Welcome Back, Indiana Pacers

Welcome back, NBA. And welcome back, Indiana Pacers. The early-morning agreement Nov. 26 between the league and the players’ union ensures the highest level of professional basketball will be played — albeit under a shortened schedule. The great news for the Pacers — one of the NBA’s small-market franchises — is that this tentative collective bargaining agreement, which will give players roughly 51.2 percent of basketball-related revenue, will allow teams from any market to be competitive in free agency and, by extension, on the basketball court. It’s been way too long, folks. Let’s get to examining what the Pacers can do before the condensed season commences and what kind of team they’ll be in 2011-12. The Pacers’ biggest move for this season was made right as the lockout began in July. The team officially removed the “interim” label from head coach Frank Vogel, ensuring the man who took the reins from the fired Jim O’Brien in the middle of last season would have the full-time gig. V