INDIANA PACERS
Summer, 2013:
Drafted: Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona.
Free Agents Signed: Chris Copeland, F (Knicks), C.J. Watson, G (Nets), Donald Sloan G, (China)
Draft Picks Coming/Going: Owed Golden State’s 2nd round pick in 2015
PLAYER | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 |
Roy Hibbert | $14,200,000 | $14,900,000 | $15,500,000 | ||
Danny Granger | $14,020,000 | ||||
David West | $12,000,000 | $12,000,000 | $12,000,000 | ||
George Hill | $8,000,000 | $8,000,000 | $8,000,000 | $8,000,000 | |
Ian Mahinmi | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | ||
Gerald Green | $3,500,000 | $3,500,000 | |||
Paul George | $3,280,000 | $4,470,000 | |||
Chris Copeland | $3,000,000 | $3,100,000 | |||
Miles Plumlee | $1,120,000 | $1,170,000 | $2,110,000 | $3,110,000 | |
Lance Stephenson | $930,000 | ||||
Orlando Johnson | $789,000 | $915,000 | $1,180,000 | ||
C.J. Watson | TBA | TBA | |||
Donald Sloan | TBA | ||||
Solomon Hill | |||||
TOTAL SALARY | $64,839,000 | $ | $ | $ | $0 |
Player Option Team Option Qualifying Offer
ANALYSIS
Upon returning to his previous role as VP of the Pacers, Larry Bird said re-signing free agent David West was a priority — and he wasted no time inking the power forward to a three-year, $36 million deal.
West was 30 two summers ago, when he signed with the Pacers for $20 million over two years. Now 32 with his numbers in a slow decline, was he really worth an extra year and a 20 percent raise? His new contract ends in 2016, the same year as Roy Hibbert’s deal.
Bird also upgraded his backup point guard slot by letting the erratic D.J. Augustin walk and signing free agent C.J. Watson to a two-year deal. Watson is bigger and stronger than Augustin and is capable of the type of defense coach Frank Vogel wants to play.
The Pacers are well below the luxury tax threshold and still have their mid-level exception, which they may use on a replacement for Tyler Hansbrough, who was presented a qualifying offer that was pulled to make room for West. Chris Copeland is an entirely different player than Hansbrough, who brought a legitimate toughness that is tough to find in this day and age.
Bird also may be looking to deal Danny Granger, who missed virtually all of last season with a knee injury, has one year left on his deal and may be expendable with the emergence of Paul George as an All-Star.
All in all, the team that took the Miami Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals is certainly improved.