack (qualifying offer on the table)

SG:  Brandon Rush, Mike Dunleavy (knee injury/rehab - out until January, most likely)

SF:  Danny Granger

PF:  Troy Murphy, Tyler Hansbrough

C:  Roy Hibbert, Jeff Foster

I think it is clear that we don't need another point guard on this team, which is another reason the AJ Price pick leaves me scratching my head.  If we didn't take a sure fire rotational point guard in the first round, then we should have just taken the best available player in the second round...without any character issues that is.  Price was neither of those.  We definitely need help at the two and three.  If McRoberts is re-signed, then he will help out at the four and five and be a cheap piece to the puzzle.  Stephen Graham and/or Marquis Daniels could be brought back as well.

Here is a list of guys that I think the Pacers should look at bringing into town:

  • Dahntay Jones - solid perimeter defender and part-time starter.
  • Trevor Ariza - just look at what he did in the playoffs.  I've been calling for him in Indy for a few seasons now.
  • Keith Bogans - would be a nice role player that can help on both ends of the court.
  • Rodney Carney - very athletic wing that is just starting to show his potential.
  • Ime Udoka - defense is his game.  Won't bring a lot to the offensive end though.

I figure if the Pacers can grab one of these guys, then the bench will be a bit more productive than seasons past.  What is really needed is a guy that isn't afraid to shoot and a guy that isn't afraid to defend the best player on the court.  If they can get that packaged into one person, then that is a big win for this team. 

We will see what happens in a couple of days though.

]]> Marquis Daniels is a Free (Agent) Man tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17727 2009-06-29T19:21:24Z 2009-06-29T19:28:29Z The GM It looks like the Pacers have declined the team option on G/F reserve, Marquis Daniels.  He would have made around 8mil this year, so this was a money move for sure.  The move puts Daniels on the unrestricted free agent list this summer.  It is believed that the Pacers will try to re-sign Daniels to a lower contract, but how much is to yet to be determined.

Free agency starts on July 1st, so only two days away from what is sure to be an interesting summer.  A lot of players are going to have to take minimum deals with the way the economy is and how teams are operating now.

The only two remaining restricted free agents on the Pacers' roster right now are Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts.  Jack has a 2.9mil qualifying offer on the table right now, so we will see if he accepts or rejects that.  McRoberts will most likely be back with the team this season, but his role will be limited again.  He is a nice hustle/energy player off the end of the bench.  A team could do a lot worse than McRoberts.

]]> Looking at Hansbrough tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17726 2009-06-29T14:00:28Z 2009-06-29T16:24:11Z The GM A few days have passed since the draft and I want to take a look at what Tyler Hansbrough will bring to the Pacers.  I also want to take a look the Pacers decision to bring Hansbrough on board.

 

]]> When I was watching the draft and running the live blog here, I kept thinking that the Pacers would trade back, like the rumors had been speculating the whole week leading up to the draft.

The most prominent rumor I was hearing was the Pacers trading the 13th pick to the Bulls for the 16th and 26th picks.  This would have been a great evening for the Pacers.  I discussed with a few of my friends that Hansbrough was rumored to be in the Pacers' sites and would be a solid pick at 16.  I also said that the possibility of going with a point guard at 16 and a big man at 26 was pretty high....if this trade had actually gone through.  However, in the long run, I think Hansbrough at 16 and then a point or the best available player at 26 would have been the best fit.

So, imagine my surprise when the Pacers picked TH50 with the 13th pick in the draft.  All I could think of was the huge opportunity missed by the Pacers.  Then, the Bulls selected James Johnson and Taj Gibson with the 16th and 26th picks, respectively.  I started to think, "Maybe the trade is still on."  It wasn't on.

The other scenario that started running through my head was when Minnesota selected Ty Lawson with the 18th pick, making him their third point guard on the night.  I started to think that maybe we would trade for the 18th and 28th picks from Minnesota.  That did not happen either, so I went back to stewing on WHY the Pacers didn't make a trade to better their positions.

In an earlier post, a reader said that I had wrote off Hansbrough already.  My thoughts on Hansbrough (as stated in that same post) are that I like his game and that he will be solid player for the team.  However, at the 13th pick, there were a few better options than Hansbrough.  That is why I don't like what the Pacers did with this pick.

Here are a few players that I valued higher than Hansbrough with the 13th pick:

  • Ty Lawson
  • Jrue Holiday
  • Eric Maynor
  • James Johnson
  • Earl Clark

Lawson, Holiday, and Maynor were all solid point guard prospects and a much better fit for the team with the 13th pick.  Now, if the Pacers wanted to draft for potential, then Holiday would have been the pick here.  I've never been a guy that likes to draft on upside, so my pick would have been Lawson.

