Indiana Pacers: the poor man’s guide to building a winning team

Roy Hibbert #55 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates with teammate Paul George #24 after scoring against the Miami Heat in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on June 1, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Getty Images)

The Pacers bench rotation players is led by former NCAA player of the year and 2009’s 13th pick Tyler Hansbrough, a college star whose talents never really developed into the pros. They also have DJ Augustin (2008 9th pick by Charlotte, who joined Indiana via free agency in 2012), backup center Ian Mahinmi, (picked 28th by the Spurs in 2003, won a championship with the Mavericks in 2011, and joined Indiana in 2012), and Sam Young, (picked 36th by Grizzlies in 2009, played in Memphis and Philadelphia before coming to Indiana). They also have world-travelling journeyman Gerald Green, the Celtics’ 18th pick in 2005 who spent the next few years in his career between a handful of different NBA teams, in the D-League, in Russia, and China, before joining the Pacers in 2012.

And lest we forget, the Pacers’ managed this incredible run this year without their most potent scorer, Danny Granger, who was another low pick (17th) back in 2005. Granger is the oldest serving member of the team, one who joined them just a season after the team was last a real playoff threat, at the end of the season highlighted by the ‘Malice in the Palace’ and the end of the Jermaine O’Neal-Ron Artest-Stephen Jackson-Reggie Miller era. Granger, a former Most Improved Player, missed the majority of this season to injury, and his absence gave the team a new identity. In his absence, Paul George blossomed as the team’s main perimeter threat.

As we look ahead, the future is incredibly bright for this young squad, who were able to go so far despite their relative lack of experience. They are planning to resign David West and keep their core together. In 23-year-old Paul George, they have a player who can truly develop into one of the best players in the NBA. Lance Stephenson is just 22 and will continue to develop into a solid starter too. Hibbert has DPOY potential, and as he enters the prime of his career, the big man will continue to dominate the playoffs in a league which is short on big men.

Danny Granger #33 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates during the NBA game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 16, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Danny Granger #33 of the Indiana Pacers. (Getty Images)

Their biggest ‘problem’ – if that can even be classified as one – will be what to do with their system when Granger returns. Granger is a great scorer and will expect to start again next season. This will move George to the shooting guard position and require Stephenson to come off the bench. Whether or not they make this move, Granger’s return will immediately give the Pacers a consistent offensive punch that they were missing all season and in the playoffs. And – if they feel that Granger is deemed unnecessary for their plans – they can find ways to trade him in return for an upgrade in the point guard position or more firepower off the bench.

Only one game separated the Pacers from the NBA Finals and a summer vacation. We can talk about the Spurs and the Heat now, because those are the last two teams standing, but we can also look forward to the future, to the team that can take the biggest step next season and aim to close the gap further between themselves and the Heat. And maybe, a year from now, they could be amongst the last teams we talk about at the end of the NBA season.