Candace Buckner

candace.buckner@indystar.com

For the Indiana Pacers, the small forward position was a mix of exciting youth and reliable maturity. Learn in this fourth installment of our positional analysis if the Pacers have enough of this combination to build upon for next season.

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PAUL GEORGE

No longer just the Indiana underdog, Paul George can legitimately lay claim to being one of the top 15 players in the league. His second consecutive All-NBA third-team selection solidifies this status. His inclusion to the All-Defensive first team adds to his resume as one of the best two-way players. Also, his recent run of national television spots cements him as a household name.

In many ways, George lived up to this league-wide respect and mainstream marketability. And yet, he still has a ways to go in maturing into the superstar entrusted to lead the Pacers over the Miami Heat stumbling block.

George entered the season with the lofty goal of joining the 50-40-90 club (shooting percentages from the floor, 3-pointers and free throws). He fell short, but ended with the acceptable numbers of .424, .364 and .864. Even so, George can still work on being more proficient.

While George saw overall improvement in offensive areas from his 2012-13 breakout season — he made 49 percent of his corner 3s and also knocked down his general spot-up and off-screen looks from beyond the arc with surprising accuracy — he can still progress as a consistent creator.

When George handled the ball on the pick-and-roll, the play resulted in a turnover 18.7 percent of the time. And though that particular play dominated his offensive involvement, it only produced a paltry 0.68 points per play and a score 32.7 percent of the time, according to Synergy Sports. It could be because George commonly used the play to pop shots from the mid-range, where his shooting percentage dipped to 39.9 percent. This was to the detriment of his game at the rim.

George, at 6-9 but only 220 pounds, enjoyed the freedom on the wing (495 3-point attempts) much more than attacking inside (328 shot attempts from five feet and closer). Naturally, his role calls for more work on the perimeter but George could elevate his game if he decided to work closer to the basket where more fouls are called. George averaged 5.8 free throw attempts, behind small forward superstars Kevin Durant (9.9) and LeBron James (7.6).

But the critique is limited because George still shined as the team's top offensive option and leading scorer at 21.7 points per game. It cannot be overstated that George accomplished this while taking on the toughest wing assignment on defense. Though at 24, George has yet to develop his true 'man's' body, he even handled difficult isolation plays and willfully defended on post-ups. George has progressed every season in his four-year career and if he returns after this summer with an improved handle and more bulk, he will undoubtedly take the next step in stardom.

RASUAL BUTLER

Though Rasual Butler did not fill the normal backup minutes behind George, he earned respect from his coaches and teammates with his locker room professionalism and his role as the in-case-of-emergency small forward.

Butler, who did not get a contract for the 2012-13 season and had to work his way back into the NBA, added to his skill set while playing in the D-League. However when the Pacers pulled him into their training camp, Butler was the same steady knock-down shooter he was during his previous decade in the league.

Butler made 41.9 percent of his 3-point attempts (most effective in spot-up opportunities, 23 of 52). And though he played in just 50 games — his longest streak of activity happening through December and early January with 10 straight appearances — Butler appeared ready when his time came. So in spot duty, Butler, 35, could be relied upon to play a limited role. It would seem, if the Pacers elect to re-sign him, Butler would fill a similar spot on the roster next season.

"I'm hopeful," coach Frank Vogel said in response to Butler returning to the team. "All these personnel moves, we'll figure out as the summer plays out but I really like what Rasual brought to the table for us this year. Not with just his vocal leadership but his play. I thought he really delivered every time his number was called and was someone I always trusted having out there."

SOLOMON HILL

Before former Pacer Danny Granger joined the lineup in December, most of the backup wing minutes belonged to the team's lone rookie.

Solomon Hill got an early taste of the NBA, playing a reserve role through the entire month of November. During that time, Hill averaged 1.6 points in 10.5 minutes. He never took more than four shots in a single game, although both Vogel and team president of basketball operations Larry Bird praised his shooting improvement as the season evolved.

But after November, as Granger inched closer to a return, Hill's minutes declined to where he lived on the inactive list. So, Hill, who had a brief stint with the Pacers' D-League affiliate, spent the bulk of the season trying to improve in practices and pre-game workouts. This might have been enough to earn more minutes during the 2014-15 season.

"I'm really excited about what Solomon Hill can do for us," Vogel said. "If he was pushed into a situation where he had to play 15-20 minutes a game all year, I think he could have been a difference in our playoff run. I think he's got the ability to be an elite defender — an elite defender, not just an average defender.

"His shot really looked like it was coming," Vogel continued. "In the second part of the season, you watch the shooting workouts after every practice and within the practices. I think he's got a great ability to impact this team next year and we're really looking forward to seeing what he does in the summer league and how he grows coming into training camp next year."

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.