Johnson and Clark are/were intriguing to me, because of their ability to play the three and four.  They are both athletic and can take over games for stretches, but the downside is that they also tend to disappear for stretches during the game.  Still though, they had much more value in the draft at the 13th pick than what Hansbrough did.

Ok, I've spent enough time complaining about the pick, so let me give this kid his due credit.  Hansbrough is probably going to go down as one of the greatest college basketball players ever.  Read that again...one of the greatest college basketball players ever.  What is it about this kid that makes him so good?  In my opinion, it is his work ethic.  He is determined to work harder than most anyone else and that shows when he hits the court.  He isn't a one-on-one playground legend and you won't be seeing him in any dunk competitions, but his all around game is very solid.  He has a decent jumper, he can work the low post, he can take a hit and finish, he rebounds well, and runs the floor as fast as he can on every play.  You won't see Hansbrough taking plays off, because that is not what he is about and I absolutely LOVE to see that on the court.  He will be the guy that you want diving for the ball, but you don't want your guy in the pile with him, because nine times out of 10, your guy will lose.  He will be the guy that opposing fans love to hate and the Pacer fans will applaud his hard work and hustle on the court every time.

All-in-all, I like Tyler Hansbrough and I think his addition to the team is good.  I just can't get over the fact that we couldn't improve our team a little more with a move.  Because in the end, that is how teams improve.  You can't hope to sign all the best free agents and blockbuster trades don't happen all the time...outside of this summer so far.

Welcome to Indianapolis Tyler.

]]> Not Sure What They Are Thinking tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17711 2009-06-26T14:47:25Z 2009-06-26T18:40:59Z The GM Last night was the NBA Draft and I had a lot of anxiety/excitement built up in anticipation of what the Pacers might do with the 13th and 52nd picks in the draft.  And....well, let's just say that I am less than pleased.

 

]]> Before I get too far into my hatred for Larry Bird, I'll say that I like Tyler Hansbrough and I think he will be a decent player, BUT there were so many other players to be picked with the 13th pick in the draft.  If anything, we could have traded back and still taken Hansbrough.

Now, commence Larry Bird hate...Larry Bird doesn't have a clue as to what he is doing in the front office and he has made that abundantly clear.  Since LB has been in the front office, we have drafted the following players:

2003

James Jones (2nd round - 49th pick) - Solid role player - plays for Miami Heat.

2004

David Harrison (1st round - 29th pick) - Big body, that is about it - plays for Beijing Ducks.

Rashad Wright (2nd round - 59th pick) - Never made the team - played in Germany last season.

2005

Danny Granger (1st round - 17th pick) - Franchise player for Pacers.

Erazem Lorbek (2nd round - 46th pick) - Went overseas, Pacers still have his rights - plays for CSKA Moscow.

2006

Shawne Williams (1st round - 17th pick) - Never got to see his full potential - plays for Dallas Mavericks.

Alexander Johnson (2nd round - 45th pick) - Traded on draft night for James White (signed with Houston at the end of this season) - plays for Brose Baskets in the Basketball Bundesliga

2007

NO PICKS

2008

Jerryd Bayless (1st round - 11th pick) - Traded to Portland on draft night for Brandon Rush (13th pick) and Jarrett Jack - was a reserve in his rookie season.

Nathan Jawai (2nd round - 41st pick) - Traded to Toronto with Jermaine O'Neal for TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Roy Hibbert (17th pick), and Maceo Baston - was a reserves in his rookie season.

2009

Tyler Hansbrough (1st round - 13th pick) - I like Hansbrough's game and I like his hustle, but he wasn't what the Pacers needed at 13.

AJ Price (2nd round - 52nd pick) - Got in trouble for stealing computers on campus his sophomore year of school. Three felony larceny charges and lying to police.  That is a great character pick there Larry! 

So, looking at all of these picks since Larry has been in the front office, only one is still with the team (minus last night's selections) and that person is Danny Granger.  That isn't exactly how you build a team.  You can't just hope to strike gold once every six or seven years. 

Larry Bird needs to be fired...for real

I can say this:  I'M NOT BUYING SEASON TICKETS NOW.  I'll still root for the Pacers, but I'm not going to give them my money now.  I won't give them any money until Larry Bird is out of the Pacers' front office.  Let David Morway and crew do their job.

