While Roy Hibbert took the blame for the downfall of the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Playoffs, the entire roster truly underperformed, especially in the Eastern Conference finals. The Pacers' offense struggled heavily in the second-half of the season and point guard George Hill played a large part in that, leaving Indiana to seek an upgrade at the position. While Indiana is not expected to be major players in the free agency frenzy, they are targeting a few marquee point guards.
According to Chuck Myron of HoopsRumors.com, the Pacers are looking to trade for a point guard, specifically someone like Rajon Rondo or Kyrie Irving. The Pacers have been linked to Rondo in the past. While the team has not had any former negotiations with the Boston Celtics, they have been reported as favorites to land the All-Star who is set to become a free agent in 2015. The Celtics have been coy on the availability of Rondo, but Myron believes with the right price and other failed moves, the point guard could be on the market quickly.
The Boston Celtics are expected to be very active in this offseason. The team is armed with first-round picks and assets that could get the team Kevin Love or another marquee star if they work out the right deal. However, if all their pursuits fail, Myron is reporting that the Celtics will opt to trade Rondo instead. Rondo has not said whether or not he intends to re-sign with Boston or not, which means the Celtics are at risk of losing him for nothing in return making a trade the top priority.
Irving is another player that may or may not sign a long-term deal. The Cleveland Cavaliers intend on offering the point guard a max contract this offseason, but there is a chance he might not sign it. The Cavaliers are hoping to be players for LeBron James in free agency, but if they fail to sign someone noteworthy, Irving may not have any interest in remaining with the team.
According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, Irving could see himself getting traded this offseason if he indicates no intentions of signing a long-term deal with the Cavaliers. If he becomes available, the Pacers will be interested. Irving is a major upgrade from Hill. However, the Pacers might not have what it takes to land Irving considering Cleveland's price tag is expected to be very high. But, if they believe they can land Rondo, they will certainly call about Irving.
