Quick Thoughts on the Pacers’ universe
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Comedian Mike Epps says he’s trying out for the Pacers. There’s a joke in there somewhere.
Late last night, Yahoo! Sports reported that the Pacers agreed with All-Star small forward Paul George on a multiyear contract extension. Instead of becoming a restricted free agent next July, George is apparently close to signing a deal for five years and at the maximum salary. As an added bonus, the ink might dry before they roll out the first ball at training camp.
The negotiation is set to finish far in advance of the Oct. 31 deadline because the extension was a smart move for both sides. For George, it’s a huge payday. For the Pacers, it’s a new, long-term agreement with their best player. Win, win.
George made the All-NBA third team last season after averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals – ranking among the top 30 in the league in all three categories. That honor triggered a provision of the collective bargaining agreement that allows George to be paid more in this extension. If George makes All-NBA this season, he can earn a 30 percent max contract. This is the “Rose rule.”
Until the NBA announces next year’s salary cap, and until we see whether George gets 30 percent or 25 percent, the exact value of the deal won’t be known. But a full Rose max is likely to be about $90 million, paying George $18 million a year. That can all be prematurely accounted for in the language of the contract.
As I wrote earlier this summer, what matters is whether George’s deal has an opt-out. That’s the difference between controlling George for the next five seasons or for the next six. If president Larry Bird was smart enough to object to an opt-out clause, the Pacers would have George tied down through the 2018-19 season.
Switching gears, former Pacer Jeff Pendergraph, now a backup big man for San Antonio, legally changed his last name to Ayres. He was the NBA’s first Pendergraph. Now he’s the first Ayres.
Pacers owner Herb Simon is worth $1.95 billion, according to last week’s Forbes estimate. Although he’s done more behind the scenes in the past five years, he’ll never be front and center like Mark Cuban, who wildly cheers near Dallas’ bench and spends lavishly on the team. No matter what Simon does, and whether or not he gets his much-desired championship, he’ll be remembered fondly for his role in the survival of professional basketball in the state of Indiana. Simon and his brother bought the Pacers in 1983. That’s his local legacy, even more than his personal fortune.
A strong reflection on Simon was the Pacers’ finish in ESPN The Magazine’s annual “Franchise” issue. The Pacers were rated as the third-best franchise in the NBA and No. 3 out of 122 teams in the major sports. (The Memphis Grizzlies finished atop the list.) Some of Indiana’s ranking has to do with $10 tickets. Conseco – er, Bankers Life – Fieldhouse is beautiful. The team is talented as can be. No wonder surveyed fans were happy.
Teams such as the Knicks (Metta World Peace) and Heat (Michael Beasley) have felt compelled to gamble on iffy character signings at least in part to keep up with all the talent the Pacers have stockpiled.
Roy Hibbert’s suggestion that Solomon Hill try for an NBA Rookie of the Year trophy is bound to leave the poor guy disappointed. No offense to Hill, but if he wins that coveted award, something has gone terribly wrong for the Pacers.
By the way, only Hibbert would talk about having a “fireside chat” with fans on a digitally accessed social network – and then tweet an actual picture of himself sitting next to a lit fireplace. Classic.
The Indiana Fever continue to be one of the winningest franchises in the WNBA, advancing Sunday to their third consecutive Eastern Conference finals. Tamika Catchings is excellence – and class – embodied, and Lin Dunn is a heck of a coach. The Fever host Game 2 of the upcoming series next Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Their opponent will be either Atlanta or Washington.
Many counted out the Fever in the defense of their championship. The best overcome the odds.