]]> Live Blog - NBA Draft - Tonight!!! Be There tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17702 2009-06-25T14:08:07Z 2009-06-25T14:08:46Z NBA Draft Live Blog... The GM NBA Draft Live Blog]]> AIO Mock Draft: Version 2.78 - Trades!!! tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17696 2009-06-24T14:31:41Z 2009-06-24T14:47:13Z The GM Alrighty, I'm going to make this one short and sweet, so I'll cut out the commentary.  The trades have really flopped things around!

So....jump inside the telephone booth and come on an excellent adventure with me...

]]> 1.  LA Clippers - Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma (DUH)
2.  Memphis Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet, C, UCONN
3.  OKC Thunder - James Harden, SG, Arizona State
4.  Sacramento Kings - Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain
5.  Minnesota Timberwolves - Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson
6.  Minnesota Timberwolves - Tyreke Evans, G, Memphis
7.  Golden State Warriors - Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse
8.  New York Knicks - DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC
9.  Toronto Raptors - Terrence Williams, SG/SF, Louisville
10.  Milwaukee Bucks - Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA
11.  New Jersey Nets - DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh
12.  Charlotte Bobcats - Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke
13.  Indiana Pacers - Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona
14.  Phoenix Suns - Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy
15.  Detroit Pistons - Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina
16.  Chicago Bulls - Earl Clark, SF/PF, Louisville
17.  Philadelphia 76ers - Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina
18.  Minnesota Timberwolves - James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest
19.  Atlanta Hawks - Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
20.  Utah Jazz - Austin Daye, SF/PF, Gonzaga
21.  New Orleans Hornets - BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State
22.  Dallas Mavericks - Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest
23.  Sacramento Kings - Chase Budinger, SG, Arizona
24.  Portland Trailblazers - DeJuan Summers, SF/PF, Georgetown
25.  OKC Thunder - DeMarre Carroll, PF, Missouri
26.  Chicago Bulls - Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina
27.  Memphis Grizzlies - Patrick Mills, PG, Saint Marys
28.  Minnesota Timberwolves - Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh
29.  Los Angeles Lakers - Darren Collison, PG, UCLA
30.  Cleveland Cavaliers - Derrick Brown, PF, Xavier

]]> 2009 NBA Mock Draft Breakdown: Dallas Mavericks tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17695 2009-06-24T14:18:21Z 2009-06-24T14:29:35Z The GM The Mavericks also just have one pick in the draft this year. 

I'm not really sure what Mark Cuban is looking at doing, but I think I have the answer inside...

]]> 2009 Free Agents
  • Ryan Hollins (Restricted)
  • Brandon Bass (Unrestricted)
  • Devean George (Player Option - Unrestricted)
  • Gerald Green (Unrestricted)
  • Jason Kidd (Unrestricted)
  • James Singleton (Unrestricted)

Bass and Kidd are the big losses here.  They always seem to have an endless amount of bench players for some reason.

Depth Chart (Pre-Draft)

PG:  Jason Terry - Jose Juan Barea
SG:  Antoine Wright - Matt Carroll - Jerry Stackhouse
SF:  Josh Howard - Shawne Williams - Jerry Stackhouse
PF:  Dirk Nowitzki
C:  Erick Dampier

Draft Picks (Mock Picks)

  • 22nd overall - Austin Daye, SF/PF, Gonzaga - Daye fits the same mold of Nowitzki.  Daye also has the soft label, so he fits perfectly for Dallas!  If he can get a bit tougher and keep his shooting touch, then this could be a huge steal for this team.

Depth Chart (Post-Draft)

PG:  Jason Terry - Jose Juan Barea
SG:  Antoine Wright - Matt Carroll - Jerry Stackhouse
SF:  Josh Howard - Austin Daye - Shawne Williams
PF:  Dirk Nowitzki - Shawne Williams - Austin Daye
C:  Erick Dampier - Dirk Nowitzki

Players on Trade Block

  • Josh Howard
  • Jerry Stackhouse

I think it is time for Mark Cuban to face the fact that the window has closed on his championship and it is time to try and build for the future.  Howard brings back the most talent in a trade.  Stackhouse is unhappy in Dallas and could be a nice trading piece come deadline time.

Final Analysis

This might be the first year in a long time that this team doesn't make the playoffs.  The West is getting tougher than ever and the Mavericks are quite soft in crunch time.  Even if they do make the playoffs, they don't have the heart or the mindset to make a deep run anymore.

