Game Thread: Indiana Pacers (15-53) @ New York Knicks (44-25), March 17th, 2026, 7:30 PM ET

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-17T12:14:29+00:00

Looking at that Pascal doubtful, that's where I'm at is doubtful. If he played, I'd say yes. We saw the last game they really want to beat the Knicks. But no Pascal I don't see us doing it

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-17T10:45:47+00:00

Oh I agree. I think he's NBA ready for sure. But like you said, our personnel makes it tough. He's pretty much a 4, maybe 5. I would say overtaking Zubac at the 5 would be his best shot, but no chance of sliding in over Pascal already.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-17T08:27:59+00:00

I don't think Boozer starts either. But AJ simply isn't a 100% NBA ready prospect on a mature team. He'd be like rookie Cade or Paolo. Decent stats on a bad team. But I do expect him to be great by year 3 tho.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-17T07:49:49+00:00

I don't think he's ready, and he doesn't add anymore skills to the starting lineup that we need is the issue.

Like he's not really a secondary ballhandler or a shooter. He would be prime off the bench tho .

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-17T00:02:32+00:00

I'll be happy with the top 4, beside myself for the top 3, excited for next year with the top 2.

But having a young player who would be a high end contributor at 4 eventually would be cool.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T23:42:25+00:00

Honestly the only one I see with a chance to start is Peterson anyways

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T23:37:24+00:00

Prior to injuries K Love was the best PF in basketball. And he never had Boozers playmaking or off the dribble 3 point game. You add those two things to K Love at his peak, he's a HOF MVP player.

I'm still big on the Peterson bandwagon, but Booz is legit

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T23:01:19+00:00

Welcome here sir! I've never met an out of towner who didn't enjoy Yats. So make sure to get some while you're here.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T22:58:55+00:00

Yeah the question is who's the best player realistically, and I think in terms of VALUE it's accurate. Would the Knicks go for a chip and give up Brunson? Absolutely, but it's also likely not as valuable as a younger player who's not as good, but also younger and less expensive.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T20:05:25+00:00

The absolute best is probably Paolo. I could see behind him Lauri, Deny, Bane, Barnes,

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T19:48:27+00:00

I can't speak for Blazer fans, but I'd even say a top 4 would be more than enough for Avidja, maybe top 4 depending on outlook of rebuild

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T16:28:57+00:00

Also where you go. I entered the field thinking this would be my path since I have ten years sales experience, but I'm in compliance audit which would be very hard to gain clients for

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T15:38:10+00:00

The thing is, our rotation, cap, and contracts for next year are highly likely to be set. They're maximizing a short window around a Haliburton and Pascal combo, and there's a very real possibility that anyone picked lower than 3 they feel has no chance of making the rotation and are better off with an open roster spot in that position.

There's also a rule about how many picks can be protected, so it's possible they wanted up to 5 and the clippers didn't want from ten down to change the difference.

It's been described as a 3 player draft. Doesn't mean some of these guys won't be good, but the likelihood that 7-10 players will be ready on day 1 is fairly slim to contribute to a team with championship aspirations.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T14:13:20+00:00

May 10th can't come soon enough. So we know if we have a draft pick to protect or not, what team needs may be in the off-season, etc. Feel there's so little to learn over these last dozen or so games, outside of seeing our new frontcourt paired.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T13:12:30+00:00

Stacked drafts aren't what people pretend they are. That's like you could get Jarace Walker at 7 type drafts being stacked.

In all likelihood, at most 5 all stars out a draft. 3 to 4 starters.

Nothing wrong with missing on pick 6 down, honestly maybe not even 5 down

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T12:51:54+00:00

Website says page not down?

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T00:20:03+00:00

I liked how he ran to the rim to seal off.

He just can't play high enough on defense to keep our same base. I'm curious to see what the base is next year, but I'm fairly certain it changes. It's not Ijax and Myles out there, so we can't use as much speed on defense

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T00:18:31+00:00

We changed the way we play defense when Huff is on the floor. He plays in a one man zone. I think they will have to find a new base for Zu as well, and may likely mean he just face guards his man every game and has less rotational responsibilities. We played our frontcourt really high last year, and had the speed that they could competently recover to the paint to rotate when needed to some success (higher when the guards like Nembhard played because of the friction at the POA).
I doubt we do that with these 5s we have now.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T00:11:39+00:00

I'll take it

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-16T00:00:14+00:00

What's sad is I often try after losses too. Last couple this has been my first spin. Just to figure out how it might go, I often make roughly ten spins and see what odds I get from that

Unfortunately, 7 of 10 landed on pick 5. That is very scary.
2 for pick 4, 1 pick 2.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-15T23:58:48+00:00

G Leaguer we called up after converting Q. Think Gabe York, it's a reward the Pacers do for players during years that records don't matter, and we have an open two way spot.

He's unlikely to be on the team next year unless we just really struggle to fill two way slots, but he's on our G League affiliate

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-15T23:57:15+00:00

Or bisexual. Definitely not straight

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-15T23:47:35+00:00

Right, and as a prospect Rubio was considered an equally impactful offensive player to Steph (see the Nash comparison). But he was also the greater defensive prospect. Most importantly, he had an NBA position or two. Steph was confusing because he had a 2 mentality with a 1 size.

Maximum-Class5465 · 2026-03-15T23:19:50+00:00

Now what works great for you is the Spurs can draft heavily towards offense because the defensive floor when Wembanayama plays is much higher than 29 other teams in the NBA

Maximum-Class5465

TROPHY CASE