Pacers know what they want

Mark Monteith of the Indianapolis Star reports that the Pacers know what they want to do, they just don’t know if they’ll be able to do it. They want to trade Austin Croshere, but they don’t know what they can get for him… but here’s what they’re looking for:

1) They want a player whose salary is close to the $7 million that Croshere will be paid this year.

2) They want a player with only one year left on his contract.

3) They want a player who can contribute to the team.

They would love to get rid of the $40 million left on Croshere’s contract in order to free up money to sign their free agents next year. Monteith admits that it is a tall order to fill, and the Pacers may have to settle for #1 and #2 or settle for no deal at all. "The climate is not good," Pacers president Donnie Walsh said. "People are afraid to take on long-term contracts when they do a deal."

The Pacers will have six big free agents next season, and all of them are ahead of Croshere in playing time. Freeing up Croshere’s contract will help them to afford to resign Jermaine O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Brad Miller, Jeff Foster, Ron Artest and Jonathan Bender.

Croshere would like to stay in Indiana, but does not want another season buried on the bench. Any deal involving Croshere probably won't occur until after Aug. 1, when he loses his base-year compensation status. If Croshere is moved before then, the trade value of his salary is only $5.25 million. It is the full $7 million after that, which means the Pacers can either get a better player in return or take a larger salary off another team's payroll.

Walsh said many teams like Croshere’s game, but not his contract. "A lot of teams are trying to get a lower payroll next year," Walsh said. Walsh said some teams are hesitant to trade for a long-term contract because they are eager to clear salary space for next season's free agent class, which looks to be much stronger than this one.

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Indiana Pacers

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Strickland might sign with Pacers

Stephen F. Holder of the Miami Herald reports that Heat free agent point guard Rod Strickland could be heading to Indiana. Strickland’s agent, Rock Newman said that they could be signing a deal as early as today with a team other than the Heat. Newman did not specifically say they would sign with the Pacers, but he was in Indianapolis yesterday supposedly working on the details of a deal.

''There is a distinct possibility [Strickland] could have a deal as early as [today],'' Newman said. ``I just won't go as far as to say where that greatest likelihood is. But he could sign [today].''

Heat GM Randy Pfund would not discuss Miami’s negotiations with Strickland. “There's not much we can do about other [teams] who get involved in the situation. . . . Anything is possible.” He said.

It’s believed that disagreements over contract length have stagnated negotiations between Strickland and the Heat. Strickland wants a 2-year deal, the Heat will only offer one. If he signs with the Pacers, it will likely be a reserve role behind Jamal Tinsley.

The Heat will be left looking at the free agent market to try and find a starting point guard. Chicago’s Travis Best would be the best remaining point, but while his agent said he expects to speak with the Heat today, he added that Best is close to signing with another club. Other options might be Chris Childs, Jeff McInnis, Troy Hudson and Rafer Alston.

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Anderson-to-Pacers deal in the works?

The Providence Journal reports that the Celtics and Pacers are talking about a trade. According to a report from ESPN, they are talking about a deal that would send forward Austin Croshere and point guard Jamal Tinsley to the Celtics for veteran point guard Kenny Anderson.

The Celtics are looking for insurance. Tinsley would be their point guard of the future and Croshere would step into the role that Rodney Rogers played last season in the event that Rogers can’t be re-signed.

The Pacers want to get out from under Austin Croshere’s contract and are worried about Tinsley’s immaturity. With Anderson having only one year remaining on his contract, he becomes more financially feasible than Croshere’s cap-killing contract.

In order for this deal to take place, they will have to wait until August 1st when Croshere’s BYC status expires.

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Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers

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