3 teams for ex-Pacer Danny Granger
Danny Granger and the Philadelphia 76ers came to a buyout agreement Wednesday, according to David Aldridge. This move frees Granger to sign with a contender and chase the title hopes that he once shared with his former Indiana Pacers teammates.
As Granger will tell you, his knees are no longer a problem. And he is in fact healthy, albeit limited, after sitting out most of last season due to patellar tendinosis which led to knee surgery last spring.
So he's fine, but how does he fit?
Aldridge's story as well as other reports have listed several teams from Miami, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers as possible suitors. In Indiana, coach Frank Vogel threw all the backup wing minutes his way, even giving Granger a chance to start twice in place of an injured Lance Stephenson. I doubt if he'll have that much opportunity with any of those teams listed above or be a 22-plus minute guy for the rest of the season. However, here are the top three contenders where Granger can best fit.
San Antonio
When the Spurs go "all-in," they go older. From Michael Finley to Robert Horry and even Stephen Jackson (for a limited time), there must be a reclamation project down in San Antonio where veterans can find new life. Granger falls into that category as an older player - he's 30 years old and in his ninth NBA season - who can provide purposeful contributions.
Although San Antonio has the highest-scoring bench in the league, Granger could step in to boost the wing as starting small forward Kawhi Leonard is still on the mend but set to return from a broken hand injury.
Furthermore, if the Spurs want to add some versatility, Granger can fill in as a stretch-four. On Jan. 18, Granger played minutes at the power forward position against the Clippers' Blake Griffin. So that "old man strength" that Granger bragged about after surviving the physical Griffin, could have some use in San Antonio.
Read this from "Spurs Nation" blog on mysanantonio.com:
"Coach Gregg Popovich said the Spurs, who have roughly $650,000 remaining of the mid-level exception plus the veteran's minimum salary exception (nearly $1.3 million for a nine-year veteran like Granger), are actively monitoring the buyout market. "Like everyone else we're looking at all the names," he said. "If we see there's a body there we think can help us we'll try to do it but we haven't done anything to this point." - Dan McCarney
Los Angeles Clippers
Granger's father lives in L.A., and so does his younger brother. So, if Granger is mindful about transitioning his family life - he's also a husband and father of two twin babies - the quickest and easiest adjustment would be to sign with the Clippers.
Here's the setback: Granger's greatest attribute (his shooting) - the Clippers already have in spades.
Los Angeles ranks sixth in the NBA in overall shooting percentage (47.3) and that standing improves when factoring in free throws and 3-pointers. This season with the Pacers, Granger did not exactly have a hot spot but he launched 93 3-pointers (and an additional backcourt shot), far and away the most of any shots he attempted while on the court. Granger was accurate from the corner 3 (12 for 18 for 42 percent) but struggled everywhere else, hitting just 19-of-66 attempts from long distance.
But once again, an injury can lead to an opportunity for Granger. The Clippers' best shooter, J.J. Redick, is out indefinitely with a bulging disk in his back. Although Granger hasn't been as accurate as Redick this year, he can still offer the threat on the perimeter and make defenses respect his touch. Besides, who doesn't want to play with a point guard like Chris Paul? Cliff's twin brother makes the game easier for all around him.
Miami
Granger signing with The Enemy - the story writes itself. In the imaginary world of NBA espionage, the Heat sign Granger and extract all the Pacers' secrets from him. Fun, right? But, the truth is, Granger and Miami make the best fit.
Remember the impact of the late-season signing of Chris "Birdman" Andersen? Miami needed bigs then. Right now, that problem has been partially addressed with Greg Oden. This year, the Heat can use another Ray Allen type. Though Allen is making 41 percent of his 3-pointers this month, he struggled to find his shot throughout January. That could be a good sign for Miami if Allen is finding his groove, still there's no reason to pass up Granger. He doesn't have to play 22 minutes, but simply come in and spot up and not be a total wreck on the defensive end.
At this point in his career, Granger's motivation is pure. He has put up the statistics, made the money and performed as The Man. What he wants now is a title. The Pacers are the only team that can keep Miami from making its fourth straight appearance in the NBA Finals - and they just so happen to be the team that Granger knows best.