Hoops Habit
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Indiana Pacers Close To Being True Contenders

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 23, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) and forward Paul George (13) wait to be introduced before the game against the Toronto Raptors in game four of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) and forward Paul George (13) wait to be introduced before the game against the Toronto Raptors in game four of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 16, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers new head coach Nate McMillan and president of basketball operations Larry Bird speak to the press during a press conference at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers new head coach Nate McMillan and president of basketball operations Larry Bird speak to the press during a press conference at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Changes

As previously alluded to, the Indiana Pacers parted ways with head coach Frank Vogel. In his place, team president Larry Bird promoted assistant coach Nate McMillan to a position that he’s held many times before.

McMillan has 12 years of NBA experience as a head coach and he recorded at least 50 wins in two of his final three seasons at the helm.

Shortly after promoting McMillan, Bird began to put his vision into motion. He traded George Hill to the Utah Jazz, and the No. 20 overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets, which thus brought Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young to Indiana.

The Pacers also signed Aaron Brooks and Al Jefferson, and drafted Iowa State Cyclones star Georges Niang at No. 50 overall.

Teague, an All-Star in 2015, has a Conference Finals appearance and 62 games of postseason experience under his belt. Young is a versatile forward, Brooks is a leader and penetrator, and Jefferson was named All-NBA as recently as 2013-14.

The Pacers’ new additions aren’t guaranteed to excel, but Bird absolutely aced this past offseason.

Next: Explosive Offense

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