The Pacers Free Agent Point Guard Options

Given that the Pacers have officially signed Lance Stephenson, who they think can run the offense, and there are reports that the front office still can’t find any takers for TJ Ford, Indiana’s desperate need for a point guard may not be as great today as it was back when Earl Watson was leaving in free agency and AJ Price was fracturing his patella playing charity basketball.

And since they have 14 players under contract already and might give Magnum Rolle the final roster spot, there may have to be a trade before the Pacers even have room to bolster the PG spot through free agency.

BUT … if they do want to add another PG, they probably should do it soon. Because, as Sham Sports points out in this fantastic post on what free agents are still out there, there isn’t a lot out there.

Here’s the full list of PGs:

• Earl Watson
• Anthony Johnson
• Chucky Atkins
• Cedric Jackson
• White Chocalate (who has sweet negative sideburns)
• Bobby Brown
• Chris Quinn
• Earl Boykins
• Mustaka Shakur
• Acie Law
• Antonio Daniels
• Travis Diener
• Eddie House
• Jamaal Tinsley
• Marcus Williams
• Rafer Alston
• Brevin Knight
• Jason Hart
• Lester Hudson
• Tweety Carter
• Sherron Collins
• Patty Mills
• Mike James
• Marko Jaric
• Šarūnas Jasikevičius
• John Lucas III
• Jerome Randle
• John Scheyer

First of all, the Pacers pathetic PG situation is best summed up by the fact that this list includes a full five players who have received paychecks from the team in the past few years (and, of course, one who is still receiving them. Don’t spend it all in one place, Jamaal.). It also includes one guy that I’m pretty sure Sham made up (no way Tweety Carter is an actual, living human being), one guy who has never before dribbled a basketball (Eddie House only catches and shoots … he also signed with Miami), one guy who I’m pretty sure is dead (Brevin Knight) and several guys who will likely never play more than 20 games in the NBA.

So … Presuming the team wouldn’t bring back Earl Watson, I’m not sure any of these guys are worth the time. Acie Law, Earl Boykins and maybe Rafer (I like the guy for God knows what reason) are the only three names that inspire even a half-hearted “meh.” The rest are straight “no thanks.” (Rafer is too, really, since it would pretty much be acquiring another TJ Ford.) Sherron Collins might be worth a look, I guess.

Time to call some GMs about Troy Murphy.