Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 reasons the Indiana Pacers are better off without Larry Bird

By Akash Anavarathan

May 16, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird speaks to the press during a press conference at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird speaks to the press during a press conference at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Spurs
Mar 21, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The San Antonio Spurs beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-93. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The trade of future superstar Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard’s now one of the three best basketball players on the planet and he was an Indiana Pacer for a brief moment. In the 2011 NBA Draft, the Pacers and Spurs were discussing a deal to send George Hill to Indiana in exchange for Leonard.

The Pacers reportedly had Leonard ranked as their fifth or sixth best prospect, but somehow he fell to the 15th pick of the draft. Although they were excited to see Leonard fall into their lap, they also had the opportunity of flipping him for Hill. With Danny Granger and Paul George already on the roster, Bird and the front office couldn’t help but trade Leonard for Hill. At the time it looked like a great deal, the Pacers got a point guard that they coveted and the Spurs got in return a prospect that they believe could flourish. 

But looking at it now, Hill is with the Utah Jazz and Leonard is one of the best two-way players in the league. Imagine if on that day in 2011, Bird and the Pacers’ front office decide to keep Leonard with George and develop two, young wing players. They could very well have the best one-two punch in the East, right next to LeBron James-Kyrie Irving.

Now it’s easy to say that looking back, and a lot of the people credit the Spurs’ system for Kawhi’s rapid development, but it’s still something to consider. The Pacers at that moment gave up the long-term future of their franchise for a point guard they thought could put them over the hump.

That move lacked long-term vision and is costing them right now. Fans in Indiana can look back and point to it, adding to why the Pacers might be better off without Bird.

Home/Indiana Pacers