Candace Buckner

candace.buckner@indystar.com

When the Indiana Pacers' front office began the offseason much earlier than it had hoped, Thursday never ranked high on the list of priorities. With only one selection in the NBA draft -- a forgettable 57th pick – the Pacers would not have unearthed a cultural or foundational fit inside the Barclays Center. So while the team spent several weeks shuffling in more than 40 players for pre-draft workouts, neither the big day nor the so-called deep draft mattered much in the end.

One player, however, still tops the Pacers' priorities, which is why the team shipped their lone pick to the New York Knicks in exchange for cash – just more money on the books to help keep soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Lance Stephenson.

Just past midnight, team president of basketball operations Larry Bird grumbled to reporters: "That was a waste of two weeks."

However, as the team turns its attention towards the truly important aspect of the offseason, Bird appeared as confident as ever about Stephenson returning to the Pacers.

"Lance wants to be here, there's no question about it," Bird said. "He wants to be here. So now it's just about getting the terms right and trying to get him back."

Indiana flirted with the idea of trading up for a first-round pick, but those excavations proved empty as teams snatched away the players the Pacers were targeting. So instead of drafting a prospect who would eventually be cut, the Pacers picked a plan that team owner Herb Simon usually vetoes – to sell the pick.

Though the amount of cash received for the rights to the 57th pick, who turned out to be French forward/center Louis Labeyrie, were not announced, Bird said that the Pacers chose this route specifically for free agency purposes.

"This is one year we're tight on money," Bird explained. "If our guy wasn't there, we weren't going to take a stab at it because we've got Lance, we've got Lavoy (Allen), we've got some other guys we're looking at (signing). In free agency you never know where you're going to be.

"My owner don't like to sell picks," Bird said. "He doesn't want any part of that, but that's the only option we had."

The 2014-15 salary cap and luxury tax thresholds will be announced after the July moratorium period, however projections have the figures at approximately $63.2 million and $77.0 million, respectively. Fitting with the tradition of Simon's wishes, the Pacers plan to spend up to the luxury tax, not exceeding it.

However, even with this budget ceiling, the team wants to offer Stephenson, a fourth-year pro coming off a career season, a handsome contract. Interested teams can begin making contact with players after midnight on July 1st, the start of free agency.

"That's the way you're supposed to do it. Lance wants to be here, they're not going to rush to any decision," Bird said. "I will call his agent Tuesday morning and go from there and see what happens. I know Lance wants to be here, he needs to be paid like everybody else has been paid and we're going to do what we can do to keep him.

"I've got a certain amount I'm going to pay him and I'm not going over that," Bird said, repeating a sentiment he expressed during the end-of-season press conference several weeks ago, "but it's going to be a very good contract. … I know what I can do to make it work and it's a very, very fair contract."

Earlier on Thursday, before hunkering down in the draft room, Bird sat and spoke with Stephenson for the second time this offseason. During the conversation, Bird made it clear what he expected out of Stephenson if he re-signed with the team – the ear-blowing incident and other behaviors against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals still rile Bird. However, even after this one-on-one, Bird came away convinced that Stephenson wanted to remain in Indiana.

After returning from a brief vacation, Stephenson has virtually lived inside the practice facility working on his game. George Hill, another player who should start paying rent there due to his incessant workouts, has impressed Bird with his efforts to improve.

"Every day. Every day. They tell George to go home. Take a day off," Bird said. "He's committed himself to the summer to get better. That's all I've want to hear.

"I think George Hill's going to be a better basketball player," Bird continued. "You just don't work that hard every day and not get better. Hopefully, we can bring Lance back. He's going to work hard and he'll be better, so I look for good things next year."

So even as Hill still stars in many fans' trade fantasies, Bird reaffirmed his starting point guard's status as a fundamental element of the Pacers and their future.

"I believe in keeping the core of your team together. Now, you might make some moves and try to add to it but I like our core," Bird said "I think we've got to be more consistent and I think we've got to have better ball movement and I think players got to be held accountable and they will be. You can speculate all you want but I'm pretty set with our core group and I'm going to give them another shot. They almost got there two years in a row, I think they deserve another shot."