2006–07 Indiana Pacers season
Encyclopedia
The 2006-07
Indiana Pacers
season was the team's 31st in the NBA, and the 40th year of the team's existence. They began the season hoping to improve upon their 41-41 output from the previous season
. However, they came six wins shy of tying it, finishing 35-47.
, whom they had just acquired in a trade from the Sacramento Kings
during the previous season
, in free agency to the New Orleans Hornets. Because of this, they were granted a trade exception by the NBA, which they used to re-acquire former Pacer Al Harrington
from the Atlanta Hawks
. They also pulled off two separate trades with the Dallas Mavericks
, giving up established veterans Anthony Johnson
and Austin Croshere
for unexplained reasons. These two trades were disappointing to Pacers fans, who were confused by the trades and saw them as one-sided in the favor of the Mavericks. In June 2006, once-promising talent Jonathan Bender
announced that he was retiring from the NBA at the age of 25, due to his struggles with knee injuries. The Pacers had traded All-Star big man Antonio Davis
to acquire Bender in 1999
when he was an 18-year-old rookie with great potential, but his constant injuries had prevented him from ever developing.
When the regular season finally started, the Pacers had a significantly different roster than they did at the end of the previous season. The Pacers hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season, and were a borderline playoff team. In January 2007, the Pacers pulled off another major trade, this time with the Golden State Warriors
, giving up troubled swingman Stephen Jackson
, Al Harrington, and other pieces for versatile big man Troy Murphy
and unproven swingman Mike Dunleavy
as well as some other pieces. This trade was perceived as the only way for the Pacers to finally part ways with Jackson, who had lost the respect of Pacers fans due to his involvement in "The Brawl" and in a shooting at an Indianapolis
nightclub. After the trade, the Pacers fell downward in the standings, marked by an 11-game losing streak which stretched from late February to mid-March, and eventually were eliminated from qualification for the 2007 NBA Playoffs
. This would be the first time the Pacers missed the playoffs since the 1996-97 season
, and the first of a streak of four seasons of missing the playoffs. Ironically, the perennial basement-dweller Warriors wound up making the playoffs for the first time since the 1993-94 season
, and even advanced to the second round by upsetting the first-seeded Mavericks 4-2 in the first round. This left the dwindling community of Pacers fans with a sour taste in their mouths as they wondered what might have happened if the trade in January had not occurred.
*Qualified for playoffs
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
season was the team's 31st in the NBA, and the 40th year of the team's existence. They began the season hoping to improve upon their 41-41 output from the previous season
2005-06 Indiana Pacers season
The 2005–06 Indiana Pacers season was the 30th season completed by the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association .-Draft Selections:-Season summary:...
. However, they came six wins shy of tying it, finishing 35-47.
Draft Selections
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Shawne Williams Shawne Williams Shawne Brian Williams is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Knicks of the NBA... |
F | Memphis University of Memphis The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system.... >- align="center" bgcolor="" |
2 | 45 | Alexander Johnson Alexander Johnson Alexander Canterell Johnson is an American professional basketball player. He plays the power forward position.-High school/College:... |
F | Florida St. Florida State University The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation... |
||
Season Summary
During the Summer of 2006, the Pacers lost Peja StojakovicPredrag Stojakovic
Predrag Stojaković , also known by his nickname Peja , is a Serbian professional basketball player who last played for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association . Standing at 6 ft 10 , Stojaković plays the small forward position...
, whom they had just acquired in a trade from the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
during the previous season
2005-06 Indiana Pacers season
The 2005–06 Indiana Pacers season was the 30th season completed by the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association .-Draft Selections:-Season summary:...
, in free agency to the New Orleans Hornets. Because of this, they were granted a trade exception by the NBA, which they used to re-acquire former Pacer Al Harrington
Al Harrington
Albert "Al" Harrington is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the NBA's Denver Nuggets...
from the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. They also pulled off two separate trades with the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
, giving up established veterans Anthony Johnson
Anthony Johnson (basketball)
Anthony Mark Johnson is an American professional basketball player who most recently played with the Orlando Magic of the NBA. Johnson is a 6'3" point guard. He found success in pro basketball, becoming the first NBA D-League player to participate in a NBA Finals...
and Austin Croshere
Austin Croshere
Austin Nathan Croshere is a retired American professional basketball player and current analyst for Fox Sports Indiana broadcasts of Indiana Pacers games.-Education:...
for unexplained reasons. These two trades were disappointing to Pacers fans, who were confused by the trades and saw them as one-sided in the favor of the Mavericks. In June 2006, once-promising talent Jonathan Bender
Jonathan Bender
Jonathan Rene Bender is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association .-Career:...
announced that he was retiring from the NBA at the age of 25, due to his struggles with knee injuries. The Pacers had traded All-Star big man Antonio Davis
Antonio Davis
Antonio Lee Davis is a retired American National Basketball Association player. Davis is also the former president of the NBA Players Association .-College career:...
to acquire Bender in 1999
1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
when he was an 18-year-old rookie with great potential, but his constant injuries had prevented him from ever developing.
