How Can I Help You? Los Angeles Clippers

Paul did it all last season for the Clips.

Chris Paul responded to this question this season. He joined the Clippers and helped them to become not only relevant again, but a playoff team. They made it as far in the postseason as the Lakers, their in-city rivals. The big question is, can they become a legitimate contender? Their time may be running out quicker than you think, and they'll need to do some work in the draft.

Paul will be a free agent after next season and Blake Griffin will as well the season after that. Los Angeles needs to put the pieces around them so they'll stay long term and try to bring them a title.

L. A. has four main guards and two main big men who will be FA's this summer. The guards are Chauncey Billups, Randy Foye, Nick Young, and Mo Williams. The most interesting thing about these four is that they all contributed in positive ways for the team and would likely be resigned. So resign all of them! Billups was solid for the team before he got hurt and could still play a backup role. Foye and Williams both excelled at both guard positions. And Young was great offense off the bench, especially in the playoff series against the Grizzles. If they all return, the Clippers' backcourt is set with two young guns in their prime and two talented veterans.

As for the big men, they should vanish. Kenyon Martin is near the end of his career and Reggie Evans just isn't enough of a contributor. You'll likely see them in another uniform next season.

With all that being said, let's take a look at the team's current players. As I said, Williams, Billups, and Foye can play both guard positions. Oh yeah, and there's Eric Bledsoe, who looked like a fantastic backup this past year. Oh, and that guy Chris Paul. Yeah he's there too. The backcourt is looking great. Even with the buildup of guards. If I had to pick one that they wouldn't resign, it would be Billups, due to his age and injury history. But either way, the Clips don't need anymore guards. There's also Travis Leslie from Georgia who was drafted last season.

Although Young is technically a guard, he played small forward behind Caron Butler for the team. The two make a formidable duo at the three. Blake occupies the PF spot and DeAndre Jordan is the team's center. Griffin is an All-Star and Jordan is certainly an NBA starter.

The Clippers were good last year, but they need to find a way to get themselves over the hump. I think the best way they can do that is get a star scorer at the SF spot who is an upgrade over the 32 year old Butler. And even though that job is better suited for free agency, this year is thin on small forwards, so they might take one in the draft anyways.

Besides that, they need big man depth behind Griffin and Jordan. Los Angeles picks at #53. Time to explore the paths they could take.

If the team does decide to take a small forward, I like Orlando Johnson here. I mentioned the UCSB product in my Knicks article. Although he played in the Big West conference, he was a dominant scorer with decent size. I really like he potential, which is why I'm surprised a lot of people have him being undrafted.

Green likes to dunk and Paul likes to pass.

The team will have to dig deep for big men. Here are some power forwards: JaMychal Green from Alabama has great explosiveness like Griffin, and could fit right in catching alley oops from Paul. Mitchell Watt from Buffalo adds even more scoring down low, as does Seton Hall's Herb Pope with his variety of post moves. If they decide to take a better rebounder, Kyle O'Quinn from Norfolk St. is just a bully on the boards and USF's Augustus Gilchrist brings size and an NBA ready frame.

Going the center route, I'm not sure if Henry Sims or Robert Sacre will still be on the board. Instead, why not take a flyer on LSU's Justin Hamilton? The seven-footer runs the floor well and would be a great fit in a Paul-led offense.

In the end, I think Green is the pick. If he drops this far, he would be a steal. Green was a dominant scorer and rebounder for Alabama and could spell Griffin while bringing some of his attributes to the table.

After that, here's what the depth chart would look like.

PG: Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe, (Chauncey Billups?)
SG: Randy Foye, Mo Williams, Travis Leslie
SF: Caron Butler, Nick Young
PF: Blake Griffin, JaMychal Green
C: DeAndre Jordan

Green has some serious potential to be a great player. If L. A. plays their cards right, he could be a key to a future title run.

Tomorrow, I look at the new Nets from Brooklyn, and see what their best course of action is in what is a sticky situation.

