Danny Granger: A Bright Spot In a Forgettable Season

The Indiana Pacers have entered the 08/09 NBA season with a lackluster 9-16 and all I can do is sit back and watch Danny Granger.

I didn't expect much from the Pacers this season: They are in the midst of a rebuilding effort that should have happened a couple of years ago and will take a few years to recover their status as championship contenders.

For the first time in a while, I was reasonably impressed with the off-season moves they made (trading their second round pick and Jermaine O' Neal's massive contract to Toronto for TJ Ford, Maceo Baston, a first round draft pick, Jarret Jack, and the dwindling contract of Rasho Nesterovic) and the draft (they drafted Roy Hibbert and Brandon Rush).

But the few changes they made over the summer can't make up for all their previous mistakes (holding on to Jamal Tinsley for this long and of course every draft pick except Danny Granger).

Which brings me back to No. 33. In another forgettable Pacers season, Danny Granger has fascinated crowds with his play. Averaging 24 pts, 5 rebs, and 3 assists, Granger has improved every season since being drafted and has become the face of the franchise. After watching a recent 41 point performance against Golden State, I'm convinced that Danny Granger will replace Jermaine O'Neal as face of this franchise and he will be an All-Star this season.

While the Pacers may be struggling, I have nothing but hope for the future. When second leading scorer Mike Dunleavy comes back and rookies Hibbert and Rush develop, this could be a formidable team in the future. In a couple of years, a superstar Danny Granger flanked by Rush, Hibbert, and Dunleavy could be a very could team core.

So the Pacers have some loose ends to clean up. They still have Jamal Tinsley, and their roster is made up of mainly young or unremarkable players. But with Danny Granger at the helm, this team's future is anything but dark.