The Pacers find themselves in the unusual position of playing basketball
in May.  The have the 15th pick and are represented by:

  Richard "I don't know Martha" Burton


He selects:

  Charlie Ward, PG, 6-0. FSU.

=====================================================================
Like any good GM, I take full responsibilty for my picks and actions
but I also listen to those "in the organization"; as a result, I
consulted my fellow Pacer fans on the Pacer e-mail group; it didn't
really change whom I considered and picked all that much, but several
people looked at things from a different perspective and gave more
good reasons behind the logic below.  Thanks go out to Mike Von
Foerster, the finn, Paul Connolly, Eugene Wallingford, Stephen Wilson,
Thomas Triske, and especially Robert Orr.

I. Team Needs/History
The Indiana Pacers are coming off their best year in NBA history in
spite of missing a team NBA record of 208 man-games due to injury in
the regular season. Starting 1-6 and 16-23, the Pacers finished the
season as the second-hottest team behind the Sonics and proceeded to
sweep the Magic in the first round to enter the second round of the
playoffs for the first time in the franchise's NBA history; beat the
top-seeded Hawks in six; and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals
against the Knicks. The only real star is Reggie Miller; the team
truly is playing defense and team ball for the first time since the
ABA days.

Robert Orr of the Pacers e-mail group put the strategy best: the
secret for a mid- to top-level team to get better through the draft is
to draft what you will need the most in a year or two, not now. With
that in mind, ...

   A. CENTER
	Finally, after all these years, Rik Smits has shown up and
been the kind of center that GM Donny Walsh (and few others)
envisioned. Smits dropped about 30 pounds before the season, allowing
him to be more mobile and reducing his knee problems. He is an
effective, if not awe-inspiring center. He uses his 7'4" frame and
good shooting touch to draw out opposing centers and open the lane for
others. Smits also is a good passer; he will often draw double teams
outside of the lane then dish off to a cutting teammate for a quick
two points and maybe a foul. Smits is also rebounding and defending
better than he ever has.
	At backup this past year was LaSalle Thompson; he will be 34
at the start of next season. With his injuries and large contract,
Tank probably won't be around for the Pacers. Scott Haskin, the '93
first round pick, is a 6'11" banger who was drafted with the idea of
his backing up Smits; injuries and the unexpected play of Antonio
Davis have impeded his progress. Haskin is Larry Brown's man, however,
and there is every reason to think that Brown was behind the drafting
of Haskin after the deal for Greg Graham fell through.  Haskin has
some decent offensive moves, plays fearlessly, can block shots, has
good strength, and, most importantly, has the work ethic to play for
Larry Brown. Though a project like most big men, Haskin does not look
to be the next Scott Hastings or Greg Dreiling. The ability of Antonio
Davis to back up Smits will allow Haskin to learn/ease his way into
this role.

   B. POWER FORWARD
	The Indiana Pacers are blessed with what may be the best power
forward duo in the NBA. In more than name, both Dale and Antonio Davis
are quite similar. Both are 6'11" power forwards who can rebound,
block shots, play tight defense, run the floor, and provide scoring
when the Smits and Miller draw extra defensive attention. They both
are intelligent players, rarely making dumb mistakes. (They also share
a rather skewed sense of humor; for one Pacer game, they agreed to buy
a free ticket for anyone who could prove his/her last name was
"Davis"; 1975 showed up. Dale's response? "I guess it would have been
better if our last name was Krystowiak.") They feed off one another,
each pushing the other in practice and in games, but the rivalry is
friendly one. The Pacers are as solid at this position as any team in
the league. Trading either would be a major mistake unless the next
Mel Daniels comes to the Pacers in the deal.

   C. SMALL FORWARD
	Derrick McKey is a true rarity among today's athletes: his
game suffers because he is not selfish enough. Coach Brown and
Derrick's teammates want to see him shoot and drive more. McKey's
play, however, is not about stats; he is the defensive stopper, he
rebounds, chases loose balls, keeps rebounds alive for his teammates,
cuts off passing lanes, blocks out, leads the break, etc etc. In other
words, he's the guy everyone wants on his team and wants to see
succeed. In my mind, the Pacers got the best in trading McKey for
Schrempf. The team now has a defensive presence, a mental toughness,
and a scrappiness it sorely lacked before, due as much to McKey as
Larry Brown. He may never make the All-Star team, but McKey may be the
most important player on the Pacers. It would be nice to see him shoot
(and score) more, but you can't have everything.
	Sam Mitchell is a 6'7" swing forward who was a throw-in player
on the Person-Richardson trade, and as of now is more important to the
Pacers than Pooh. Mitchell backs up McKey and plays power forward when
the Pacers go to a small lineup. Mitchell is not a great player, but
like McKey, he is the type of player everyone wants to play with. He
rebounds, defends, and has a great work ethic.

