#9 - Indiana Pacers

For the Indiana Pacers, it's about time and experience. Their valiant stint against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals led to a dismal Game 7 of 21 turnovers, losing the rebound battle, and a flustered, fouled out Paul George with a grand total of 7 points. They were expectedly outmatched, but it still adds to their experience. The story most associated with Indiana now is the return of Danny Granger, who is now doubtful for the Pacers' season opener next week. Granger's knee injury kept him out of 75 games and the playoffs last season and reportedly suffered a minor calf injury during the preseason. The Pacers need time for Danny Granger.

Still this list is only about the added pieces, and I wrote that Indiana won in July when they traded for Phoenix Suns forward Luis Scola. The Pacers now have more experience on their bench and even more ruggedness to accompany David West and Roy Hibbert. Scola will bring the same tenacity as a Tyler Hanbrough, who signed with Toronto as an unrestricted free agent, but with much more skill and savvy. You still have Lance Stephenson as a spark plug; you replace D.J. Augustin with a seasoned back-up point guard in C.J. Watson, and add an extra spark plug in former Knick Chris Copeland, and Tom Ziller from SB Nation thinks you might be looking at the best team in the East. With some time and a little more experience, not to mention Paul George's vital emergence as a star and a smooth return for Granger, they're more equipped to make the argument.

- Martin S. @marley_mcfly

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Pacers win in Scola deal

The Indiana Pacers reached an agreement to acquire 33-year-old forward Luis Scola from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Miles Plumleee, Gerald Green, and a lottery protected 2014 first-round draft pick. 

Indiana clawed their way into a seven-game series with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals without all-star Danny Granger, who was sidelined for all but five games with knee issues. 

Acquiring Scola, the skilled Argentinian veteran, gives the Pacers a more viable offensive option than forward Tyler Hansbrough, who brings toughness and an eager presence on the offensive glass off the bench. Scola has been known to be a similar "garbage man" type, but with more finesse and court savvy; some would even argue that Hansbrough and Scola are both "dirty" players. With Scola, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel now has a more skilled option to back up starting forward David West, who like West, can operate out of the high-low with Roy Hibbert. 

The Pacers' front court was their greatest advantage without Scola, and it was the only advantage they had over the defending champs. Now, with a more bolstered front court, the return of Danny Granger, development from firecracker reserve Lance Stephenson, and the acquisition of back up point guard C.J. Watson for George Hill, the Indiana Pacers roster could be one of the most rounded in the league next season.

LINK: See why Tom Ziller from SB Nation writes that the Pacers could have the best team in the East with Scola.