The Portland Trailblazers tried to steal 25-year old center Roy Hibbert as a free agent, but the Pacers ante’d up to keep him. Hibbert played in 65 games (all starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 29.8 minutes, 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He has now played in 297 games (256 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.3 minutes, 11.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Hibbert keeps getting better every season. 25-year old Ian Mahinmi will be Hibbert’s caddy in 2012-13. Mahinmi played in 61 games (12 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 18.7 minutes, 5.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 149 games (12 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 12.2 minutes, 4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. 24-year old Miles Plumlee was a first round pick out of Duke in last June’s NBA Draft. He played in 135 games in his three years at Duke and he averaged 15.8 minutes, 4.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Plumlee projects as a backup and little more in the future.

PROJECTED GRADE AT CENTER FOR THE 2012-13 SEASON: B+

The Pacers are in good shape at power forward for the 2012-13 season. 32-year old David West was solid in his first year with the Pacers, playing in 66 games (all starts) in which he averaged 29.2 minutes, 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He has now played in 596 games (504 starts) in his first 9 years in the NBA and he is averaging 32.0 minutes, 16.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. 26-year old Tyler Hansbrough will be West’s caddy again in 2012-13. He played in 66 games (0 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 21.8 minutes, 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Hansbrough has now played in 165 games (30 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 21.1 minutes, 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. 25-year old Jeff Pendergraph will be #3 in line at PF for the Pacers in 2012-13. He played in 20 games (1 start) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 5.3 minutes, 1.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. Pendergraph has now played in 59 games (5 starts) in his first 2 years in the NBA and he is averaging 8.7 minutes, 2.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2012-13: B

29-year old small forward Danny Granger’s overall numbers didn’t look that bad in 2011-12, but he didn’t play as well as he can. The Pacers need him to step up in 2012-13. Granger played in 62 games (all starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 33.3 minutes, 18.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He has now played in 510 games (423 starts) in his first seven years in the NBA and he is averaging 33.2 minutes, 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. 27-year old Sam Young has recently been signed to backup Granger this year. Young played in 35 games (2 starts) for the Sixers and Grizzlies last year in which he averaged 10.7 minutes, 3.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He has now played in 193 games (49 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 17.0 minutes, 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SMALL FORWARDS IN 2012-13: B+

22-year old Paul George played well last year, especially on the defensive end due to his size. George played in 66 games (all starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 29.7 minutes, 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He has now played in 127 games (85 starts) in his first two years with the Pacers and he is averaging 25.4 minutes, 10.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. The Pacers signed 26-year old Gerald Green over the summer and he will likely be the Pacers’ top backup at both shooting guard and small forward in 2012-13. Green played in 31 games (2 starts) for the Nets last year and he averaged 25.2 minutes, 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He has now played in 212 games (43 starts) in his first five years in the NBA and he is averaging 17.3 minutes, 8.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. 22-year old Lance Stephenson will likely be #3 at both guard positions for the Pacers in 2012-13. He played in 42 games (1 start) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 10.5 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Stephenson has now played in 54 games (1 start) in his first two years with the Pacers and he is averaging 10.3 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. The Pacers hope that Stephenson starts shooting better at some point in the near future as he is only hitting 36.6% from the floor so far in his NBA career. He is also a pathetic 4 of 35 (11.4%) from three point range so far in his career. The Pacers dealt for 23-year old Orlando Johnson on draft night (he as a 2nd round pick of the Kings. Johnson played in 124 games in his four years at UC Santa-Barbara in which he averaged 31.3 minutes, 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2012-13: B

26-year old George Hill and 24-year old D.J. Augustin are going to duke it out in training camp for the starting point guard job in 2012-13. Hill played in 50 games (9 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 25.5 minutes, 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He has now played in 281 games (64 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he has averaged 24.8 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He is a shoot first point guard. D.J. Augustin played in 48 games (46 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 29.3 minutes, 11.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. He has now played in 282 games (142 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he has averaged 26.8 minutes, 10.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. No matter which guy wins the starting job, the Pacers are in good shape at point guard.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POINT GUARDS IN 2012-13: B

The Pacers need to finally let 24-year old center Roy Hibbert play 30+ minutes per game in 2011-12. Hibbert played in 81 games (80 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 27.7 minutes, 12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game. He is developing into one of the better centers in the NBA, so the Pacers need to trust him and play him more. Hibbert has now played in 232 games (191 starts) in his first three years with the Pacers and he is averaging 22.8 minutes, 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Hibbert has a HUGE upside.

If the Pacers don’t sign a free agent or deal for a power forward, 26-year old Tyler Hansbrough could get his big shot in 2011-12 to show what he can really do. Hansbrough played in 70 games (29 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 21.9 minutes, 11.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game as he played much better than he did a a rookie in 2009-2010. Hansbrough has now played in 99 games (30 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 20.7 minutes, 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

28-year old Danny Granger is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He played in 79 games (all starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 35.0 minutes, 20.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Granger has now played in 448 games (361 starts) in his first six years with the Pacers and he is averaging 33.2 minutes, 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. 21-year old Paul George is a player on the rise for the Pacers, but he will have to bide his time for now. George played in 61 games (19 starts) for the Pacers as a rookie last year and he averaged 20.7 minutes, 7.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game. 34-year old James Posey will be #3 in line at small forward for the Pacers in 2011-12. Posey played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 17.1 minutes, 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He has now played in 864 games (479 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 26.9 minutes, 8.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

25-year old George Hill will likely be taking over as the starting shooting guard for the Pacers in 2011-12. 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. Hill is a good offensive player and he can also fill in at point guard if anything happens to Darren Collison. 26-year old Brandon Rush will back up Hill this year. He played in 67 games (21 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 26.2 minutes, 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Rush has now played in 224 games (104 starts) in his first three years with the Pacers and he has averaged 27.0 minutes, 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. 30-year old Dahntay Jones is likely #3 in line behind Hill and Rush. Jones played in 45 games (2 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 13.1 minutes, 6.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He has now played in 446 games (135 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 16.9 minutes, 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.

The Pacers are expecting much more out of 24-year old point guard Darren Collison in 2011-12. He played in 79 games (all starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 29.9 minutes, 13.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Collison has now played in 155 games (116 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 28.8 minutes, 12.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Pacers are likely going to give Collison more freedom offensively in 2011-12. 21-year old Lance Stephenson had a rough rookie year for the Pacers last season due to off-court problems. He played in 12 games (0 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 9.6 minutes, 3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game on only 33.3% shooting from the floor. The Pacers acquired 25-year old George Hill from the Spurs during the draft last year with the idea of starting him at shooting guard. He can also give Collison a break at the point when he needs one.