For half a season, some six months ago, the Indiana Pacers set the NBA on fire. Fast-forward to August and one can see a stark contrast between what the Pacers were then and what they are now. Following a second-half collapse, the disappearance of any and all team chemistry, a seven-foot center who played like he was five foot seven, and Indy was left with a disappointing end to a season that felt like it was championship or bust.
There was, however, hope in The Hoosier State as attention turned to the offseason. Fans were confident that Lance Stephenson would re-sign, and Paul George was honing his game with Team USA. By mid-July, those hopes were gone. After Stephenson bolted to Charlotte for a shot at a more prominent role and a new set of faces, Indy had lost its most enigmatic, and talented, scorers. Then came the exhibition game, and the injury that we have all seen, heard about, read about, and tried to block from our memory. Now the Pacers are left facing a serious question as the 2014-2015 NBA season rapidly approaches: regroup, or rebuild?
Option 1: Regroup
It seems to be the more prudent move for the Pacers to think about regrouping for next season. In reality, the team still has a solid rotation and set of core players. George Hill should bounce back, and the team certainly hopes Roy Hibbert will play like he did at the end of the playoffs rather than in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks. Meanwhile frontcourt stalwart David West is still around and provides the muscle the team needs to succeed. Add in veterans C.J. Watson and Luis Scola, and this team legitimately has a chance to make the playoffs next season.
In the offseason, the Pacers added C.J. Miles and Rodney Stuckey to bolster the backcourt, and it seems that they will be more important now than the Pacers’ front office may have wanted. Nonetheless, the team seems poised to make it back to the playoffs once again in the weaker Eastern Conference.
They will certainly rue their missed opportunity last season against a clearly weaker Miami Heat squad, and the feeling around the team must be indescribable following what happened to their All-Star and potential MVP candidate, Paul George. If this team decided to regroup for the upcoming season, they could look to trade for more depth in the backcourt. Rajon Rondo remains an interesting trade candidate and would provide an immediate boost at the position. A number of free agents remain at-large, and if the Pacers decide to go this route, the opportunity for improvement is there.
Option 2: Rebuild
Perhaps the more prudent route for Larry Bird and the organization is to start thinking about the long-term. This would involve a full-scale makeover and would allow the team to clear some cap space for next year’s offseason (LaMarcus Aldridge anyone?). The team currently rosters seven (SEVEN!!!) players who can become unrestricted free agents in 2015, which makes for a lot of expiring contracts and a lot of trade assets. What the team decides to do with them will be hugely indicative of which direction the team wants to move.
By going this route and rebuilding the team, the Pacers will be effectively throwing in the towel on the 2014-15 and 2015-16 NBA seasons. They could score a high draft pick and an elite talent coming through the ranks of college basketball such as Jahlil Okafor or Emmanuel Mudiay. Chances are, in 2014-15 life will be pretty tough as it is without Paul George anyway. The longer-term path to success could be more enticing to this franchise that has suddenly fallen on hard times. A trip to the playoffs is within their reach, but it is hard to imagine the Pacers as they are currently constituted to make a deep playoff run. Gathering pieces to surround George with if and when he makes a full recovery is paramount to this franchise’s future success.
Although it is never an easy decision to make, and Larry Bird is not one to forfeit an entire season or two, gathering young talent may be the smarter move. Draft picks are at a premium with so much young, NBA-ready talent at the college level, and the team certainly has a plethora of trade assets. Now is the time for the Indiana Pacers to seriously evaluate their future and what direction the team needs to head in to ensure future success. Otherwise, this team will be left in limbo, and harder times would yet remain.