]]> 2009 NBA Mock Draft Breakdown: New Orleans Hornets tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17694 2009-06-24T14:02:26Z 2009-06-24T14:10:49Z The GM The Hornets only have one pick this year and that is a good thing for the cost conscious team owners.  They don't want to pay a dime more than they have to.

Which direction will the Hornets go? 

]]> 2009 Free Agents
  • Ryan Bowen (Unrestricted)
  • Melvin Ely (Unrestricted)
  • Sean Marks (Unrestricted)

Probably safe to assume these three guys are gone.

Depth Chart (Pre-Draft)

PG:  Chris Paul - Antonio Daniels
SG:  Rasual Butler - Morris Peterson - Devin Brown
SF:  Peja Stojakovic - James Posey
PF:  David West - Julian Wright
C:  Tyler Chandler - Hilton Armstrong

Draft Picks (Mock Picks)

  • 21st overall - BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State - I think Mullens has BUST written all over him, but since he is a big body, he will get drafted in the first round.  This team needs size, but I wouldn't recommend this kid.

Depth Chart (Post-Draft)

PG:  Chris Paul - Antonio Daniels
SG:  Rasual Butler - Morris Peterson - Devin Brown
SF:  Peja Stojakovic - James Posey - Devin Brown
PF:  David West - Julian Wright
C:  Tyler Chandler - Hilton Armstrong - BJ Mullens

Players on Trade Block

  • Tyson Chandler

The Hornets want to cut salary, but at what cost?  Not sure what they would get for Chandler or if it would be better than what they have now.

Final Analysis

This has a nice shot at making a deep playoff run if everyone stays healthy.  CP3 is the most exciting point guard in the league and can carry this team for long stretches. 

]]> 2009 NBA Mock Draft Breakdown: Utah Jazz tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17687 2009-06-23T17:25:09Z 2009-06-24T13:57:21Z The Jazz face a situation that is similar to what the Hawks are going to experience this summer. Can they bring back enough of their own free agents or are they going to have to watch as other teams pick... The GM The Jazz face a situation that is similar to what the Hawks are going to experience this summer.

Can they bring back enough of their own free agents or are they going to have to watch as other teams pick them off one-by-one.

Let's take a further look inside...

]]> 2009 Free Agents
  • Paul Millsap (Restricted)
  • Morris Almond (Unrestricted)
  • Carlos Boozer (Player option - Unrestricted)
  • Jarron Collins (Unrestricted)
  • Brevin Knight (Unrestricted)
  • Kyle Korver (Early Termination Option - Unrestricted)
  • Mehmet Okur (Early Termination Option - Unrestricted)
  • Ronnie Price (Unrestricted)

If Boozer, Millsap, and Okur leave, this team is pretty much doomed in the front court.  They are also losing some veteran point guard experience and a nice perimeter player in Korver.  That is, if they all leave

Depth Chart (Pre-Draft)

PG:  Deron Williams
SG:  Ronnie Brewer
SF:  Andrei Kirilenko - CJ Miles
PF:  Matt Harpring
C:  Kosta Koufos - Kyrylo Fesenko

Draft Picks (Mock Picks)

  • 20th overall - Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina - Plain and simple, Hansbrough gets the job done.  He isn't flashy, he isn't the most athletic guy on the court, but he is a hard-nosed player that works his butt off.  Good fit for this team.
  • 50th overall - Lee Cummard, SG/SF, BYU - Cummard is a more athletic version of Kyle Korver.  Again, a good fit for this team.

Depth Chart (Post-Draft)

PG:  Deron Williams
SG:  Ronnie Brewer - Lee Cummard
SF:  Andrei Kirilenko - CJ Miles
PF:  Tyler Hansbrough - Matt Harpring
C:  Kosta Koufos - Kyrylo Fesenko

Players on Trade Block

  • NONE

The only way I see Utah trying to trade AK-47 is if Boozer, Millsap, and Okur all leave.  I doubt that will really happen, so Kirilenko is stuck in the SLC for another season.

Final Analysis

This team's future success depends on what happens with the three frontcourt players.  If two of the three stay, then this team is in the playoffs again.  If one or none of them stay, then it will be a tough season for Jerry Sloan, who doesn't like to lose.

]]> 2009 NBA Mock Draft Breakdown: Atlanta Hawks tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17686 2009-06-23T14:58:29Z 2009-06-23T16:22:02Z The GM The Hawks have the 19th and 49th picks in the draft.  With all the players they have hitting free agency, the Hawks are hurting for players to fill out the roster right now.

Can they find their future stars in this draft?  Let's find out...