How Can I Help You? New York Knicks

Anthony is looking for another scorer to play with.

The New York Knicks had the most up and down season for any team in recent memory. First, the team struggled immensely to start the season, not living up to expectations. Then, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire got injured and the Jeremy Lin show took off, reviving the Knickerbockers. After the returns of Anthony and Stoudemire, the team didn't seem to mesh well and started slumping. That led to the resignation of former head coach Mike D'Antoni, the defensive style of new head coach Mike Woodson, and a strong surge of Melo powering them through the final weeks of the season. Finally, the team was manhandled by the Heat and knocked out of the playoffs in five games. Stoudemire has been pointed out as an issue here, as he doesn't seem to fit in the team. Whatever the case, it showed the Knicks have some serious holes. They'll try to address them in the draft.

Being a Knicks fan, I watched the majority of their games this year. By doing so, I feel like I've gotten to know how the team plays and understand what their strengths and weaknesses are. I'm not saying I should be an NBA coach, but its clear to see where the Knicks need help. First let's look at their free agents.

Can "Linsanity" return to the NBA?

All signs point towards Jeremy Lin getting a big payday. Will he live up to it? That remains to be seen. But is he capable of being a starting NBA point guard? I think so. Lin needs to work on taking care of the ball and defense, but his ability to pass the ball and attack the basket makes him a solid PG option for New York. The other point man, Baron Davis, will likely not be brought back. Davis went down with a gruesome knee injury in the playoffs and will be out for quite some time. Landry Fields has been better than expected, but I just don't understand what he brings to the table. He doesn't excel at one specific area. However, I hear that he will likely be back with the team. J. R. Smith is another very interesting situation. His scoring ability is desperately needed by the Knicks, but his off the court issues, inconsistency, and desire to test the free agent market makes me feel like he's a goner. Steve Novak ais another player that shouldn't be resigned. He's a one dimensional three point shooter and he showed that against Miami. Finally, Jared Jeffries should be given a new contract, as he did contribute well for the team when needed.

That being said, let's look at the roster. Lin will start at point guard (barring an outlandish Steve Nash signing), and Mike Bibby will be the backup. With the guard injuries that the Knicks had all season, it would be wise to look for a backup in the draft or free agency. Iman Shumpert's timetable for his return from injury is uncertain, but hopefully he can make it back next season. Fields will start in his place.

At small forward is Carmelo Anthony, who truly needs some backup help. Too often was Anthony the only person who could score on the team. Stoudemire and Jeffries will man the power forward spot and Tyson Chandler will be the center with Josh Harrellson behind him. Big man depth is another need.

So what do the Knicks need? That have a lot of talent, but haven't been able to put it all together. And with only the 48th pick in the draft, they'll need to do work in free agency as well. But their main holes are backup point guard, wing scorer who can create their own shot, and post scorer. In just a season, New York went from all offense to all defense. They need someone after Melo to pick up the slack, even if Amare returns to form.

Finding a veteran point guard or big man who can score down low is something that would better be suited for free agency. Therefore, I'll adress the most persistent need: a wing player who can back up both Fields and Melo and create his own shot.

Crowder has his three goggles on.

Late in the draft, there aren't a ton of options, but there are some. Will Barton from Memphis or Khris Middleton from Texas A&M would both be excellent picks here. Both have the versatility to score in a variety of different ways and play both the two and the three. The only problem is that neither will likely be around once New York is on the clock. Kevin Murphy from Tennessee Tech boasts serious NBA range and a very consistent jumper. He hit 41.6% of his three pointers last season despite shooting just under six a game. Jared Cunningham's scoring relies on his his potential. If the former beaver can live up to it, he can pair attacking the basket with his stellar defense. Hollis Thompson of Georgetown is another shooting specialist, but he doesn't offer much besides that (see Steve Novak). Ohio St.'s William Buford has great shooting mechanics and can be a leader on the floor. Jae Crowder, despite his "tweener" status, has the ability to score a lot of different ways thanks to his shooting and strength. UCSB's Orlando Johnson averaged nearly 20 points per game in his career and has the size and frame to score as a pro.