	McKey's other backup is Kenny Williams, a former second round
pick.  Williams is a high-flying athlete who can come off the bench
for instant scoring and rebounding; he is also hungry to prove that he
belongs in the NBA.  His lack of defense hurts his playing time, but
that will likely improve with another year under Larry Brown; Williams
has never been well-coached, and benefits greatly from Larry Brown's
teaching. The problems with Williams are >from the neck up, but many
of those seem to be resolved.

   D. SHOOTING GUARD
	Reggie Miller is cocky. He loves road games when the crowds
get on him. He thinks he's the best shooting guard in the NBA. He's
right. Miller can knock out the lights and is one of the two best
scorers in Pacers' history.  Like many great shooters, though, Miller
is not a great defender. At 6-7 and 185 pounds, he can't knock people
around, and his lateral quickness leaves a bit to be desired. However,
he makes up for this with intelligence, intensity, anticipation, work
ethic, and desire. This comes out in close games, when he demands the
ball. That he is just as likely to drive and pass to an open teammate
as do it all himself is evidence of his maturity and team play.
Miller is surprisingly durable. His skinny frame takes a pounding
every game >from all the picks and the constant motion without the
ball. But he plays every game hard, and has missed only a few games in
the last five years, due to a dinged knee. Reggie is the franchise
player and leader; he knows it and the other players know it.

	Backing up Miller is veteran Byron Scott. Though no spring
chicken, Scott is still in great shape and his skills are showing no
signs of eroding.  He has brought maturity, experience, and focus to
the Pacers, the best money the team has spent in the last 20 years.
Scott, however, may only be around for another year or two, then moved
to an assistant position. (Some on the Pacer list believe that Byron
would eventually make a very good coach, and I agree.)
	Behind Scott is swingman Malik Sealy. Sealy is a sleek, smooth
scorer who is losing out in a numbers game. The backlog of players at
shooting guard and small forward make Malik trade bait.

   E. POINT GUARD
	This position is very interesting. Consummate journeyman
Heywood Workman was brought on to back up Vern Fleming, who was the
backup to Pooh Richardson. When Richardson went down with an injury,
Workman got playing time and turned out to be better than Fleming.
Workman is a living ABC Movie of the Week. He was cut by two different
teams, spent time in Europe, barely made the Pacers' roster this
season, then led the team deep into the playoffs once he got his
chance. To further the cliche', he does this because he makes the
others on the court better. Larry Brown wanted a point guard who
thinks "pass" before "shoot", and he found him in Workman. Though his
shooting leaves a lot to be desired, it did improve (especially in the
playoffs against Orlando and Atlanta). He is also the best defensive
point guard of Indiana's trio. There are a lot of things that Workman
does not do well. Losing is one of them.  Unlike past starting point
guards, Workman has the respect of his coach and teammates; the
starting job is his to lose.
	Behind Workman is Vern Fleming, a 10 year pro out of Georgia.
Pacer broadcaster and former coach Slick Leonard probably described
Vern best when he said, "Vern isn't that great an athlete, but he does
one thing very well.  He wins." Fleming is a great backup at the
point, able to dish, play decent defense, and drives the lane with
abandon. He has lost his starting job to Michael Williams, Richardson,
and Workman, never once complaining. He is a calming influence on the
team, having never drawn a technical foul in almost 800 games, and
provides veteran leadership. He is also nearing his final days, and
will probably be gone, one way or another, after another two years.

