The Pacers have jumped out of the gates with one of the league’s fastest-paced and most potent offenses. Much of that is thanks to their newly acquired point guard, Darren Collison, Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star writes. The guard has taken a substantial leap forward since his last tenure with the franchise.
“I’m a much better player than I was in the past,” the Pacers guard said. “I know the game a little better. I’m more mature. I don’t think I’ve lost a step, but I’m not as fast as I used to be. But my basketball IQ is at higher level than it ever has been.”
In five games with the Pacers so far this season, Collison has averaged 15.6 points and 8.4 assists per game. Indiana, as a team, has averaged 114.0 points per game, the fourth-highest total in the NBA.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- The Cavaliers are not in the mix to acquire Eric Bledsoe at this point in time, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes in a question-and-answer with readers. There are no Bledsoe trade scenarios that make sense for the squad so long as Isaiah Thomas returns healthy and Derrick Rose is accountable all season.
- In his latest comments about the Nikola Mirotic–Bobby Portis kerfuffle, Bulls executive vice president John Paxson reiterated that they’re feeling out the best way of handling the scenario but noted that they’ll do what’s in the organization’s best interest. As K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes, that’s a reminder that both players technically remain under contract, giving the franchise final say in what happens.
- The Cavaliers will start Tristan Thompson for the next little while, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com tweets. Head coach Tyronn Lue opted to slot the familiar face in at the five, bumping Jae Crowder out of his role as the starting small forward.
Does a Cavs-Suns-Sixers 3-team trade make sense?
Cavs receive:
Eric Bledsoe
Josh Jackson(preferably D. Booker)
Tyson Chandler
Jahlil Okafor
Suns Receive:
Nets 1st Rd pick 2018
Sixers 1st Rd pick 2019
2 philly players
1 Cle player
Sixers Receive:
J. R. Smith
Iman Shumpert
Channing Frye
My thinking is Suns would make their bench moe veteran laden and send their scraps to Phx so they can release them or tank with them. Unless Philly didn’t want any of those 3, in which case Phx could acquire them and possibly flip them later in the season or release.
This has to be one of the worst proposed trades someone has ever said. Makes no sense.
So the Cavs give up a pick and retreads..to get a boatload back? Sure.
Unless the one Cleveland player is LeBron. :)
Why would the sixers give up a 1st round for shumpert smith and frye?????
LeBron wants you on his team for sure lol
lmfaooo
Suns don’t want vets, but will have to take one. J.R. Smith is way overpaid. He just got busted for speeding and reckless driving going along Lake Erie in my neighborhood last week! No way Suns trade Jackson or Booker, they are their future! I’ll bet it takes 3 teams to dump Tyson Chandler. The Sixers will have to offer extensions to Ben Simmons and Dario Saric after this season. No way they take more vets.
Why on earth would the suns trade Jackson’s booker just to get rid of Bledsoe not happening. their pick is gonna be worth more the Brooklyn anyway
Just ridiculous.
Does this one make sense to you as well:
Three way Cavs/Rockets/Warriors
To CLE – Durant, Klay Thompson, Paul
To HOU – Rose, Shumpert, CLE 2035 2nd
To GSW – Frye, Tristan Thompson, D-Wade, 2047 CLE 1st
Who cares if the salaries match, everyone can just be paid in candy.
I live in Cleveland Let the NBA give the Cavs a major salary exception. I’m 100% for this one! LOL!!!!!!! You need to get Carmelo in this one too, so the Banana Boat can be together. We’ll see if they do next summer with all of them being free agents and in their 30″s!!
I propose the NBA just expand the roster and the salary cap so that the entire 2016 USA basketball roster can fit on the Cleveland team. Let’s get all the butt buddies together!
The NBA is already a ridiculous circus with these mini dream team rosters….let’s just press all the way down on the gas pedal and go full throttle!
The 2047 1st round pick got me rofl
The Bull’s front office said, “they’ll do what’s in the organization’s best interest.” That can only mean Forman and Paxson will be looking for alternative employment options.
Think Collison is better than Jeff Teague!
Lebron wants to buy a team (Cleveland) and make his own super team. Not Kidding!