Phew. Let me take a breather. The deeper we go in the draft, the more room for leeway and less difference between prospects there is. Because I think that the Barton/Middleton/Murphy trio wil be off the board, I say that the Knicks take a flyer on either Crowder or Johnson. Both would add scoring and physicality, just what this team needs.

For argument's sake, Ill look at five prospects in other areas of need.

Iona's Scott Machado is a fantastic point guard prospect who would pair well with Melo thanks to his pass first mentality. Tomas Satoransky from the Czech Republic has great size (6'8"), but also great passing ability and court vision. He could very well be the best European player in this draft. Casper Ware of Long Beach St. can pass, shoot, and attack. He has everything you look for in a PG, but his size (5'10") is a concern. Same goes for Jordan Theodore of Seton Hall. Theodore has already worked out for the Knicks, and is a great on the court leader who brings a talented offensive game with his point guard abilities. Looking at big men, Robert Scare of Gonzaga could give Tyson Chandler a break. He has several back to the basket post moves. Finally, Yancy Gates from Cincinnati has a nice offensive game. Some may wonder about his attitude and lack of toughness, but he has the capability to be a banger down low.

In the end, I'll have to go with Crodwer because I know more about him and I've seen him play before. That would make New York look something like this in the 2012-2013 season:

PG: Jeremy Lin, Mike Bibby
SG: Landry Fields, Jae Crowder
SF: Carmelo Anthony, Jae Crowder
PF: Amare Stoudemire, Jared Jeffries
C: Tyson Chandler, Josh Harrellson

The Knicks still have holes and depth issues, but there's only so much that one draft pick can do. I believe that a bunch of the prospects I've mentioned could help the team in a variety of ways. New York has drafted well recently, especially in the second round.

Next up, I head to Lob City to try and help the Clippers become a true title contender.

How Can I Help You? Utah Jazz

Utah's bigs are their strength and future.

The Utah Jazz are ahead of schedule in terms of their rebuilding process. Last season, they traded away Deron Williams not too long after Carlos Boozer went to the Bulls in free agency, and seemed to have blown up their team. Jerry Sloan was out and Tyrone Corbin was in. Youth was served. This team is looking to follow the pattern of the Thunder by taking over with their young guns. Making the playoffs last season was a huge accomplishment. Next year, they'll want more.

The team will lose some veterans to free agency, such as C. J. Miles and Josh Howard. Jamaal Tinsley should be back with the team through his player option, and he'll add experience to the baby Jazz. Jeremy Evans should also be brought back, as he is a very young player with extreme potential.

With a lot of young talent, Utah's biggest need is veterans. Obviously they're not going to be able to get that through the draft. However, there's no reason not to add to the young talent at a position of need.

At point guard is Devin Harris and Tinsley. Drafting a PG may be the best idea for the Jazz. This is the only position they really don't have youth in. Having someone to sit behind the two vets and learn could benefit Utah in the future. Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks are the two shooting guards for the team. Both are young and show promise. The team will likely steer away from adding another SG.

Evans and DeMarre Carroll are your small forwards. Carroll got a lot better this past season and we'll see if he can develop into a true starting caliber player. Hayward can also play this spot. It wouldn't be a shock to see the team take another forward. However, they're set in the frontcourt. With Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors at power forward and Al Jefferson and Enes Kanter at center, the team has a tremendous amount of athleticism and potential down low.

Look for the Jazz to see if they can sniff out their point guard of the future, but also consider a small forward. They pick at #47.

With the luxury of not needing an immediate contribution from their draft pick, they'll look at some of the point guards with higher potential. I see three main options.

Brown has a lot to learn, but serious potential.

