The Indiana Pacers acquired 25-year old SG/PG George Hill from the San Antonio Spurs for the draft rights to SF Kawhi Leonard (1st round, #15 overall), PF Davis Bertans (2nd round, #42 overall) and 27-year old power forward Erazem Lorbek (2nd round pick in 2005, #46 overall). Hill played in 76 games (5 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 28.3 minutes, 11.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He has now played in 231 games (55 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.6 minutes, 9.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. I’m thinking that the Pacers made this deal with the idea of starting Hill at shooting guard. If that is the case, I really like this deal for both teams.

The Indiana Pacers have the #15 and #42 overall picks in the 2011 NBA Draft this Thursday. The Pacers need to add a tough guy under the basket. PF Kenneth Faried might be available when the Pacers’ first pick comes up. I think they will really consider making him the pick. I also think the Pacers will consider shooting guards like Malcolm Lee, Travis Leslie, Josh Selby and Marshon Brooks. If the Pacers take a shooting guard in the first round, then they will take the toughest big man left on the board at #42.

The Pacers have been pointing to this season for quite some time. That’s because Mike Dunleavy, T.J. Ford, Jeff Foster, Solomon Jones and Josh McRoberts have all become free agents. I don’t see the Pacers making much of an effort to bring back Ford or Foster. I think they might want to bring back Dunleavy if the price is right. McRoberts has been in and out of the dog house for the Pacers, so I see him leaving as I have a feeling that power forward is a place where they want to improve the team. I could see Solomon Jones coming back if the price is right.