The Indiana Pacers could have stood relatively pat this summer, chalking up last season's playoff miss and 38 wins to Paul George's absence and taking a conservative approach to the offseason. President Larry Bird had all of the excuses he needed.
But he didn't use them. He opted to go in a different direction, agreeing to terms with shooting guard Monta Ellis, drafting big man Myles Turner out of Texas and trading longtime center Roy Hibbert to the Los Angeles Lakers. On Thursday, the organization obtained Hibbert's replacement: former Lakers center Jordan Hill.