Pacers pick LeVert at No. 20 for Nets to complete deal
INDIANAPOLIS -- Larry Bird couldn't wait for the NBA Draft to start remaking the Pacers roster.
So he started early.
One day after acquiring the natural point guard Indiana has long sought, Bird filled the Pacers' next biggest need with another pre-draft move. He got power forward Thaddeus Young from the Brooklyn Nets for the 20th overall pick. Indiana subsequently selected forward Caris LeVert of Michigan to complete the deal that cannot officially be announced till the new salary cap takes effect.
Heading into this week, many thought the Pacers president of basketball operations would try to find more young talent to put around 26-year-old Paul George, a three-time All-Star, and 20-year-old Myles Turner, a second-team all-rookie selection last season.
Instead, Bird decided to keep his focus on the near term and bring in players who can make an immediate impact.
By sending starting guard George Hill to Utah and getting All-Star Jeff Teague from Atlanta in a three-team trade Wednesday, the Pacers gave up a little defense for a slightly younger player who appears to be better suited to play the up-tempo style Bird prefers.
At 6-foot-8, 221 pounds, Young gives the Pacers an experienced, athletic big man who can help continue the transition to small ball. Plus, he will help fix another major flaw Toronto exposed in last season's first-round playoff series -- rebounding.
All Young cost the Pacers was a little room under the soon-to-be expanded salary cap and LeVert, who missed 21 of 36 games last season with a broken left foot that he first injured in 2014-15 and re-injured last season. He averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in the 15 games he did play.
Technically, LeVert became the first Big Ten player chosen by the Pacers since Indiana's Damon Bailey was a second-round pick in 1994.
Bird still had one more pick to make Thursday, No. 50 overall. But he saw no good reason to wait on a first-round pick to develop after Indiana picked up two proven players still in their 20s.
It might just be the start of a busy offseason.
Indiana already let Frank Vogel walk away after his contract expired and replaced him by promoting associate head coach Nate McMillan. Then came this week's trades, the draft and, soon, free agency.
Four players on last season's roster, including starting center Ian Mahinmi and 2013 first-round pick Solomon Hill, will become unrestricted free agents. Bird also is expected to have plenty of room under the luxury tax threshold to work with.
Bird isn't giving away any hints about his strategy yet.