When the regular season finally started, the Pacers had a significantly different roster than they did at the end of the previous season. The Pacers hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season, and were a borderline playoff team. In January 2007, the Pacers pulled off another major trade, this time with the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, giving up troubled swingman Stephen Jackson
Stephen Jackson
Stephen Jesse Jackson is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. Jackson is a 6'8" guard-forward.-Early life, high school, and college:Jackson was born in Houston and grew up in Port Arthur, Texas...
, Al Harrington, and other pieces for versatile big man Troy Murphy
Troy Murphy
Troy Brandon Murphy is an American professional basketball power forward who last played with the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. Murphy was born in Morristown, New Jersey but grew up in Sparta Township located in northwest New Jersey...
and unproven swingman Mike Dunleavy
Mike Dunleavy, Jr.
Michael Joseph "Mike" Dunleavy, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association...
as well as some other pieces. This trade was perceived as the only way for the Pacers to finally part ways with Jackson, who had lost the respect of Pacers fans due to his involvement in "The Brawl" and in a shooting at an Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
nightclub. After the trade, the Pacers fell downward in the standings, marked by an 11-game losing streak which stretched from late February to mid-March, and eventually were eliminated from qualification for the 2007 NBA Playoffs
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
. This would be the first time the Pacers missed the playoffs since the 1996-97 season
1996-97 NBA season
The 1996–97 NBA season was the 51st season of the National Basketball Association . The league used this season to mark its 50th anniversary, which included the unveiling of the league's list of its 50 greatest players...
, and the first of a streak of four seasons of missing the playoffs. Ironically, the perennial basement-dweller Warriors wound up making the playoffs for the first time since the 1993-94 season
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
, and even advanced to the second round by upsetting the first-seeded Mavericks 4-2 in the first round. This left the dwindling community of Pacers fans with a sour taste in their mouths as they wondered what might have happened if the trade in January had not occurred.
Standings
| Team | W | L | Home | Road | PCT. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Pistons* | 53 | 29 | 26–15 | 27–14 | .646 | - |
| Cleveland Cavaliers* | 50 | 32 | 30–11 | 20–21 | .605 | 3 |
| Chicago Bulls 2006-07 Chicago Bulls season The 2006-07 Chicago Bulls finished with a record of 49-33 in the regular season and reached the second round of the NBA playoffs, making it their most successful season since the retirement of Michael Jordan, but nevertheless leaving some doubt amongst fans as to whether the team could compete for... * |
49 | 33 | 31–10 | 18–23 | .598 | 4 |
| Indiana Pacers 2006–07 Indiana Pacers season The 2006-07 Indiana Pacers season was the team's 31st in the NBA, and the 40th year of the team's existence. They began the season hoping to improve upon their 41-41 output from the previous season... |
35 | 47 | 22–19 | 13–28 | .427 | 18 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 28 | 54 | 18–23 | 10–31 | .341 | 25 |
*Qualified for playoffs
Additions
| Player | Acquired | Former team | Position | |||||||
| Darrell Armstrong Darrell Armstrong Darrell Eugene Armstrong is a former American professional basketball player, who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association... |
Trade | Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011... |
PG Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... |
|||||||
| Maceo Baston Maceo Baston Maceo Demond Baston is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.-College career:After graduating from Dallas' H. Grady Spruce High School, Baston played college basketball at the University of Michigan. At Michigan, he was part of an all-star recruiting class that... |
Signed as free agent | Maccabi Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv is the biggest sports club in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs many sports club and teams in Tel Aviv, which compete in a variety of sports, such as football, basketball, judo, swimming, handball, and others.... |
PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... |
|||||||
| Marquis Daniels Marquis Daniels Marquis Antwane Daniels is a , guard-forward who most recently was a member of the Sacramento Kings. Daniels was an undrafted guard in the 2003 NBA Draft, yet has become a regular rotation player averaging at least 17.8 minutes per game in each one of his first six seasons... |
Trade | Dallas Mavericks | SG Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team... |
|||||||
| Ike Diogu Ike Diogu Ikechukwu Somtochukwu Diogu, referred to as Ike Diogu , is an Nigerian American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.-Family and early life:... |
Trade | Golden State Warriors Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
PF | |||||||
| Mike Dunleavy, Jr. Mike Dunleavy, Jr. Michael Joseph "Mike" Dunleavy, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association... |
