Thursday, August 11th, 2011 at 9:25 am  |  43 responses

Danny Granger: Pacers Need to Pursue a Power Forward


Danny Granger may be locked out, but he’s still thinking about ways to improve the Indiana Pacers. He strongly suggests for them to go after a quality big man once free agency is allowed to take place. From the Indy Star: “Q: Free agency will be a lot shorter once the lockout ends. What area do you guys need to address most? A: ‘I think with what’s on the market at power forward, we have the opportunity to go get one of them. David West, Nene and Carl Landry are available. There are some good power forwards out there. I think we need to be deeper at that position.”

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  • jarrett

    what the need is a better danny granger who isnt a one trick pony behind the three point line.

  • Chris

    Sure hope Psycho T doesn’t read the papers

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    ^What I was thinking.

  • rob stewart

    Hibbert, Psycho T, Granger, ans Collison. That’s a good core. They really need a couple of shooters and Granger needs to be more aggressive taking it to the hoop. It seems like I’m forgetting another big man though.

  • kbj

    ok celts will trade you big baby for Hibbert or Phyco T.

  • kbj

    *Psycho

  • LA Huey

    Kind of a jerk move on Granger’s part. Psycho T had a pretty good 2nd half and he’s publicly calling for someone to keep T on the bench.

  • ChristianBulleN

    I hope, for the sake of the pacers, not because I’m a fan of theirs, that they keep Paul George I think that kids ceiling is waayy high, and he has some great defensive potential. I see him as more valuable than Granger if they give him the reigns.

  • http://Slamonline.com Datkid

    Psycho t is nice… Granger better chill

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    I think they just need more experience. They are pretty deep at each position, they’re just young. Like yall said, Granger needs to work on other facets of his game, driving and defense. And they could use a 2 guard that can shoot and defend, someone like Afflalo. But I actually think the last thing they need is another big man.

  • starry eyed

    Christian Bullen@ got granger at 3 en paul George at 2 on 2k11 ,deadly combo ..5 straight Finals MVP by Hibbert on Association hahaha its too easy But totally agreed ,Paul has greeeeaaatt potential on both ends . In the real world ,Granger has been loyal to the team but P.G can evolve as a top 5 SF in a loaded at this potition NBA anytime

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    DFrance they have Paul George. Who IMO will end up to be the best player on the team & a future all star.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    George is good, but he’s a 3. I don’t think he has the handle or shooting touch to play the 2 full time. Not yet anyway.

  • http://bleacherreport.com/articles/791470-lebron-james-vs-dwyane-wade-who-is-the-better-player/page/8 nbk

    Well He Starts and Danny Granger Starts. YOu either trade one of them (wouldn’t be George) or you let them develop together, eliminating your need for a SG. You pick

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    George will be the better player. Granger has already reached his plateau.
    As for a PF, the combination of Hansbrough and McRoberts impressed me. Both those dudes make up for their deficiencies with hustle, hustle and more hustle.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    I don’t think Indiana can eliminate they’re need for a traditional 2, with the way their team is constructed.

  • JL

    pau gasol for granger and psycho T! ok I sound like a laker fan, but it would be funny if granger says let’s pursue a PF and they do by trading him away. Hibbert just feels like a olowakandi. nice size and decent skills just no motor.

  • http://bleacherreport.com/articles/791470-lebron-james-vs-dwyane-wade-who-is-the-better-player/page/8 nbk

    WTH is a traditional 2? Paul George can guard 3 positions better then everyone on Indiana’s roster (and most of the league) hit a 3 each game at just 30% though. He was a rookie so you literally have no idea how good his jumper will turn out but other then that he’s everything you can ask for in a starting 2. Especially on a team where the offense runs through the PG and C w/ lots of cuts of back (flare) screens – Not like a traditional offense that is predicated on pick & rolls and isolations.

  • http://bulls.com airs

    there are traditional 2′s, vs. comnbo guards/tweeners.
    however i think george can fill both roles, if that makes any sort of sense.
    and i liked psycho T and Mcroberts, no matter how annoying they were as opponents.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    What I mean is a guard that can consistently shoot jumpers. That’s what your 2 guard traditionally needed to be able to do. I don’t think that’s a new concept. Of course I don’t know how good his jumper is going to be, just like I don’t know how horrible its gonna be. On a team where you have a bunch of slashers and back to the basket big men, you need a shooter on the floor to keep it spread. But hey, I’m not an NBA talent evaluator, just a guy whose opinion is that Indiana won’t be successful with George and Granger at the 2 and 3.

  • MUBWAR

    you forget the name Paul George on that young core. Amazing athletic ability, great d, a so so jumper and did I mention he is a rook. bright future

  • Youngindy21

    Some of you people are straight retarded. The Pacers don’t need a PF to replace Psycho T. They need a PF to replace Josh McRoberts. The Pacers are happy with Tyler Hansbrough. They just want to build a deep roster and Josh McRoberts sucked last year.

  • http://www.wfp.org/ Felix

    Nene would be sick with Indiana… but Nene would help any team

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    Youngindy21 So you think Granger wants, Nene, Landry or David West to back up Psycho T? Ok.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    No, what the pacers need is a true go-to guy not an overrated, overpaid 3.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Indiana is chalk full of shooters Danny Granger being the ring leader. He shot over 5 threes a game last season. Plus they have George Hill – Lance Stephenson will improve (he’s been in Indy workkng all summer) add that too the fact that their two reserves on the wing (Dunleavy, Rush) each shot over 40% from 3 so i think its safe to say shooting is not something indiana lacks… An Hansbrough as the long term solution as your starting 4 has to be a joke. He’d be a real good backup but as a starter your never making it out of the first round.

