Pacers try to move up

[ducks]

Pacers try to move up


Indiana talks trade with Cavaliers, Bulls

June 24, 2004
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Al Harrington's career with the Indiana Pacers could end with a trade today leading into the NBA draft.

The Pacers, according to two league sources, were in discussions with Cleveland and Chicago late Wednesday that involved the six-year veteran forward who was runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year honors last season.






Al Harrington






The Pacers were prepared to send Harrington to the Cavs for the No. 10 pick if Oregon guard Luke Jackson is available. The Cavs, meanwhile, conducted extensive research on Harrington on Wednesday.




The Pacers also were talking with Chicago about the No. 7 pick, which the Bulls acquired from Phoenix on Wednesday night. The Bulls reportedly also have strong interest in Jackson, whose stock rose dramatically after his individual pre-draft workouts.


ESPN reported a deal between the Pacers and Bulls also would include Bulls forward Tyson Chandler, but a league source denied that.

Should the Pacers acquire the No. 7 pick from the Bulls, they would consider Jackson as well as other players who might be available.

The Bulls traded a second-round pick (31st overall), a future first-rounder and a reported $3 million to the Suns for the seventh selection.

Chicago also has the No. 3 pick in tonight's draft.

Harrington has been the focus of trade speculation since the end of the season, when he requested a trade to a team that could offer more playing time and a greater role in the offense. He averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds last season, and at 24 is thought to have considerable improvement ahead of him.

"Sometimes it's best for both (parties) if there's a trade," Pacers president Larry Bird said earlier this week.

With the draft shaping up as one of the least predictable in recent memory, the Pacers were being mentioned in several scenarios. Most included Harrington, though some featured Ron Artest.

The Pacers also could become involved in Orlando's effort to trade Tracy McGrady, either in a direct deal with the Magic or as an accomplice to a three-way deal. That trade probably wouldn't occur until July 14 or after.
With all the swirling trade possibilities, it's possible the Pacers won't wind up with their assigned draft pick (No. 29) tonight. If they do, Bird said he can obtain a quality player.

"We're right on the borderline (of being able to get a good player)," Bird said. "There might be a young man who slips in there (for the 29th pick) who might be a little better than we anticipated. We've been following these guys all year and we know a lot about them."

Bird restructured the scouting department after assuming control of the basketball operations last July. He also scouted players in Europe, high school tournaments in the United States and countless college games in preparation for tonight's draft.

The Pacers did not release a complete list of the players who worked out for them, but the group included point guards Chris Duhon (Duke) and Andre Barrett (Seton Hall); shooting guards Romain Sato (Xavier), Delonte West (St. Joseph's), Michel Morandais (Colorado) and Ricky Minard (Morehead State); small forward Viktor Khryapa (Russia); power forward Arthur Johnson (Missouri); centers David Harrison (Colorado) and Ha Seung-Jin (South Korea).

They tried and failed to get Jackson in for a workout.

Bird, however, has made it clear he puts less stock in individual workouts than in games or pre-draft camps.

"It's a little different when you get a hand in your face," he said. "You can take guys in individual workouts and they look good, but you put them in a game situation and they're a different player."

Bird watched Jackson play in the Pac-10 tournament. He also watched West play against Xavier.
He probably was impressed. West, a 6-4 combo guard whose playmaking skills were inhibited by his pairing with All-America point guard Jameer Nelson at St. Joseph's, hit all 12 of his shots and all six of his foul shots while scoring 33 points in that game.
www.indystar.com/articles...0-179.html

[Pooh]

We'll see in a few hours what goes down.