SF Small forward The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall... |
|||||||||
| Orien Greene Orien Greene Orien Randolph Greene II is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Halifax Rainmen of the National Basketball League of Canada. His first two seasons were spent with the NBA's Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, respectively... |
Boston Celtics Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which... |
PG | ||||||||
| Al Harrington Al Harrington Albert "Al" Harrington is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the NBA's Denver Nuggets... |
Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:... |
PF | ||||||||
| Rawle Marshall Rawle Marshall Rawle Marshall is a Guyanese-American professional basketball player. He is a 6 ft 7 in and 190 lb small forward.-Early life:... |
Keith McLeod Keith McLeod Keith McLeod is an American professional basketball player, who plays point guard for the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League. He is 6' 2" tall... |
Troy Murphy Troy Murphy Troy Brandon Murphy is an American professional basketball power forward who last played with the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. Murphy was born in Morristown, New Jersey but grew up in Sparta Township located in northwest New Jersey... |
Josh Powell Josh Powell Josh Powell is an American professional basketball player.-Early life:While playing at NC State, Powell averaged 12.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg in his sophomore year . He was not selected in the 2003 NBA Draft and played in Europe... |
Shawne Williams Shawne Williams Shawne Brian Williams is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Knicks of the NBA... |
rookie Rookie Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of... |
SF |
Subtractions
| Player | Departed | New team | Position |
| Jonathan Bender Jonathan Bender Jonathan Rene Bender is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association .-Career:... |
Retired | none | PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... |
| Austin Croshere Austin Croshere Austin Nathan Croshere is a retired American professional basketball player and current analyst for Fox Sports Indiana broadcasts of Indiana Pacers games.-Education:... |
Trade | Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011... |
PF |
| Eddie Gill Eddie Gill Eddie Gill is an American professional basketball player. He is a 1.84 m point guard.Gill went undrafted after a college career at Salt Lake Community College and Weber State University... |
Signed as free agent | New Jersey Nets New Jersey Nets The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
PG Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... |
| Al Harrington Al Harrington Albert "Al" Harrington is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the NBA's Denver Nuggets... |
Trade | Golden State Warriors Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
PF |
| Stephen Jackson Stephen Jackson Stephen Jesse Jackson is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. Jackson is a 6'8" guard-forward.-Early life, high school, and college:Jackson was born in Houston and grew up in Port Arthur, Texas... |
Trade | Golden State Warriors | SF Small forward The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall... |
| Sarunas Jasikevicius Šarunas Jasikevicius Šarūnas Jasikevičius is a Lithuanian professional basketball player who plays for Panathinaikos BC. He is a member of the Lithuanian national team, and plays the point guard position.-Early years:... |
Trade | Golden State Warriors | PG |
| Anthony Johnson Anthony Johnson Anthony Johnson is the name of:* Anthony Johnson , American film actor* Anthony Johnson , a freedman of African descent in early Virginia* Anthony Johnson , NFL running back... |
Trade | Dallas Mavericks | PG |
| Fred Jones | Signed as free agent | Toronto Raptors Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion... |
SG Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team... |
| Scot Pollard Scot Pollard Scot L. Pollard is a retired American professional basketball player. In an eleven-year NBA career, he played for five teams, spending the bulk of his career with the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers... |
Signed as free agent | Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team... |
C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well... |
| Josh Powell Josh Powell Josh Powell is an American professional basketball player.-Early life:While playing at NC State, Powell averaged 12.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg in his sophomore year . He was not selected in the 2003 NBA Draft and played in Europe... |
Trade | Golden State Warriors | PF |
| Predrag Stojakovic Predrag Stojakovic Predrag Stojaković , also known by his nickname Peja , is a Serbian professional basketball player who last played for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association . Standing at 6 ft 10 , Stojaković plays the small forward position... |
Signed as free agent | New Orleans Hornets | SF |
| Samaki Walker Samaki Walker Samaki Ijuma Walker is an American professional basketball power forward and center. Walker played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was drafted in 1996 by the Dallas Mavericks, where he played until 1999... |
Waived | none | PF |