Pacers News

"Watch Sarunas Jasikevicius now. Watch him in this Olympic basketball tournament, playing the style he plays best, working that high pick-and-roll, finding cutters or stepping back and hitting his shots for the unbeaten Lithuanian national team. This is the player the Indiana Pacers thought they were getting when then-general manager Larry Bird signed him to a three-year, $12 million contract in July 2005. This is the player Jasikevicius thought he would be as he made the move from the Euroleague to the NBA. It never happened. A year and a half after Jasikevicius came, he was gone, traded to the Golden State Warriors. Now, the point guard is back in Europe, playing for Greece's ..."

"The retooled Indiana Pacers won't have a chance to ease into the 2008-09 season. Their first four opponents made the playoffs last season. The Pacers, trying to return to the playoffs after a two-year absence, open Oct. 29 at Detroit before playing defending champion Boston in their home opener Nov. 1. Boston beat Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals last year. Next is a home game against Phoenix, followed by a visit to Cleveland to face LeBron James and the Cavaliers. Other highlights from the schedule released Wednesday: Reunion time: Toronto forward Jermaine O'Neal, who spent eight seasons in Indiana, returns to Conseco Fieldhouse on Jan. 16 and April 8. . . . Former Pacers CEO and ..."

"Indiana Pacers co-owner Herb Simon is on the same page as his team president, general manager and coach when it comes to embattled Jamaal Tinsley: The point guard's time with the franchise is over. Simon, who owns the team with his older brother Mel, is so sure the Pacers will trade Tinsley, he discounted other scenarios. Simon said Tuesday he has no plans to buy out the remaining three years of Tinsley's contract. Simon also brushed off any possibility Tinsley will sit home collecting a paycheck if the franchise can't trade him. "Tinsley, he's probably outlived his welcome here," Simon said. "He's a very talented player. Teams will give us a hard time because they know it's better for him ..."

"The NBA schedule makers didn't do the Indiana Pacers any favors to open the 2008-09 season. The Pacers open the season against four teams that made the playoffs last season, including the NBA champion Boston Celtics. The Pacers open Oct. 29 at Detroit, which has appeared in the Eastern Conference finals six consecutive years. The Pacers play their home opener Nov. 1 against Boston. The Pacers follow that with a home game against Phoenix before going on the road to play LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers. Oden at Conseco on March 18Former Lawrence North standout and No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden will make his first NBA appearance at Conseco Fieldhouse on Wednesday, March 18, when his Portland ..."

"The NBA today released its complete game schedule and broadcast schedules of ABC, TNT, ESPN and NBA on ESPN Radio for the 2008-09 season. The NBA's Countdown to Tip-Off 08 presented by Kia Motors has begun with opening night 83 days away. The 2008-09 season tips off on TNT, which marks Turner Sports’ 25th season of NBA game action, with a doubleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 28, that features the Boston Celtics opening up defense of their NBA championship by hosting 2007-08 NBA scoring champion LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8 p.m. ET. The second game features the first regular season game for the top overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft presented by Sprite Greg Oden and the ..."

"Indiana Pacers co-owner Herb Simon is on the same page as his team president, general manager and coach when it comes to embattled Jamaal Tinsley: The point guard's time with the franchise is over. Simon, who owns the team with his older brother Mel, is so sure the Pacers will trade Tinsley, he discounted other scenarios. Simon said Tuesday he has no plans to buy out the remaining three years of Tinsley's contract. Simon also brushed off any possibility Tinsley will sit home collecting a paycheck if the franchise can't trade him. "Tinsley, he's probably outlived his welcome here," Simon said. "He's a very talented player. Teams will give us a hard time because they know it's better for him ..."

"Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon thinks the team can trade embattled point guard Jamaal Tinsley. If they can't? Simon is so confident they will, he didn't discuss any other scenario during an interview today. "Tinsley, he's probably outlived his welcome here," Simon said. "He's a very talented player. Teams will give us a hard time because they know it's better for him and for us to have him play somewhere else. We're confident that we'll find a good place." Pacers president Larry Bird said in a radio interview last month that he doesn't believe in buying out contracts. Bird, general manager David Morway and coach Jim O'Brien have all said it's time for the franchise to part ways with the ..."

"The slowest part of the NBA offseason is approaching. There are several restricted free agents- Emeka Okafor, Josh Smith and Ben Gordon for example - that have yet to land new contracts, but most of the major offseason moves have already taken place. The Pacers got their work done in a two-day period in late June. They're still looking for a new home for point guard Jamaal Tinsley. That matter may not be resolved until training camp starts in late September. With that, I'll give you an update on a few tidbits. --I talked to a person in the organization last week who said Tinsley continues to drop pounds. I still haven't been able to pinpoint the exact number of pounds Tinsley put on. I was ..."

"The question was directed at newly acquired guard Jarrett Jack when Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien showed the type of reaction he expects from his defense next season. "Could I just pre-empt that?" O'Brien asked during an interview last week. "Jarrett plays both positions." There you have it: Jarrett Jack isn't just a point guard. He's a combo guard. "He's going to be competing at both (guard) positions," O'Brien said. "We don't want to pigeon-hole Jarrett into the point guard spot.""

"If the Indiana Pacers are going to rid themselves of the headaches Shawne Williams has caused them in the past year, it will have to be through a trade. Pacers president Larry Bird said Monday he doesn't believe in buying out contracts, an issue that has arisen in regard to Williams and Jamaal Tinsley. "We hear this buyout stuff all the time," Bird told WFNI-1070 AM. "I think these guys should earn their money. If you can't trade them, let them stay at home. We're in some situations here where the same people continue to get in trouble. We have to deal with it. We'll deal with it the way we think is appropriate.""

"The thin ice Shawne Williams is standing on with the Indiana Pacers could be getting ready to break. For the third time since Sept. 2007, one of Williams' associates from his hometown of Memphis has encountered legal trouble in Indianapolis. Friday afternoon, Carmel police arrested Darrell Smith Jr., 21, a passenger in the car Williams was driving, after discovering Smith had a small amount of marijuana, Lt. Jeff Horner of the Carmel Police Dept. said. Police stopped the car about 6 p.m. in the 4000 block of East 96th Street. “Shawne Williams was not charged with anything,” Horner said. “He was given a window tint and seat belt violation. Mr. Smith’s marijuana charge is a ..."

"After his formal introduction as a member of the Indiana Pacers and several group photos, Josh McRoberts stood on the dais at Conseco Fieldhouse, surveying the scene. Three years removed from high school, the kid from Carmel is now playing for his hometown NBA team. "It's kind of surreal," the 6-10 forward said Wednesday. "It hasn't really set in yet. I couldn't be happier to be back. It's something I'm going to take a lot of pride in, being able to put on that Pacer jersey. Growing up not too far from here, it's exciting."

"T.J. Ford lives for the postseason. He lives for the national television exposure, the hope of winning an NBA title and having 14 other teams sitting on their couches, eating popcorn, watching him play. Ford wants those same things to happen with the Indiana Pacers. "I'm familiar with that playoff taste and I'm not ready to give that taste up," said Ford, who has been to the playoffs in three of his four NBA seasons. "That's the challenge and the goal, to show people we are contenders in the East.""

""I think this is a change for all of us and we all want to be part of the change," new point guard T.J. Ford said today. "The changing of the views of Indiana Pacers basketball and we're to continue to get the fans back in the building. ... We want to give them our best effort every night, every day in practice and definitely surprise a lot of people in the NBA and show them that Pacers basketball is back.""

"The Indiana Pacers began introducing new players Tuesday. Team president Larry Bird said he isn't finished remaking the roster, however. Bird said he hopes to trade for or sign a power forward and is confident he can trade point guard Jamaal Tinsley."