]]> 2009 Free Agents
  • Thomas Gardner (Restricted)
  • Josh Childress (Restricted - playing overseas)
  • Othello Hunter (Restricted)
  • Mario West (Restricted)
  • Solomon Jones (Restricted)
  • Marvin Williams (Restricted)
  • Mike Bibby (Unrestricted)
  • Zaza Pachulia (Unrestricted)
  • Ronald "Flip" Murray (Unrestricted)

That is a pretty hefty chunk of the roster there.  If they could find a way to get Marvin Williams, Bibby, and Pachulia back, then they better do it.  But, for the sake of this breakdown, I am assuming they don't sign any.

Depth Chart (Pre-Draft)

PG:  Acie Law - Speedy Claxton
SG:  Joe Johnson
SF:  Maurice Evans
PF:  Josh Smith
C:  Al Horford - Randolph Morris

Draft Picks (Mock Picks)

  • 19th overall - Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest - Teague can come in and start for the Hawks right away.  He is a solid point guard with a lot of shooting guard in him.  When paired with Joe Johnson, either could run the point or play off the ball.
  • 49th overall - Leo Lyons, PF, Mizzouri - Lyons reminds me of Tayshaun Prince.  He isn't super strong, but will make open jumpers and crash the boards.  Has a very smooth offensive game. 

Depth Chart (Post-Draft)

PG:  Jeff Teague - Acie Law - Speedy Claxton 
SG:  Joe Johnson - Acie Law
SF:  Maurice Evans - Leo Lyons
PF:  Josh Smith - Leo Lyons
C:  Al Horford - Randolph Morris

Players on Trade Block

  • Acie Law

It seems that the Hawks have grown impatient with Law's inability to handle the point guard duties with any success.  I wouldn't be surprised if he is traded this summer.

Final Analysis

Without signing one or two of their key free agents this summer, the Hawks will be hard pressed to match any of the success they had this past season.  If the roster looks like this, then the playoffs are out of the question.

]]> 2009 NBA Mock Draft Breakdown: Philadelphia 76ers tag:www.arinitout.com,2009://17.17685 2009-06-23T14:35:30Z 2009-06-23T14:55:33Z The GM The 76ers had a nice season that ended with a tough loss in the playoffs against the Orlando Magic.  With plenty of pieces moving and coming back, this could be an interesting team come next season.  With only one pick in this draft the 76ers will have to do some extra work in free agency or through trades this season.

Follow the jump to see more.

]]> 2009 Free Agents
  • Donyell Marshall (Unrestricted)
  • Royal Ivey (Unrestricted)
  • Andre Miller (Unrestricted)
  • Theo Ratliff (Unrestricted)
  • Kareem Rush (Unrestricted)

It looks like Andre Miller is gone from Philly, so that leaves the PG spot wide open.  I don't see Ratliff and Rush coming back either.  Ivey opted out of his contract (I believe), so the only real question mark is Donyell Marshall and I'm really not sure that they will bring him back.

Depth Chart (Pre-Draft)

PG:  Lou Williams
SG:  Willie Green - Jason Kapono
SF:  Andre Iguodala
PF:  Thad Young - Marreese Speights - Jason Smith
C:  Elton Brand - Sam Dalembert - Jason Smith

Draft Picks (Mock Picks)

  • 17th overall - Eric Maynor, PG, VCU - Maynor is a mature point guard that has plenty of experience leading his team.  He was a three year starter for VCU, so he knows how to run a team.  I think he is one of the best point guards in this draft, but he doesn't have as much "upside" as some of the younger guys.  Great pick for the 76ers here if they can get him.

Depth Chart (Post-Draft)

PG:  Eric Maynor - Lou Williams
SG:  Willie Green - Jason Kapono
SF:  Andre Iguodala -
PF:  Thad Young - Marreese Speights - Jason Smith
C:  Elton Brand - Sam Dalembert - Jason Smith

Players on Trade Block

  • Sam Dalembert

Dalembert seems to be the name that pops up when I hear of trade rumors involving the '6ers.  I've also heard Speights and Jason Smith mentioned, but I think that was more along the lines of trading up for a pick.

Final Analysis

If the rotation of AI, Thad, and Brand at the 3,4, and 5 works out, then this team could be a dangerous defensive unit.  If it doesn't then this team isn't hurting as bad at the two, because Iggy could slide back and then Dalembert would get a lot more minutes at the 5 if he isn't traded.  I see this team back in the playoffs, even if they have a rookie running the point.  For more coverage of the 76ers, hop on over to read what Brian's thoughts are at Depressed Fan

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