<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Indiana Pacers look to be stockpiling assets in their backcourt. One day after reportedly acquiring point guard T.J. Ford from the Toronto Raptors, the Pacers selected explosive Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless with the 11th overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft. Bayless, who has been compared to Gilbert Arenas, has much more athletic ability than the Washington Wizards' sharpshooter. But he will join a crowed Pacers' backcourt, which also includes Jamaal Tinsley. ESPN reported Wednesday that Toronto will send Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic and its 17th overall selection in Thursday's draft to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal. The deal was consummated after the two sides negotiated for almost a week. While that deal has yet to be confirmed, Indiana does know it will have the skilled Bayless, who was projected to go as high as No. 4 to the Seattle SuperSonics. He certainly has that type of ability. Bayless is a great athlete and a blur in the open floor who attacks the basket well but also can shoot it wherever and whenever he wants. He averaged 19.7 points in his lone collegiate season with the Wildcats. In short, Bayless is an explosive player with a great future ahead of him as a go-to scorer, but he must polish his playmaking skills if he's going to play point guard.</div> <div align="center">Link</div> Thoughts?
Toronto also picked Roy Hibbert at 17, who will be going to them. Not exactly sure what Bird has planned.
Bayless and Ford are going to be the Pacers 1-2 punch, but I don't know how much Ford will like that. Hibbert has some big shoes to fill. Everyone is used to JO and now, Roy has to step in and be productive. But, I think both Bayless and Hibbert can be guys who are going to rack up some good minutes and stats.
