Pacers more likely to take trade route

[evilchilaya (Shut Me Up)]

Pacers more likely to take trade route

Indiana will have tough time signing free agents because of salary cap.

By Mark Montieth
[e-mail]
July 1, 2004

They won 61 games and took the eventual league champions to six games in the Ea
stern Conference finals despite injuries to two starters. With the exception of
 their shooting guard, they are young and deep.

So what do the Indiana Pacers need with the free agent marketplace that opens f
or negotiations today?

Not much, really. Which is why they enter it with an offensive mind-set of addi
ng select pieces rather than a defensive posture of trying to hang on to their
assets.

"This is different than other times I've gone into this period," Pacers CEO Don
nie Walsh said. "I've gone into it having to keep what we've got or having to a
dd something to what we've got. But we have our team. It's here. The idea is to
 try to make it better."

The Pacers have 11 players under contract for next season, excluding draft pick
s David Harrison and Rashad Wright. They also will consider re-signing two othe
rs from last season, Anthony Johnson and Jamison Brewer.

The Pacers will find it more difficult than most teams to improve their roster,
 but opportunities could arise in a rare marketplace in which some of the game'
s biggest names are available as free agents or hoping to be traded.

Kobe Bryant is an unrestricted free agent, although one whose future is clouded
 by a legal proceeding. Also unrestricted are Erick Dampier, Rasheed Wallace, D
erek Fisher, Brent Barry, Mark Blount and Stephen Jackson.

Kenyon Martin, Jamal Crawford, Carlos Boozer, Manu Ginobili, Hedo Turkoglu, Mar
quis Daniels, Morris Peterson and Carlos Arroyo are among the restricted free a
gents whose teams can -- and in most cases will -- match any offers.

The Pacers' payroll for next season will far exceed the salary cap, projected t
o be close to last season's figure of $43.8 million. Their only tools for signi
ng free agents are the $1 million exception (which is actually $1.6 million) an
d the mid-level exception (about $5 million).

The Pacers are more likely to make a trade. Among the players who could be avai
lable:

‧ Shaquille O'Neal, who has put his home up for sale in Los Angeles in anticip
ation of a move.

‧ Vince Carter, who has asked for a trade, according to Toronto newspapers.

‧ Ray Allen has one year left on his contract in Seattle and could be moved in
 advance of his free agency.

The Pacers will explore the possibility of landing O'Neal. At 7 feet and
reportedly 340 pounds, he is the NBA's most imposing player. But at 32, he migh
t be past his prime.

First, however, they need to find out if O'Neal has interest in them. He has tw
o years left on his contract, at $27.7 million and $30.6 million per season, an
d is seeking an extension.

"I'm not sure," Walsh said. "I've heard yes (he might have interest in the Pace
rs) and I've heard he wants to play in warmer weather."

A call to O'Neal's agent, Perry Rogers, was not returned.

If O'Neal is interested, so are the Pacers.

"It would be nice," said team president Larry Bird, who will handle the Pacers'
 activities this month in tandem with Walsh. "He's the most dominating player (
in the league). But the price is high."

The Pacers' primary goal is to add perimeter shooting. They also will consider
adding a proven point guard and more size up front, although they addressed tho
se concerns in last week's draft.

Harrison, a center, will sign a three-year rookie contract next week. Wright, a
point guard who was selected with the final pick in the second round, won't ne
cessarily receive a guaranteed contract. Both players have been working out at
Conseco Fieldhouse this week and will participate in summer league play in Salt
 Lake City later this month.

The Pacers' early impressions of their picks could affect their moves once the
signing period begins July 14.

Six-year veteran Al Harrington, who has asked to be traded, is the most likely
Pacer to be involved in a deal.

目前看到關於和 O'Neal 的新聞就只有這個吧....= ="

Hoopshype 和 Espn.com 都看過了，都沒有什麼有包含 Pacers 和 O'Neal 的 Rumor

那個記者不知道是從哪裡想出來的.../_\

http://www.indystar.com/articles/8/159074-2538-179.html

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 210.64.174.7
※ 編輯: evilchilaya     來自: 210.64.174.7         (07/03 18:22)
推 kobekid:是芭樂消息吧