	One way or another, Pooh Richardson is going to be a key to
future success of the franchise. Though generally considered a
disappointment, much of his first two years with the Pacers was spent
on the injured list. This, plus the coaching change, has denied Pooh
the chance to truly shine with the Pacers. His talent is undeniable,
but his drive and determination are questionable. As the GM, I would
bring Richardson in after the playoffs, and explain the situation to
him: The starting job is Workman's, Heywood earned it; nobody can deny
that. However, the job is there for Pooh, IF he works hard, listens to
his coach and teammates, and does what he needs to to improve. (This
is mainly defense and outside shooting.) If Richardson doesn't like
it, trade him. Plenty of teams are looking for skilled point guards,
and a trade involving Pooh and Malik can give a team an instant
backcourt. I'd expect Pooh to be a problem if the starting job is
Workman's, but maybe he's learned something watching the playoffs in
street clothes.

************************

In short, the Pacers are at the very least solid at every position,
and have every reason to move Sealy and Richardson. Another backup to
Smits would be nice, but this draft isn't all that deep at center. A
high-scoring small forward to backup/compliment McKey would be nice,
but they Pacers may have that player in Kenny Williams, so this is not
a top priority. The reserve guards are aging, so drafting a backup
guard who 1) can and will accept being this role, and 2) is willing to
spend a year or two learning the ropes of the NBA, and 3) can play
defense or is likely to learn is probably the best selection.

II. Your Selection (and explanation)
Damo... (Put that gun down, Craig)

Charlie Ward, Florida State. Right now, there are better guards left
in the draft. However, the Pacers don't need help now; they will need
it in a year or two. Granted, Ward has not played a full college
season in three years; however, he has all the tools to be a good
point guard that will fit in with the team: he's quick, athletic,
intelligent, a potentially tenacious defender, a good ballhandler, and
a winner. His shooting could stand some work, but he'll have time to
work on it. Ward has been impressive in his improvement in the USBL,
and should be a VERY good point guard by that time. This does seem
like a high place to pick Ward; he needs time, experience, teaching
from veterans and a good coach to achieve his great potential. He
would recieve all that with the Pacers; it is the perfect situation
for Ward and the franchise.  Though he might play football, he has
said that he prefers basketball. The possibility of him signing with
the NFL or CFL exists, but it is rather small, especially after Ward
went undrafted by the NFL.

III. Others considered (and why considered)
Jervaughn Scales, Southern. A little-known player from the SWAC,
Scales is a 6-7 small forward who is a strong rebounder, though his
stats undoubtedly were helped by playing in a small conference. He is
aggressive, plays solid D, and has really impressed a lot of NBA
scouts. His free throw shooting and ballhandling need work, but he
could provide the scoring punch from the SF spot the Pacers need. In
truth, he will probably be gone by this time in the real draft.

Askia Jones, Kansas State. Jones is a good shooter, albeit a streaky
one, who could be a decent backup in the right situation. My main
knock against Ski is his ballhandling is not good enough to be a
backup point guard; the Pacers will need someone who can fill in at
the point in a year or two, and Jones, though a shooting guard, is
closer to the small forward side of shooting guard than the point
guard side. Still, he is a good shooter and was a decent defender in
college. I think he'll become a solid if not fantastic pro if he gets
a chance in the right situation, but something tell me this isn't that
situation. (Mike Von Foerster likes him a lot, and if Jones exceeds my
expectations, I will tip my hat to Mike.)

Derrick Phelps, UNC. A good ballhandler with a solid background,
Phelps is a good defender, which is what Brown loves. Though not
flashy like Kidd, Phelps is the solid, dependable type of player that
the Pacers will need in a year or two. His shooting needs a lot of
work, though. Larry Brown and GM Donnie Walsh are UNC guys, so Phelps
might be drafted.

Bill McCaffery, Vanderbilt. McCaffery is not going to make an instant
impact in the NBA, but that's fine. In two or three years, when the
Pacers would need him, he should be ready. Granted, his strength is
questionable, but he would be backing up Miller, who is not the
strongest of players, so he might fit in as the backup.

Damon Bailey, Indiana. Laugh away, folks, but Bailey would be a good
fit for the Pacers. Damon is the next Billy Keller: tough, a good
ballhandler and shooter, a decent defender, possessing solid
fundamentals; a smart player who makes few mistakes and plays in the
team concept. His first three years at Indiana he played with two of
the top ten scorers in IU history, and in his senior year played
through some painful injuries, as did several teammates.  However, the
Pacers have a couple second round picks, and Bailey might be there for
the earlier one (from Philadelphia); (then again, he might not).

Eric Montross, UNC. Though not a fluid athlete by any stretch of
anybody's imagination, Eric Montross could be a decent backup center,
a hometown kid without Jeff George's ego, and a known quantity. He
doesn't have Dare's potential, but he's less likely to be a complete
and total bust.

