Now that “The Decision’’ is done and the five teams that maneuvered salary cap space the past few years to attract premium free agents have nearly finished retooling, Pacers president Larry Bird can prepare for next summer, when his club will be nearly $33 million under the cap. Bird had hoped his club would luck out in the lottery, looking to change the fortunes of the franchise based on a ping-pong ball. The Pacers were bad enough to land in the lottery but never fortunate enough to land a top pick. So they selected Fresno State swingman Paul George and then perhaps consummated the steals of the draft with second-round picks Magnum Rolle and Lance Stephenson, given their performances in the Orlando Summer League. Along with Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Brandon Rush, and Tyler Hansbrough, Bird has compiled a talented young core, and next summer the plan is to add a big-name free agent to erase the stigma of the “Brawl at the Palace,’’ which has lingered over the organization for six years. George showed his smooth skills in Orlando, while Rolle is rugged around the basket. Stephenson, who left Cincinnati after his freshman season and fell to the second round because of character concerns, worked well at point guard, a position of desperate need in Indiana. The Pacers have not made a free agent acquisition because they are $10 million over the salary cap. Even a midlevel exception contract would put the club over the luxury tax. So Bird has to take solace in the team’s youth, and he appears pleased. http://www.boston.com/sports/basket...moves_next_summer/?camp=misc:on:share:article
