T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack
I think the Pacers did a nice job addressing the point guard position. That was something that was an issue last year. And with T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack, you’ve got two guys who are experienced, who have played both as starters and off the bench, and have done some things at the NBA level. So point guard position appears to be solidified. Which ever one wins the starting position, the other one would be a quality backup. I know that T.J. is the presumptive starter and it may well play out that way, but Jarrett Jack is an accomplished player and I think probably better than the average backup if that’s the way it plays out. So that was an opportunity for the Pacers to address the point guard position and I think they did so in a successful manner.
Rasho Nesterovic
Rasho Nesterovic is a big guy. He’s been in the league. He’s had some success with the Spurs. He had his best years with the Timberwolves. He’s an experienced player. And the reality of the NBA world is this: you have to look forward too. And he’s got a contract that’s very appealing. Worst case scenario with him would be that he comes in, sits on the bench, gives you a big body if you need it, and doesn’t do much. With an expiring contract, you’re set for next year. But he’s a player who can do more than that. If he does play, he’s going to help. He’ll get in there and he’s got a nice shooting touch around the basket. He’s not a big, strong banger, but he can rebound. And I think he’ll give the Pacers a big guy that they’ve been lacking in the past, at least as far as depth is concerned.
|
Maceo Baston we know from before. He’s a quality guy. He’s been with Toronto. He’s been here. He was with Chicago for a little while. He’s traveled the long and winding road to get here out of Michigan. He’s not really found his spot yet. He hasn’t found a place where he can play big minutes and make a contribution. But he’s a good guy to have on a team. He’s a good practice player. He’s an excellent guy. He fits well in the locker room. And if he gets a chance, he may well demonstrate that he can do some things that might surprise you. He just hasn’t been in a spot yet where he’s had an opportunity to contribute. Hopefully that will happen for him here because he’s a quality guy and he would represent the franchise very well.
Josh McRoberts, Brandon Rush, and Roy Hibbert
Josh McRoberts is known to fans around here from his high school days in Carmel. Had a nice career at Duke. Spent some time in the D-League last year. Hopefully that helped him to elevate his game a little bit. He didn’t get a lot of run in Portland. He only played a little bit. But he’s still a young player, still evolving. We don’t really know what he can do at this level and I think it’ll be fun to find out because he’s a local kid, and that always adds an extra element to the equation.
As far as the other guys are concerned, Brandon Rush we know had a great college career and played on a national championship team. Has a reputation as a guy that can shoot the ball, a guy that can play both ends. He can defend, he can play both of those swing positions. And I think he’s going to be able to come in probably and make an impact right away.
Roy Hibbert is a big guy. Had a real nice career at Georgetown. He can block shots, he did score in college, he did rebound. He’s not the kind of guy that runs up and down the court. He won’t impress you that way. He’s just a big presence that can do some things around the basket. And the Pacers have had trouble there. They’ve been a poor defensive team in recent years. So anybody that can come in and contribute on the defensive end --Rush for example with perimeter defending and then Hibbert around the basket perhaps blocking some shots-- those have to be big pluses because the Pacers are desperate for guys that can help on the defensive end.
