Thanks, but...

The NBA Trade Deadline came and went with the Pacers having the same roster as they did earlier in the week. But, they were close to a major to making a major shakeup that never materialized. Indiana and Memphis had a deal in place to swap Josh McRoberts and Indy's First Round pick for troubled guard O.J. Mayo. Whether it was because of missing the 3 PM deadline, or the Pacers trying to recruit a third team (New Orleans) that pulled out at the last second, the deal didn't get done.

It was the best move the Pacers didn't make.

I enjoy Bob Kravitz's work in the IndyStar, but I couldn't disagree more with his take on the Mayo deal. While nobody questions O.J. Mayo's potential, he's been a headache everywhere he's gone. From high school incidents (playing for three different teams in four years, by the way) involving shoving a referee and being charged with marijuana possession, to taking improper benefits at USC, to getting on a fight on the team plane and testing positive for a steroid this year, Mayo has a troubled past. The third-year guard was a 17-18 points per game scorer in his first two years, but has regressed to an average of just over 12 ppg in year three. He's seen his minutes decrease as the Grizzlies have shopped him openly around the NBA. Yes, he's only 23, and just three years ago he was the third overall pick. But, we've seen what has happened in the past when Pacers have weighed talent over character, and it didn't end well.

Rebuilding has been an arduous process for the Pacers, but one thing they have accomplished is weeding out the character-issue guys. Stephen Jackson is gone. So is Shawne Williams. Ditto for Ron Artest. Why bring toxicity back to a locker room that has worked so hard to purge all of their malcontents in the past four years?

This isn't about McRoberts, who is a marginal role player that the Pacers will likely lose to free agency anyway. It also isn't about their First Round pick which will likely fall in the mid-to-late teens in what most believe will be a mediocre Draft. Those are two pieces that the Pacers could part with and not lose any sleep over. But, a me-first headcase with behavioral issues is the last thing this young team needs right now.

The Pacers haven't been pro-active enough, and the front office has been too passive, leading to this long rebuilding process. I'm not saying the Pacers shouldn't take any risks. But, they need to push their chips on the table on the right hand at the right time. Mayo wasn't a winning hand.