OK I am hoping that we can package Collier and maybe Drew/Walt to Indiana for Croshere. But why would we trade Pryz for Collier if Indiana wanted a center. I know we got an additional 1st round pick, but it won't be a very good pick. Wouldn't Indiana have rather had Pryz than Collier. Yeah Collier has more of a touch like Smits but Pryz is a better player. That makes me doubt that we got Collier for the purpose of a trade to Indiana. Also I think Indiana will do everything possible to keep Croshere. Their 1st priority is Rose but I think Croshere is their second priority and I can't see them trading him, unless Croshere requests to leave. ------------------
You neglected to mention after their 1st priority is Rose, their 2nd priority is Reggie Miller. After those 2 guys get the max,( if they paid both guys the max, that is about 75% of their cap) Ind will not want to spend a lot more and tie up their salary cap. The owner has gone on record as saying he does not intend to pay any luxary tax because their roster is over the cap. Their management has already made rumblings that Croshere may be the odd man out. By trading Drew(which they need a PG since Jackson is leaving) along with a draft pick or existing player(s) we could get Croshere in a S&T deal and they would gotten cheaper players to fill their roster around Rose and Miller. Does not seem too far fetched to me. ------------------ Houston Rockets Forever!! In Rudy We Trust
I think Croshere may be a higher priority than Miller. Reggie is a fan favorite but he is getting older. I think the Pacers know they can't keep all their FAs but I think they will take care of Rose & Croshere, who are their future, then give Reggie whatever is left, if anything at all. Especially with a new coach, Isiah?, they know they are beginning a new era, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Reggie gone. Didn't Reggie at least mention retirement? ------------------
If they dump Reggie, they are idiots. Where would they have gotten without him this year? You don't go all the way to the finals just to rebuild the following year. ------------------ - hoopjunkie "when you come in da HOOD... things change."
Aren't Jonathan Bender and the kid from SW Texas their big men of the future? I don't smell any deals here. I predict we will keep Collier. Why would the Pacers NOT want to keep Croshere. He is more important than Reggie because he is at the outset of his career while Reggie is at the back end of his. Yes, these are tough choices but when the players started making so much money, they brought the job insecurity down upon themselves. ------------------ There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't.
Croshere is a very good player. Period. Not a franchise guy, probably never an allstar, but a very good player, and a nice peice to a winning team. He is however approaching the prime part of his career and his value for the Pacers is based on his projected impact for the next few years. With that said, it will take quite a bit to pry him from the Pacers. Of course, he could demand a trade and tie the Pacers hands which would lessen his value. However, remember Lorenzen Wright? The Clippers received 3 1st round picks for him and he said he would not under any circumstances play for L.A.. Bryce Drew has 0 interest for the Pacers, he is from Indiana, he is a career back up. Even if Jack doesn't sign, Best is a shooting point guard and Jalen used to be a point guard. They have the position filled. My guess is that since the Finals display by Croshere, he would command Mobley or Cato and a future pick. Also, I haven't seen it anywhere, where he is the odd man out and I would say he is their second priority because of his age and where else can Reggie go and get offered a fourth of what the Pacers will pay him. Lastly, the Pacer organization is very high on Foster and Bender. Donnie Walsh has guessed that if Foster played 25 minutes a game that he may have average double digit boards. Bender well he is targeted as their future franchise player. Interesting side note is that during the season Foster took a bet from the Pacer veterans that he couldn't dunk from the free throw line....he did. Then Bender matched him from the FT line...left handed. ------------------ http://jonathanbender.8m.com http://alharrington.8m.com
http://www.starnews.com/sports/articles/kids12.ART.html ------------------ http://jonathanbender.8m.com http://alharrington.8m.com
Maybe Collier is our way around paying Croshere, in that he's a big guy that can throw in hard picks and shoot the outside j (if the defenders switch). There seems to be some notion that the Rockets will have cap room next year. If that is at all the case then there's no reason to risk that if we can get a similar player at a 1/7th of the cost. ------------------
Aren't Jonathan Bender and the kid from SW Texas their big men of the future RichRocket, I've read reports that Jeff Foster (from SWT) is progressing well this summer and will be better than most people expect. Though, probably not starting material. As far as Bender, I heard an interesting quote about him last week. Clark Kellog (former OSU/Indiana Pacer player and current Pacer TV announcer) was being interviewed on the radio and was asked about Bender. He said that he thought that Bender's natural position might end up being the 2 guard spot because of his shooting and ball handling skills. That would be quite interesting. Either way people are predicting that Bender is going to be a monster player in a couple of years. ------------------ [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited June 29, 2000).]
