#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Camera pans on an empty press room, the amount of dust indicates that this room hasn't been used in several years but that changes today where the local and regional media will gather here in a few hours to pick the brain of the Pacers GM PaulyP




2:44PM

Pacers GM PaulyP walks into the press room with a grin on his dumb face apparently eager to answer queries from the media

PAULY: Hello there folks, I'm sure no introductions are necessary so before we get to the hard grueling questions ive prepared a quick statement to address our previous year and the future of the Indiana Pacers basketball squad.

He shuffles his hand into his oversized suit jacket pocket and takes out several index cards with notes that were written hastily with a red sharpie. The last card clearly reads Frye TORONTO + REFS

PAULY: First off, Id like to thank our amazing owner Joshua Fields, none of this would be possible if it wasn't for the guy paying the bills. Now as Pacers fans some of us may be disappointed with how last season turned out and lets face it 1st round exits are nothing new around here, we know the feeling well. But last year really gave us some clear confidence going forward, we were in an amazing division with incredibly tough talent and battled hard every night and won a lot of the time. Ill make it clear right now that we expect MUCH MORE of the same this year. Unfortunately last year Ron Artest picked up an injury and wasn't 100% for the series against Toronto not that that was the reason we lost, it was a very tough and even series with them barely edging us.

We knew immediately after the season ended we had to acquire some more talent if we want to take the next step forward. Our first priority was to get Iman Shumpert back on for a good price and the negotiations were pretty easy, both sides wanted it and agreed with the terms without any fuss. And thanks to some financial planning we were able to free up additional cap by trading away Danny Granger to the expansion team. We had 3 main things to address, an actual Power Forward and some wings to replace the previously mentioned Granger and Artest. We wanted guys who were athletic and long enough to defend anyone and by getting Iggy and Deng we definitely checkmarked that. Amare will provide a real scoring threat inside that we probably haven't seen since the days of Ewing.

Pauly starts to sweat a bit as he winds down to his last few cards

PAULY: This year we expect to win this division especially now that Atlanta and Toronto has been shipped off elsewhere thanks to the realignment. We believe we should be treated as the frontrunners for that. Barring any major injuries we expect to compete in every single game, honestly do. And lastly let us savor these last few seasons of the GREAT Deron Williams. He has officially begun his decline...



Pauly's eyes start to tear up like a wussy and the media is stunned in silence

PAULY: -clears throat- okay now I will open the floor to all questions, and I have all the players on FaceTime if you have a question for them. Theyre busy at the team BBQ which I am late for because of this presser

Do you expect Deron Williams to have a rejuvenating effect on Amare's career?

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: What's impressive to me is that the Pacers have a formidable team without going over the cap. Beyond just winning the Division, which teams in the Conference do you think you'd have the toughest time with in the post-season?

Lack Zowe, Landgrant

You've stated your concern with Deron's age. If the opportunity presents itself, would trade Deron and begin a rebuild?

WigNosy wrote: Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:16 pm Do you expect Deron Williams to have a rejuvenating effect on Amare's career?

Without question. It goes without saying that Deron puts so much pressure on defenses that it just improves everyone elses game. We realize Amare isn't gonna be putting up 30 a game and those are definitely not the expectations but if we can get 16-18 points on near 60% shooting we'll take that all day and all night

garbageman wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2017 1:42 am Sham Smith, Bulls.com: What's impressive to me is that the Pacers have a formidable team without going over the cap. Beyond just winning the Division, which teams in the Conference do you think you'd have the toughest time with in the post-season?

Yeah being under the cap is something we pride ourselves in and when we go over its not by much. As for your question, honestly right now I don't fear any team. In my mind I see us winning a 7 game series against anyone in the East. But its preseason and when the games actually start being played the records start showing who's good and who sucks and that vision will change. To not BS my way out of an answer ill say Milwaukee just because they seemingly have a lot of offensive firepower and those teams always give me some cause for concern because I have to come up with good defensive matchups to counter it

false9 wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2017 2:37 am Lack Zowe, Landgrant

You've stated your concern with Deron's age. If the opportunity presents itself, would trade Deron and begin a rebuild?

I was hoping someone would ask this. I personally cant see a scenario where he gets traded, his value to this organization is something that I find difficult to put a price on. We're already planning an extension offer that will see him take a pay cut when his contract runs out. But even if he walks I don't see us going rebuild. Shump will have had a couple more years to develop and I have a keen eye for the FA market so with money we could retool quite easily

Bucks-Pacers rivalry has always been there since the beginning of the original league. Do you expect some good battles this upcoming season?

The Bucks obviously made the biggest splash in your division in the offseason. What do you think the odds are your (very) good team can take the division from them?

Shumpert's really come into his own as a Pacer. What are you hoping to see from him this season after a stellar TC?

PaulyP, you may claim 5 points for your presser.