Maalik Wayns from Villanova is a very agressive scorer. He has great speed and makes up for his lack of size in his strength. Wayns has to work on his decision making and overall point guard skills, so they could select him and have Harris teach him the ropes. Scott Machado is another option who is nearly the opposite of Wayns. His passing, court vision, and PG skills are excellent, but he needs to work on his putrid offense. Finally, J'Covan Brown can light up the scoreboard, but he often takes too many shots. Harris could try to help him find a happy medium between shooting and passing.

Brown is my favorite for the pick, but I'll throw some SF prospects out there as well. Kris Joseph or Darius Miller would be great picks here and add instant offense to the team. However, Orlando Johnson from UCSB would probably be the best fit. He has great scoring ability and can overpower other small forwards despite his height (6'5").

Taking Brown would have the team's depth chart looking like this:

PG: Devin Harris, Jamal Tinsley, J'Covan Brown
SG: Gordan Hayward, Alec Burks
SF: DeMarre Carroll, Jeremy Evans
PF: Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors
C: Al Jefferson, Enes Kanter

With another year under their belts, the Jazz could make a huge leap. Expect them to be a mainstay in the postseason for years to come behind the strength of their frontcourt.

Next up is the New York Knicks, who will look to fill a need in the draft and deliberate some of their crucial free agent decisions.

How Can I Help You? Chicago Bulls

Injuries crippled not just Rose, but his whole team.

Injuries to Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah exposed the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs this year. Without their go-to guy and their defensive stopper, they lost to a weaker Sixers team and their future looked uncertain. Rose's injury was severe and and his injury history is even scarier. What do you do when your superstar player could snap at any moment and your team could go up in flames? The Bulls need to find a solution to that. They'll start in the draft.

Chicago will be losing three important unrestricted free agents. John Lucas is the third string point guard, but showed promise and played some effective minutes off the bench. However, it was clear that him and C. J. Watson couldn't pick up enough slack after Rose went down (although it's hard to find someone who would), so he may be gone. Look for the Bulls to seek another PG, whether it be in the draft or free agency (Andre Miller or Chauncey Billups come to mind). The team is also losing Omer Asik. The big man's defense will be sorely missed, but it would likely take too much money to retain him. Finally, the heart and soul of the team, Brian Scalabrine, will be a FA. Even if he returns, he wont be doing much on the court.

Now let's go to the depth chart. At the point is Rose and Watson. The two make a great tandem, but because of the previously mentioned injury, the team may want to get some insurance. Shooting guard used to be a week position for the Bulls, but it may now be the strongest in terms of depth. Rip Hamilton started shooting like it was 2004, Ronnie Brewer became a solid defensive stopper, and Jimmy Butler seems to have some promise in him. Chicago should feel proud of how they addressed that position and optimistic for their future team moves, especially the one they'll make at pick #29, which is one pick before they drafted Butler last season.

Deng proved he can compete at an All Star level.

Luol Deng is coming off an All Star season at small forward and Kyle Korver is a sharpshooter off the bench behind him. Power forward is another strong spot. Carlos Boozer had a solid year, although he was inconsistent against Philadelphia in the postseason. Taj Gibson, however, was very consistent and efficient. He was a huge lift off of the bench for the Bulls. Noah mans down the center positon and with the departure of Asik, the team will look to add size and defense in that spot.

Despite a disappointing season, Chicago really doesn't have a lot of holes. They'll look for a point guard (even though I really think they'll go after someone like Miller in free agency), take a big, and if neither of those are available, trade the pick or take the best available player, which is what they may wind up doing.

At #29, there are not a ton of options for the Bulls in a draft lacking point guards and centers. Fab Melo should be taken by then, so we'll count him out. With all that being said, let's take a look.

I'm going to say it's a bit unlikely that Chicago will look for PG help in the draft, but I'll still go over some candidates anyways. Tony Wroten from Washington brings similar scoring ability as Rose to the table. Scott Machado of Iona is a pure point guard who could improve his offense under Rose. Tyshawn Taylor and Tomas Satoransky both have size and strength, but the jury is still out as to whether or not they'll be true point men in the NBA.

