NBA Rumors: Jamal Crawford Would Put Indiana Pacers Back on Track

The Indiana Pacers are shaping up to be surprisingly active participants in the abbreviated free-agency period leading up to the 2011-12 NBA season. If the insights of Indianapolis Star beat reporter Mike Wells prove to be prescient, the Pacers may finally be back to their winning ways after an agonizingly lengthy winter of basketball discontent in the Hoosier State:

The additions of Jamal Crawford and George Hill, in a draft-day trade with the San Antonio Spurs, would give Indiana a pair of legitimate scoring threats to form a "Little Three" with All-Star forward Danny Granger. That would be enough to at least keep Indiana competitive in the evermore crowded Eastern Conference. Assuming the Bulls, the Heat, the Celtics and the Knicks were to lock down the top four playoff spots, the Pacers, with Granger, Crawford and Hill, would have an excellent chance to climb as high as No. 5 in the conference.

Of course, Crawford's landing at Conseco Fieldhouse is hardly a foregone conclusion. Crawford, as arguably the most attractive free agent on the market, will be showered with attention from teams around the league before he makes his final decision.

Still, it'd be tough for Pacers fans not to get excited about upgrading their roster so dramatically. Slot those two into the rotation, along with Granger, Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert, and Indiana will sport the sort of lineup that's capable of putting up points and playing stifling defense on any given night.

What's more, both Crawford and Hill are as comfortable with starting as they are coming off the bench. Crawford has long been one of the NBA's most prolific backups, having been named the league's Sixth Man of the Year in 2010, with career averages of 15.4 points, 2.6 points and 3.9 assists per game.

Hill, meanwhile, spent most of his time in San Antonio as a reserve, though he's more than capable of splitting time as a starter with Collison.

The Pacers would remain far removed from contention for a spot in the NBA Finals, though these potential upgrades would give the team a real shot to win a playoff series for the first time since 2005.