<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In 1978, the Boston Celtics were coming off a 32-50 season and had the sixth pick in the NBA draft. The easy and popular thing to do would have been to take the player most able to bring immediate relief to a troubled franchise and its impatient fan base. General manager Red Auerbach, however, had a grander vision. He selected Larry Bird, who still had a season of eligibility at Indiana State, and waited. Auerbach's reward was a Hall of Fame player who led the Celtics to championships in 1981, '84 and '86. The lesson was just as obvious. "Let me tell you something," Auerbach would tell Bird years later. "A year is not very long. It goes by like that." Bird will keep that lesson firmly in mind this month in his role as the Indiana Pacers team president. The team has been butchered by suspension, injury and illness, and takes a four-game losing streak and a 20-22 record into tonight's game at Philadelphia. With phone lines starting to hum in anticipation of the NBA's Feb. 24 trade deadline, Bird could easily be tempted to punch a panic button. Like Auerbach, however, he believes projection is more important to a franchise's well-being than reaction.</div> Source
I agree with Bird. This was a season that the Pacers were supposed to play well and go a long way in thje playoffs but a few things disrupted those plans like Artest being suspended. It wasn't a dissapointing season but a rebuilding season. This is a learning experience for the Pacers. Bird shouldn't push for a trade but rather leave the team as it is and let them play through it. Look for Artest to come back with a different mindset. The Pacers will come back strong next year by using this season as a building block.
Indiana ending up with a lottery pick would become a major concern amongst the league. I could easily see them pulling off a blockbuster envolving expiring contracts and a high selection during the offseason if things don't work out in their favor this year. Teams with terrible records, rebuilding franchises, and teams looking to move high salaries would all bite on the chance to make such a transaction. Could be scary this summer....