"Hibbert appears just as eager to help the Pacers. After leading the Big East regular-season champion Hoyas in scoring (13.4), rebounding (6.4) and blocked shots (2.2) as a senior, Hibbert said today that his immediate goal is “jump in headfirst and make a splash.”“Obviously, being a defensive presence is one thing a big man has to make sure he does,” Hibbert said. “Shooting and scoring, that’s one thing. But at the same time, I have to protect the basket, so I’m going to make sure I do that to the best of my ability."

"While ticket prices for an Indianapolis Colts game are skyrocketing with the arrival of Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Pacers are bucking the national trend by not raising prices for a second consecutive season. "As an owner, when they come to you with ticket prices, the way we played last year, I'm not sure we can raise ticket prices," said Pacers co-owner Herb Simon, referring to the team's 36-46 record that kept it out of the playoffs for a second straight season."

"The first season at Lucas Oil Stadium will be the last for at least a few budget-conscious Indianapolis Colts season ticketholders. Like a growing number of professional sports fans nationwide, they're just saying no to ever-increasing ticket prices. "It's definitely it for me," said Fortville's Jeff Boyle, who has owned two Colts seats since 2002. "I wanted to call it quits before the new stadium, but my wife is such a huge fan." Boyle and wife Heather, working parents with two children, also gave up two Indiana Pacers tickets in 2007 after one year."

"The Indiana Pacers' summer-league team finished play in Orlando this afternoon with a 107-99 loss to New Jersey. The Pacers finished the summer session 2-3. Indiana led by 10 points in the second quarter, but New Jersey led by one at halftime of a game that included 19 lead changes and 16 ties. New Jersey pulled away in the last minute behind free throws from Ryan Anderson, Brook Lopez and Chris Douglas-Roberts."

"Let's get this much straight: O'Neal loved it here. He immersed himself into this community. On a team of players who didn't always care about anybody except themselves, O'Neal was a treasure, continually spending money and, more important, time in this community. When he says life as a Pacer was bringing him to his knees, wiping him out emotionally and physically, he's only speaking an obvious truth. Consider all the madness: The Brawl. The constant Ron Artest-inspired melodramas. The coaching changes. The off-court incidents that sullied the team's reputation and moved new club president Jim Morris to utter, "We will not have bums here.""

"The makeover isn't complete, but Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird sees the two recent trades that became official Wednesday as major steps toward rebuilding a team that missed the playoffs the past two seasons. In Bird's view, the seven players the Pacers acquired add speed, flexibility, defense in the post, the chance for a young group to grow together and salary-cap space in the near future. And, Bird acknowledged, the moves signal the end of the Jamaal Tinsley era."

"The Indiana Pacers improved their Orlando (Fla.) Pro Summer League record to 2-1 Wednesday night with a 95-84 victory over the Miami Heat. The Pacers trailed the entire first half, but turned the game around in the third quarter. They shot 57 percent, held the Heat to 43 percent and took a six-point lead into the fourth. Once there, the Pacers never trailed. Shawne Williams, who started the game 0-for-4 from the floor, led the Pacers with 25 points on 7-of-15 shooting. "I just kept playing," Williams said of the sluggish start. "I was struggling shooting, pressing a little bit so I just decided to have fun, relax.''"

"Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said the point guard spot was solidified with the mix of newcomers T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack and second-year Pacer Travis Diener. There was no mention of Tinsley, who has played an average of just 49 games for the team the past five seasons because of various injuries. "We're trying to do some things to see what's out there for Jamaal and hopefully we can get something done," Bird said. "Jamaal's been great for us. Unfortunately, he's been injured from time to time. He's still a great basketball player, but Jimmy's right. We're probably going in a different direction.""