A common theme in my last few articles has been Vanderbilt big man Festus Ezeli. Ezeli will be drafted late first round/early second round and bring a defensive presence to the center position to whatever team he goes to. Ezeli may be gone by now (I had the Heat grabbing him), so if the Bulls are overly desperate for the next Asik, Robert Sacre is the way to go. Sacre is very smart on defense and has the potential to get better because of his size. Sacre would be a huge reach, however, so Chicago better trade down if he's their true desire.

Ultimately, I've got a hunch that the Bulls will either trade their selection (over all the teams I've analyzed so far, they're the most likely to trade their pick) or grab the best player available and just add some depth. Here are some guys who could be around.

Khris Middleton and Will Barton seem like two players who could really develop well under Deng. Quincy Miller would bring coveted length and defense to the small forward position. Draymond Green has the intangibles that everyone wants.

Stashing Fournier for the future would be a smart move.

In the end, the best choice here is France's Evan Fournier. Fournier is probably the best international player in the draft. He has a knack for scoring, especially attacking the basket, something Hamilton isn't a wizard at. Best case scenario would be to have him stay another year in Europe, develop more, and then battle Butler to be the starting shooting guard of the future.

Fournier gives the team some European stock, which is always good for a complete squad like the Bulls to have (see the Spurs). As long as they go out and get themselves a seasoned point guard and Rose's recovery goes as planned, they'll be contenders once again.

Tomorrow, I take a look at the Utah Jazz as they look to add to their already young core.

How Can I Help You? Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant and Westbrook want to win not one, not two, not three...

Like the Heat article I just wrote, the Thunder are still in the middle of their championship quest. A win tonight in Miami would go a long way. But as the playoffs have gone on, it's becoming more and more clear that the team that everyone thinks is perfect actually has some holes. They've made a living off of jump shooting and Kevindurantfourthquartercloseouts (Google it). OKC may want to add some depth to make them feel better about being the next dynasty.

First I'll start off by pointing out that the Thunder are losing two main players to free agency: Derek Fisher and Nazr Mohammed. Mohammed is no more than a backup to add size and he hasn't played much in the playoffs, so he's expendable. But Fisher has been a great leader for this team and has knocked down some clutch shots as Russell Westbrook's backup. The team will certainly miss the former Laker.

So here are the rotation players left for OKC from this current squad: Durant, Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha, and Nick Collison. Teams in the NBA are starting to use 8, 9, and even 10 man rotations. It's clear that the Thunder could use some depth.

After already mentioning the team's contributing players, I'll give a quick rundown of who is where and what they do.

Westbrook is the team's starting point guard and they don't have to draft a backup. Reggie Jackson was a first rounder last year and the team will surely try to get him more involved. Plus, Eric Maynor comes back from injury which will be a huge boost for Oklahoma City. Things look promising for the PG position next year as long as Maynor makes a healthy return and Jackson continues to develop. We already know Maynor can play serious minutes. The team is set at shooting guard too with a defensive specialist in Sefolosha and a high energy scorer in Harden. The Thunder have an incredibly young and talented backcourt That will certainly be a strength for them.

At small forward is Durant, of course. And his backup, Lazar Hayward, of course. Yeah, it's time to find a backup for KD. While he can play major minutes, there's no point in having him go the distance every game. Ibaka and Collison are the power forwards and Perkins is the center. Yes, these three are big bodies and very good on defense, but the scoring down low is almost non-existent (although Ibaka has gotten better on offense). OKC needs to add a big man who can score in the post.

So where are the holes again? Well, as long as everything at the point works out, the Thunder should draft either a backup for Durant or a scoring big man. Let's take a look.

Despite his low ceiling, it's hard not to like Green.

