[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The Pacers have acquired Rakeem Christmas from the Cavs in exchange for the 2nd round pick they got from the Lakers in the Roy Hibbert deal. I would post the link, but it’s triggering the spam filter.

I didn’t watch a lot of Syracuse games, so I’m unfamiliar with Christmas’ game. What kind of player is he and can he make an impact this season?

On another note… Bird has done a good job. He basically flipped an aging David West into Monta Ellis and a disengaged/clumsy Roy Hibbert into Jordan Hill, Rodney Stuckey, Chase Budinger and Rakeem Christmas.

[TrillaParticipant]

 I watched probably 98% of his games throughout his 4 years at Syracuse. When he started to get more playing time his sophomore and junior (when he shouldve been given even more minutes but Boheim is so stubborn), his defense and rebounding were his most obvious strengths. I always wanted them to throw the ball into him more often on the block, they would do it maybe once a game and he would show good feet, and instinct around the paint.When he was the focal point of the offense last season, he was dominant in the post. Showed great feet, great touch (shot a very high percentage) around the basket with both hands , along with plenty of moves and counter moves. Even flashed a solid 18 ft jumper here and there.

He has showed all the makings to be a solid rotation player in the league, he can bang with bigs, has really long arms, and can rebound with most of the big bodies. He will be able to score when asked to, and can log minutes at both positions. With the emptiness in the Pacers frontcourt, he’ll be able to play right away. He can also be a good compliment to Tuner when asked, who could both develop into quality rim protectors

[TrillaParticipant]

 I watched probably 98% of his games throughout his 4 years at Syracuse. When he started to get more playing time his sophomore and junior (when he shouldve been given even more minutes but Boheim is so stubborn), his defense and rebounding were his most obvious strengths. I always wanted them to throw the ball into him more often on the block, they would do it maybe once a game and he would show good feet, and instinct around the paint.When he was the focal point of the offense last season, he was dominant in the post. Showed great feet, great touch (shot a very high percentage) around the basket with both hands , along with plenty of moves and counter moves. Even flashed a solid 18 ft jumper here and there.

He has showed all the makings to be a solid rotation player in the league, he can bang with bigs, has really long arms, and can rebound with most of the big bodies. He will be able to score when asked to, and can log minutes at both positions. With the emptiness in the Pacers frontcourt, he’ll be able to play right away. He can also be a good compliment to Tuner when asked, who could both develop into quality rim protectors

[VRod305Participant]

I watched a lot of him as well. Although he’s already 24, he’ll have a 10-12 year NBA career. He’s going to be a guy like Carl Landry or someone like Charlie Villanueva. He can play say 15-25 minutes a night and make a solid contribution.

You can bet your ass, the Cavs are going to hand that Lakers pick, plus a few late firsts to the Sixers to take that contract.

I’m not sure what LeBron is doing. One major probably I thought they had in the playoffs was not having usable young players that could do literally anything. Good for LeBron getting his buddies a job, but it’s not 2005, Mike Miller, James Jones and Shawn Marion are useless. I would have taken R.J. Hunter, a guy that can shoot and score. If you’re really just looking for 8th, 9th and 10th guys, look for a few younger guys. Someone like Countney Lee would help.

[VRod305Participant]

I watched a lot of him as well. Although he’s already 24, he’ll have a 10-12 year NBA career. He’s going to be a guy like Carl Landry or someone like Charlie Villanueva. He can play say 15-25 minutes a night and make a solid contribution.

You can bet your ass, the Cavs are going to hand that Lakers pick, plus a few late firsts to the Sixers to take that contract.

I’m not sure what LeBron is doing. One major probably I thought they had in the playoffs was not having usable young players that could do literally anything. Good for LeBron getting his buddies a job, but it’s not 2005, Mike Miller, James Jones and Shawn Marion are useless. I would have taken R.J. Hunter, a guy that can shoot and score. If you’re really just looking for 8th, 9th and 10th guys, look for a few younger guys. Someone like Countney Lee would help.

[T Rex]

Underrated as a Tristan Thompson level back up center/PF. Not as good a rebounder, but better scorer than Thompson.

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

Underrated as a Tristan Thompson level back up center/PF. Not as good a rebounder, but better scorer than Thompson.