  • http://www.wfp.org/ Felix

    You can never have to many bigs…ummm… that looks suspect

  • http://ggfhh.com Jukai

    Njl, you’re citing George hill and Stephenson… not good. Indiana needs shooters. I don’t consider granger a shooter. He’s a chucker.

  • http://bleacherreport.com/articles/791470-lebron-james-vs-dwyane-wade-who-is-the-better-player/page/8 nbk

    Why Jukai? Because you don’t like them personally? George Hill has shot over 37% from 3 each of the last 2 seasons. And Stephenson was more of a, “he’s going to get minutes and improve as well and will be a 2/1.” I highly doubt he becomes any kind of shooter, but Larry Bird said himself that Stephenson had a bright future in Indiana and would be getting considerable playing time and attention from the coaching staff. How would you even add another wing to that team? Mike Dunleavy is the only wing from that team that I can think of who isn’t under contract for next season. And its not like anyone but Granger and George have actual trade value, and Granger’s is handicapped by his $12M price tag. And George has far too much upside to get anything equal in return (under the rules of the current & new CBA) unless they trade for a James Harden/OJ Mayo type of player that is still on their rookie contract.

  • MLK4Life

    Psycho T is no pushover. Disrespectful for Danny to speak as if Tyler didn’t play well this past season. Nice young team in Indiana especially with the addition of George Hill. Danny needs to step his game up.

  • RunNGun

    The subtle message is that Danny Granger wants out of INDY; he’s advocating for himself to be traded for a power forward.

  • http://www.wfp.org/ Felix

    I don’t think Granger was disrespecting Hansborough… he feels they need another big man, and that there will be some good bigs available…just my opinion… Nene will change whatever team he ends up on for the better IMO…

  • http://dsjfklfl.com Jukai

    George Hill is a combo guard whose stats were boosted by Popavich’s great system and being the fourth string on a team with three power house players. And while Larry Bird was a great player and coach, his eye for talent has always been suspect… I don’t know if Lance has a future in the L as anything more than a third string point.
    So that’s Granger, who I think is more of a volume chucker then shooter… and Hill, who I think is overrated.
    SO yes, I think they need another shooter.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    How would they best add said shooter next to Granger, George, Collison, Hill, Rush, Posey, Stephenson, Price. Thats 8 guys, adding another shooter from a perimeter position would be pretty crazy IMO.

  • robb

    Granger is the definition of overrated.

  • IndyG

    Grangers fine as a number 2 option on a team but the pacers will never succeed with Granger as the go to guy

  • http://dsjfklfl.com Jukai

    Man, there are second string shooters who are better than the guys you mentioned…. Granger is once again, a chucker who shoots to open up his game. Collison is a slasher. Paul George isn’t there and they shouldn’t bank on him becoming a lights out guy. I don’t like George Hill. Posey was overrated before he became too old to be in the league. I’m not even TOUCHING the other guys.
    They need spot up shooters, guys who just open the floor. Naming the 14th men on the roster wont change my opinion, haha.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    How would they get this player you think they hould add. They in terms of being a championship team suck at every single position. Whether or not Granger is a “chucker” he’s the best shooter of the guys your willing too name. Your examining the Pacers like adding a shooter would change anything…there are more pressing needs for them to cover (Like PF) efore they worry about adding another shooter. And the fact that you dont respect their shooters doesnt really matter, they still have above average shooters, and below average skills in different places that are more important to winning especially in the long run.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Darren Collison and Paul George are the future faces of the Pacers’ franchise if they develop properly. I’d hate to see George Hill stunt Collison’s growth.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    although i’m curious as to what Hill can do with a bigger role.

  • Youngindy21

    I’m convinced some of the people on this thread just hate the Pacers regardless of their talent. Derrick Rose could be traded to the Pacers and still some of you would say he sucked. Danny Granger was asked a question in an interview by a newspaper on what position they needed. Now it is no secret that the Pacers need a PF. This new PF could either start or come off the bench. Josh McRoberts didn’t put up great numbers last season or the season before hence the PF search. It has nothing to do w/ Psycho T. The Pacers want a deep roster that can compete with Miami in the future.

  • http://slamonline.com SpaceJam

    Yea, David West would greatly help that team. Provided he’s healed from his injury, he is a 20/9 guy who can post up and space the floor giving them a post presence. Paul George has potential,George Hill and Collison are going to battle it out and Granger will get his usual 20 ppg. He just needs to get his shot selection better. David west would help with that by drawing double teams, and he played with Collison back in NO

  • NextShawnKemp

    The Pacers need to improve big time at power forward. Hansbrough’s one of the most selfish players in the league. He plays no help D, never passes, has horrible shot selection, and is a bad defensive rebounder. Troy Murphy is the biggest scrub ever, but atleast he did 3 of those 4 things well. Darren Collison also sucks. Hopefully he’s moved to 3rd string behind Lance Stephenson and George Hill. He’s the most unclutch player and he makes Jose Calderon look like Bruce Bowen on D. Other than Hansbrough, Collison, and Mike Dunleavy (worst player ever) the Pacers have a decent roster to work with. Just need that 4. Granger’s right. Bulls suck. Pacers winnin the finals.

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