The small forward sweepstakes may be over by the time pick #28 comes around. Terrence Jones, Moe Harkless, Royce White, and Jeffery Taylor should all be gone by this pick. I had them being taken 23-26, but because this draft is so deep, they could go much higher. Khris Middleton from Texas A&M is still available, and at 6'8" he could be a solid scorer to play behind Durant. Then there's Quincy Miller of Baylor who has similar length and skills as Durant. Finally, Draymond Green could be a great piece for this team. In limited minutes, he can use contribute across the board. His leadership and toughness would be a nice addition to the Thunder.

It's going to be hard to find a scoring big man at this point in the draft. Festus Ezeli and Fab Melo have limited offensive abilities. Would the Thunder take a huge reach and draft someone like Virginia's Mike Scott? That's unlikely. If OKC decides to go big, they'll either trade up or trade down.

I think Green is the perfect pick here. He can help the team in a variety of areas. His lack of physical tools will be masked by the fact that he's playing behind Durant. And he's a high character guy who would fit right in with the Thunder. As for their issue of post scoring, they'll have to look in free agency. The team needs veteran leadership anyways, so maybe they can sign someone like Antawn Jamison or Elton Brand (to a smaller contract).

Here's what the Thunder should look like next season before free agency and after the draft:

PG: Westbrook, Maynor, Jackson
SG: Sefolosha, Harden
SF: Durant, Green
PF: Ibaka, Collison
C: Perkins

The depth and youth issues are still there, but there's only so much you can do with one draft pick. This team has a ton of potential, and they are headed in the right direction of winning multiple NBA titles.

Up next is the Chicago Bulls, who want Derrick Rose to get healthy and crash the Thunder-Heat party.

How Can I Help You? Miami Heat

Even if they win a title, the Big 3 need help. 

As I type this, the Miami Heat are currently preparing for Game 3 in the NBA Finals. They have persevered through many obstacles. What they draft for may depend on if they win the title or not, although I highly doubt that they would break up the Big 3. They need depth at nearly every position. Let's take a deeper look.

The Heat have four free agents: Ronny Turiaf, Terrell Harris, Eddy Curry, and Juwan Howard. You can say goodbye to all of them. None of them have played significant minutes for the Heat all season, and they should move on without them. Turiaf probably has the best chance of getting resigned.

Looking at the Heat's "depth" chart, you'd be hard pressed to call it that. They don't have many players that contribute. At point guard are Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole. Many think Chalmers isn't starting material, but he has been solid for Miami. Cole is still very young, completing his rookie season. The Heat do have the option of drafting a PG. At shooting guard is Dwyane Wade and Mike Miller. Wade is obviously still in his prime, although he has been playing hurt in these playoffs. Miller has been pretty bad at times, and he's shown just why the Heat need more bench options. Are two guard to back up Wade is not out of the question here.

At small forward is the best player in the NBA, LeBron James. While he plays many positions on the floor, SF is his natural spot, and the one he does the most damage in. Shane Battier has played this spot, but things would be different if the team had a true center. Playing Chris Bosh at center leads to James playing power forward and Battier at small forward. In fact, the team doesn't have a true center. Joel Anthony is too small and Dexter Pittman sucks. If Miami drafted a C, this would enable them to give James somewhat of a break instead of defending down low for 40 minutes. With James and Battier at SF and Bosh and Udonis Haslem at PF, those positions are set. The team just needs a center.

So where do the Heat need depth? Depth at point guard. And shooting guard. And they need a center. Getting another forward wouldn't be bad, but with one pick, they should look to fill their needs. The team picks 27th overall.

Center truly is the biggest need. The minutes are getting hard on LeBron and if the team is able to get rid of some of his minutes in the post, he'll be able to play longer. Plus, I feel like Bosh would play better in his natural position of power forward.

Ezeli would add much needed size to the Heat.

