MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Mike Dunleavy finally lived up to the expectations of being the No. 3 pick in the 2002 draft. Dunleavy, who had four-plus mostly miserable years in Golden State, averaged a career high in points (19.1), field goal percentage (47.6) and three-point percentage (42.4) this season. The Pacers plan to build their team around Dunleavy and Danny Granger.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: This was supposed to be the year that Jermaine O'Neal didn't have to worry about taking a beating in the post. Coach Jim O'Brien's up-tempo offense was supposed to allow him to get single coverage in the post. Too bad none of that happened for O'Neal this season. The six-time All-Star averaged only 13.6 points a game this season. His future with the franchise is up in the air because president Larry Bird is expected to shop him for an athletic big man that can run the floor and play above the rim. BIGGEST NEEDS: The Pacers have targeted point guard and a defensive-minded big man as areas they hope to address through the draft and trades. They'll definitely need players at those positions if they're able to trade starters Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Pacers know they need to get better, but they're going to have a difficult time doing it because they don't have any salary cap space and they don't have a very enticing roster outside of Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy.
The Pacers could get some salary cap space if power forward Jermaine O'Neal opts out of the final two years of contract, but that's not going to happen because the six-time All-Star will have a difficult time getting any type of contract close to the final $44 million he's scheduled to make.
The Pacers aren't scheduled to lose any significant free agents off their roster this summer.
PLAYER NOTES:
--Pacers F Danny Granger gave a $50,000 check on behalf of Pacers Sports & Entertainment to the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis Storm Relief Fund to the flood victims in Indiana.
--North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson, who worked out for Indiana, didn't do anything on the court to hurt his chances with the Pacers. It's what he did off the court that likely ruined his chance to get drafted by Indiana. Lawson, 20, was charged with driving after consuming alcohol following an early-morning traffic stop in Chapel Hill, N.C. on June 6. The Pacers, who, too, have dealt with their fair share of off-court problems the past couple of years, can't afford to take a risk with a player that's had legal problems.
--G Travis Diener has started on-court work after having surgery to remove bone spurs on his left big toe early last month. He had been wearing a wooden shoe on his foot for the past couple of weeks.