Doremus Bennerman, Siena. A REAL stretch at this place in the draft,
Bennerman could nonetheless become a great backup point guard. I was
impressed by his performance in the NIT, and see him as a Mack Calvin
kind of player, someone who gets in the game and creates havoc with
his speed and tenacity. Bennerman would be a great second round pick
for a team looking for a backup point guard.

IV.  Who the team will probably take
Very tough to say. This pick will not likely improve the team
immediately, so look for the Pacer management to try to move up by
trading the pick + Sealy/ Richardson, deal Sealy and/or Richardson for
a pick then using two picks to move up, or trading some combo of
Richardson/Sealy/the draft pick for another player. GM Donnie Walsh
has turned out to be one of the better GMs in the league. He is not
afraid of trading; he got Detlef Schrempf for Herb Williamson,
Richardson/Mitchell for Person/Michael Williams, McKey for Det.  Walsh
also has a knack for finding good players with later picks (Dale Davis
was a steal; Antonio Davis, Kenny Williams, and Sean Green were all
second round picks; Michael Williams and Heywood Workman were GREAT
free agent finds.  (Sealy would be a good player on a team without
such a logjam at SF/SG.)) Look for the Pacers to make *at least* one
deal and move up or down.

V.  Other moves that the team should make
(In no particular order of importance)
1) Make sure Byron Scott has a contract with the team for next year.
2) Don't listen to ANY trade involving either Davis, except for ones
   ridiculously favoring the Pacers.
3) Make a decision on Pooh ASAP.
4) Talk to the Spurs and Sixers about having an instant backcourt of
   Richardson and Sealy. The MIGHTY NUGGETS might be interested in 
   Pooh as well.
5) Give Antonio Davis and Heywood Workman raises.
6) Re-sign Dale Davis using LaSalle Thomson's money/slot.
7) Tell Chuck Person that you don't want him back in Indiana, even 
   as a free agent.
8) Trade for a relatively high second-round pick, draft Bailey, and 
   let him play in Europe for a year.

====================================================================
Draft Summary:

1.  Milwaukee Bucks
    GM:   Bobby Davis 
    Pick: Glenn Robinson, PF, 6-8.  Purdue University.
2.  Dallas Mavericks
    GM:   Theo Wendt 
    Pick: Jason Kidd, PG, 6-4.  Cal.
3.  Detroit Pistons
    GM:   Eric Iverson 
    Pick: Grant Hill, SF, 6-8. Duke.
4.  Minnesota Timberwolves
    GM's: Kevin Hansen 
          Toni Morgan 
    Pick: Donyell Marshall, SF, 6-9. Connecticut
5.  Washington Bullets
    GM's: Jim Nagle 
          The Crossjammer 
    Pick: Juwan Howard, PF, 6-10. Michigan
6.  Philadelphia 76ers
    GM's: Brent Halliburton 
    Pick: Yinka Dare, C, 7-0. George Washington
7.  Los Angeles Clippers
    GM:   Paul Osmond 
    Pick: Carlos Rogers, PF, 6-11. Tennessee State
8.  Sacramento Kings
    GM's: Don Hearth 
          Daniel W. Huang 
    Pick: Clifford Rozier, PF, 6-9.  Louisville
9.  Boston Celtics
    GM:   Ellie Cutler 
    Pick: Lamond Murray, SF, 6-7.  Cal
10. Los Angeles Lakers
    GM:   Kosh 
    Pick: Jalen Rose, SG, 6-8. Michigan
11. Seattle Sonics
    GM:   Aaron Gill 
    Pick: Wesley Person, SG, 6-6.  Auburn
12. Miami Heat              
    GM:   Rob Clough 
    Pick: Sharone Wright, C, 6-11. Clemson
13. Denver Nuggets
    GM's: Rick Grubin 
          John Exby 
    Pick: B.J. Tyler, PG, 6-1. Texas
14. New Jersey Nets
    GM:   Matthew Mitchell 
    Pick: Dontonio Wingfield, PF, 6-9. Cincinnati
15. Indiana Pacers          
    GM:   Richard Burton 
    Pick: Charlie Ward, PG, 6-0. FSU

Next up:
16. Golden State Warriors 
    GM:   Mike Moore