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 selected 23-year old forward Ryan Reid with the 56th overall pick in the NBA Draft and then they traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder for 24-year old center Magnum Rolle who was picked 51st overall. Rolle played in 34 games at Louisiana Tech last season and he averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game. Rolle played in 93 games in college and he averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game. I really like this trade for the Pacers as Rolle has a decent upside.

UPDATE: (10/26/2010) - The Pacers have released Magnum Rolle. They wanted to keep him but they didn’t have enough rosters spots to keep everyone.

The Indiana Pacers have selected 19-year old shooting guard Lance Stephenson with the 40th overall pick of the NBA Draft. Stephenson played in 34 games (32 starts) for Cincinnati last season and he averaged 12.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. The Pacers are gambling on Stephenson’s outstanding athletic ability as he really excels in the open court. He has the potential to be one of the best players picked in the second round based on talent alone.

The Pacers have picked 20-year old small forward Paul George with the 10th overall pick of the NBA Draft. George played in 29 games (28 starts) for Fresno State last season and he averaged 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He finished up at Fresno having played in 63 games (53 starts) in which he averaged 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Picking George likely bumps Danny Granger to shooting guard full time. I like this pick as George should give the Pacers a nice offensive boost starting this season.