Owning the D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants gives the Pacers a notable advantage because the affiliate is only about two hours away, Scott Agness of VigilantSports.com writes. The Pacers want uniformity, Agness adds, and by now owning the team, they’ll be in charge of decisions and be able to have a coaching staff that runs a similar scheme. The Pacers made the purchase official earlier this week.
Here’s more out of Indiana:
- The success of the Pacers‘ upcoming season largely hinges on whether or not Paul George can be the player he was before he broke his leg, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders writes. Monta Ellis, who signed a four-year deal with the Pacers, is likely more talented than anyone who George previously played with , Hamilton adds. Therefore, the addition of Ellis should help George have a big season and the pairing of the two will likely lead the Pacers back to the playoffs, Hamilton writes.
- The problem with the Pacers, however, as the New York Post’s Tim Bontemps points out on Facebook, is a lack of depth up front. The Pacers face a gaping hole in the frontcourt without Roy Hibbert, who is now with the Lakers, and veteran leader David West, who turned down a $12.6MM player option to sign with the Spurs for the minimum, Bontemps adds.