Luis Scola is now useless

[HurricaneDij39]

The Pacers have been mocked on this board for their trade with Phoenix last year to acquire Scola, primarily because we're the Pacers and heaven forbid we threatened Miami's reign atop the Eastern Conference the last two seasons.

But, a recap of what we had given up in the deal:

Few NBA players today are worse fits in Vogel's slow-it-down offense than Gerald Green. So, the Pacers were more than happy to see him go. Plumlee was the biggest loss for us in the deal, but he'll never be more than a role player and a fringe NBA starting center. He was never going to start over Roy Hibbert after Hibbert's dominating 2013 performance against the Heat, and the Pacers also had a boatload of money committed to Ian Mahinmi as his backup. Phoenix then used the first rounder on an international guy that probably won't play in the NBA this season.

So, history shows that Scola, a player with winning pedigree, was a risk worth taking as a win-now player.

That being said, while he gave the Pacers some valuable bench production during their hot start, he started to show his age down the stretch and like Hibbert and a few others, his production and effectiveness had started to fade.

I read a rumor earlier on Hoopshype that only $2.5 million of Scola's contract for next year is guaranteed. If that's the case, Bird needs to let go of his infatuation with light-skinned foreign players and cut him loose right now. Let the young guys play, especially now that Shawn Marion is off the table. Scola's roster spot and salary could have been better used on Marion, an NBA Champion, a more-versatile player, and a player that could have replaced some of Paul George's defensive ability.

If Marion was going to sign with a Pacers team likely headed for mediocrity next year with Paul George out for the season, $1.7 million wasn't going to get it done. Bird definitely acted as a dead duck with his $1.7 million offer. He needed to step up his pitch in order to land Marion.

Report: Shawn Marion met with the Pacers on Monday - CBSSports.com

The Scola contract may also come back to be responsible for the decision to let go of Stephenson. As for Marion, it was announced today that he will sign with the Cavs.

Report: Shawn Marion commits to sign with Cavaliers - CBSSports.com

 

[Heatles84]

Marion wanted to play for a contender. Indiana still had the injury exception (from Paul George's injury) which was north of $5 million and offered it too Marion. The salary that Scola is making has nothing to do with not getting Marion.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Marion wanted to play for a contender. Indiana still had the injury exception (from Paul George's injury) which was north of $5 million and offered it too Marion. The salary that Scola is making has nothing to do with not getting Marion.

Yeah, but the injury exception did not cover the luxury tax, which the Pacers never planned on paying.

 

[Heatles84]

Yeah, but the injury exception did not cover the luxury tax, which the Pacers never planned on paying.

Well, then you have a cheap owner.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Even without Lebron, Miami is still a better team than the Pacers - sorry

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Even without Lebron, Miami is still a better team than the Pacers - sorry

Well no shit sherlock we just lost our two best players.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Well, then you have a cheap owner.

So, why would we pay the luxury tax if George is going to be out?

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Had we cut Scola, we would have been able to offer Marion upwards of $4 million and at least make him think about coming here for more minutes and money, as opposed to the lame duck $1.7 million over one year that was offered.

The Pacer could have, and should have, done this if they were truly interested in Marion.

Scola does nothing for this team for neither long nor short-term, especially in the wake of the George injury.

 

[gordontrue]

Had we cut Scola, we would have been able to offer Marion upwards of $4 million and at least make him think about coming here for more minutes and money, as opposed to the lame duck $1.7 million over one year that was offered.

The Pacer could have, and should have, done this if they were truly interested in Marion.

Scola does nothing for this team for neither long nor short-term, especially in the wake of the George injury.

They may have known that it wouldn't have mattered. To hear Bird talk about the meeting with Marion a week ago, he didn't seem all that optimistic just saying "he wants to play for a contender", and actually going out of his way to bring up the Cavs before anyone even mentioned them.