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

I love the acquisition and have high hopes for Indiana in next year or 2 to make big strides. I am not sure how the team depth chart will look, but I am thinking something like:

C. Mahinmi/Turner/Christmas
PF. Hill/Allen/Whittington (PG will obviously play time here as well, I don’t see a lot of minutes for Allen or Whittington)
SF. George/Miles/Hill
SG. Ellis/Stuckey/Budinger
PG. Hill/Young (I fully expect Hill, Ellis and Stuckey to push the ball and who ever gets it first brings it into the offense)

[festar35Participant]

I love the acquisition and have high hopes for Indiana in next year or 2 to make big strides. I am not sure how the team depth chart will look, but I am thinking something like:

C. Mahinmi/Turner/Christmas
PF. Hill/Allen/Whittington (PG will obviously play time here as well, I don’t see a lot of minutes for Allen or Whittington)
SF. George/Miles/Hill
SG. Ellis/Stuckey/Budinger
PG. Hill/Young (I fully expect Hill, Ellis and Stuckey to push the ball and who ever gets it first brings it into the offense)

[Robb_CParticipant]

He’s a very solid pickup…. I considered him a sleeper in the 2nd round.

[Robb_CParticipant]

He’s a very solid pickup…. I considered him a sleeper in the 2nd round.

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 Larry really knows what he is doing. 

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 Larry really knows what he is doing. 

[Skeating12345Participant]

i really believe he’s going to be a steal. Really improved between his junior and senior year of college, and despite his age, I don’t think he’s peaked yet either.

[Skeating12345Participant]

i really believe he’s going to be a steal. Really improved between his junior and senior year of college, and despite his age, I don’t think he’s peaked yet either.

[HitsterParticipant]

Rakeem has highly rated going into college and was considered a very good prospect when he went to Syracuse, despite playing on a powerhouse team and under Coach Boeheim, his game never really seemed to develop until this last couple of years.

He was considered a possible late first rounder this year and ended up going early 2nd round. I like the deal for all parties, Rakeem was unlikely to be signed by the Cavs and would have been buried down the bench. At Pacers he gets a chance to see some minutes. The Pacers get a solid rotational guy who can probably pick up the slack whilst Turner develops and the Cavs get a 2nd rounder back too, so all parties win.

Jordan Hill and Monta Ellis have been nice pick ups by the Pacers and puts some decent support around Paul George whilst Stuckley and Budinger give the squad nice extra depth and can be good role players.

The Pacers will be hard to judge next season at this moment, the front court has lost a lot of experience but the back court looks a lot stronger and Paul George will be back and have done a full pre-season. So IMO they should be back in the play offs but probably not higher than 5th/6th seed.

[HitsterParticipant]

Rakeem has highly rated going into college and was considered a very good prospect when he went to Syracuse, despite playing on a powerhouse team and under Coach Boeheim, his game never really seemed to develop until this last couple of years.

He was considered a possible late first rounder this year and ended up going early 2nd round. I like the deal for all parties, Rakeem was unlikely to be signed by the Cavs and would have been buried down the bench. At Pacers he gets a chance to see some minutes. The Pacers get a solid rotational guy who can probably pick up the slack whilst Turner develops and the Cavs get a 2nd rounder back too, so all parties win.

Jordan Hill and Monta Ellis have been nice pick ups by the Pacers and puts some decent support around Paul George whilst Stuckley and Budinger give the squad nice extra depth and can be good role players.

The Pacers will be hard to judge next season at this moment, the front court has lost a lot of experience but the back court looks a lot stronger and Paul George will be back and have done a full pre-season. So IMO they should be back in the play offs but probably not higher than 5th/6th seed.

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

What a win also for Christmas. It is reported he signed a 4 year 4.5 million deal with the first 2 years guaranteed. Pretty solid deal for a second rounder and what a luxury for a young player to have that feeling of stabilization in that you know the team has plans for you.

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

What a win also for Christmas. It is reported he signed a 4 year 4.5 million deal with the first 2 years guaranteed. Pretty solid deal for a second rounder and what a luxury for a young player to have that feeling of stabilization in that you know the team has plans for you.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

pacers have signed glenn robinson to a 3 yr deal…he performed well in summer league ..played with more confidence,had a better shot selection….

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Low risk/high reward move. Robinson won’t play much, but he’ll get to work with Frank Vogel, Nate McMillian, Dan Burke and Popeye Jones. They’ve been great at getting something out of players like Robinson. Paul George has also been great when it comes to taking young players under his wing. 

Robinson is from Indiana too (even though Gary is closer to Chicago than it is to Indianapolis), so I’m sure it’s nice to be playing in his home state. 

  

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Low risk/high reward move. Robinson won’t play much, but he’ll get to work with Frank Vogel, Nate McMillian, Dan Burke and Popeye Jones. They’ve been great at getting something out of players like Robinson. Paul George has also been great when it comes to taking young players under his wing. 

Robinson is from Indiana too (even though Gary is closer to Chicago than it is to Indianapolis), so I’m sure it’s nice to be playing in his home state. 

  

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

pacers have signed glenn robinson to a 3 yr deal…he performed well in summer league ..played with more confidence,had a better shot selection….

[Author]

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