Many people had originally mocked Fab Melo to the Heat, but due to the shortage of centers, he will likely be gone. That's why they should take Festus Ezeli from Vanderbilt. Ezeli is a big body with great length that brings physicality to the paint. His quickness and footwork are two things that not all big men come with, and he would be greatly needed by the Heat.

If they were to take a point guard, Maquis Teague would already be gone, so I suggest Tony Wroten from Washington. Wroten has the potential to go a lot higher, but he has to work on his passing and shot selection. He excels in getting to the basket with his crossover, but work still needs to be done on his game.

By now, Doron Lamb would be off the board as well, so they would need to find another shooting guard if they decide to go that route. John Jenkins from Vanderbilt is a knock down three point shooter and Evan Fournier from France is a beast attacking the basket. Khris Middleton is another player who can score from anywhere. I'd have to go with Jenkins here, but not before Ezeli.

So by picking the Nigerian big man, the Heat's starting five could now look like this: Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Festus Ezeli. All of the sudden, the team now has a big lineup instead of a small one. Coming off the bench is Norris Cole, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem, and Joel Anthony. While that's hardly an impressive squad, they are where they belong-coming off the bench instead of starting.

Can the Heat will a title this year? That remains to be seen. But can Ezeli help them for the future? Absolutely.

Up next is Miami's opponent in these Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder. As they try to win the title as well, I think you'll see they have more holes than many think, which they will try to address with the 28th pick in the draft.

How Can I Help You? Indiana Pacers

Granger would like to stand over LeBron permanently. 

The Pacers are evolving rapidly, taking big steps in the playoffs. Last year as an eight seed, Indiana pushed the Bulls more than many expected. This year, they pushed the Heat more than anyone thought they could. Being the #3 seed in these playoffs, the Pacers earned the title of the best in the East besides Miami and Chicago. But they want more than that. They want to be the best. Period.

The team is very young and not short on talent. They're looking to add a piece that will fill up one of the few holes on the team.

They have two key free agents in George Hill and Roy Hibbert who were starters last season. Larry Bird and head coach Frank Vogel have both expressed their extreme interests in resigning the two. Louis Amundson and Dahntay Jones are two other restricted free agents who will probably be brought back. Leandro Barbosa is unrestricted and he'll likely move on elsewhere.

Indiana has a spectacular duo at point guard with Hill and Darren Collison. When Collison was injured last year, Hill stepped up into the starting role. When he excelled, Collison took a bench gig upon his return. Instead of being unhappy and disgruntled, he embraced it and the PG position became one of the biggest strengths for the Pacers. Paul George is an explosive shooting guard who starts alongside Hill. The backcourt is very good for the team.

Danny Granger is the starter at small forward and Jones backs him up. Granger brought defense and attitude to the playoffs against the Heat and proved to be one of Indiana's most valuable players. David West and Hibbert make up the team's impressive frontcourt with Tyler Hansbrough and Amundson backing them up. All together, the team is deep at every position. So what do they need?

The best bet for the Pacers, whose only pick is #26, would be to draft a wing player or defensive center with size and length.

Taylor's explosiveness would fit well with Indiana.

This situation is similar to the one that I just covered with the Grizzlies. Indiana's choice of a SF will likely come down to who's left out of Moe Harkless, Jeffery Taylor, Royce White, and Quincy Miller. I think they go with Taylor, who is the best fit. Taylor plays hard, runs the floor well, and can score in a variety of different ways. His versatility is similar to that of Granger's or George's, and he should be able to improve his game under them.

Once again, Festus Ezeli should be the only man really worth drafting at the center position at this point. His size would be greatly appreciated behind Hibbert, but small forward is the bigger need. If Fab Melo is still available, however, that would give the Pacers a tough call to make. Melo's high level defensive abilities may be what this team needs to get over the hump.

In the end, Taylor would give the team just what they need on the wing and help improve the team as a whole.

Next up is the Miami Heat. They're currently trying to win a title, but this postseason has shown us that they've got a lot of work to do in terms of making their team complete.