"They're now Pacers - officially. The two trades the Pacers made prior to the draft to acquire seven players have been approved by the league office, the team announced. The Pacers had been prohibited by league rules from commenting until today. The Pacers receive point guard T.J. Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic, forward Maceo Baston and draft-pick Roy Hibbert from Toronto for Jermaine O'Neal and Nathan Jawai, the player the Pacers picked in the second round for the Raptors.Point guard Jarrett Jack, forward Josh McRoberts and Kansas shooting guard Brandon Rush head to the Pacers from Portland. The Pacers gave up forward Ike Diogu and Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless in a prearranged ..."

"Jonathan Bender remembers the turn of the century, when he was a millionaire teenager playing for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA and all the young guns wanted to become the next Michael Jordan. "I was different; I wanted to be the guy who owned the team," Bender said. "I wanted to be the guy who signed the checks and was at the top of the chain. "I thought to myself, 'If there's somebody who can afford to pay us all these millions, then there's a whole 'nother world out there I don't know anything about. There's a whole 'nother level.' I wanted to be on that level." Now 27 and retired from the NBA for two years because of arthritic knees, Bender plans to use his riches and influence ..."

"Indianapolis has produced plenty of basketball talent in its history but the past two years have been special on a national scale. Five players from the city's high schools have been selected in the first round of the past two NBA drafts, an amazing number for the 13th largest city in the nation. "I don't remember anything like that," said Garry Donna, heading into his 39th year as publisher of Hoosier Basketball Magazine. "I don't think there has been anything like that with Indianapolis and Marion County. "Usually you're fortunate if you get one every five years.""

"A poor fourth quarter was the downfall as the Indiana Pacers lost to the Chicago Bulls 89-84 Tuesday night in the Orlando (Fla.) Pro Summer League. Andre Emmett hit a 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer to give the Pacers a 59-51 lead going into the fourth quarter. But once in the final 10 minutes, it became a reversal of offensive fortunes. With Derrick Rose, the top overall pick from June's NBA draft, sitting out most of the fourth quarter, Chicago mounted a comeback behind JamesOn Curry and Aaron Gray."

"The Indiana Pacers scored the first eight points of the game and never trailed in defeating Oklahoma City 95-78 in NBA summer league play in Orlando, Fla. Earl Calloway scored 16 points to lead the Pacers. Andre Emmett had 15, including 10 in the fourth period on 4-of-4 shooting from the field."

"During his days at Ben Davis High School, Stanley Burrell would stand on the sidewalk off Delaware Street and peer through the windows as the Indiana Pacers worked out on their practice court, wondering what it would be like to be down there. One of 15 players in the Pacers rookie and free agent camp that runs through today, Burrell is now on that court, but it is far from the end of the journey. Odds are long and two-a-days are grueling, but this is the path for players like Burrell, former Indiana University player Earl Calloway and dozens like them who didn't get drafted and now are trying to earn a spot in the NBA."

"During his days at Ben Davis High School, Stanley Burrell would stand on the sidewalk off Delaware Street and peer through the windows as the Indiana Pacers worked out on their practice court, wondering what it would be like to be down there. One of 15 players in the Pacers rookie and free agent camp that runs through today, Burrell is now on that court, but it is far from the end of the journey. Odds are long and two-a-days are grueling, but this is the path for players like Burrell, former Indiana University player Earl Calloway and dozens like them who didn't get drafted and now are trying to earn a spot in the NBA."

"Former Indiana University guard Earl Calloway is one of three players in the Indiana Pacers' rookie-free agent camp who seems to have the best chance of making an NBA roster this year. Calloway, a 6-3 point guard who played at IU from 2005-07, was praised by Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, along with 6-8 Josh Davis and 6-11 Courtney Sims. Calloway, a year out of college, played last year with Fort Wayne in the NBA Development League."

"Shawne Williams said he wants to remain a Pacer and harbors no hard feelings toward Larry Bird after the team president's recent strong comments about him. Bird said June 24 that the Pacers would trade Williams if they could get enough in return, adding that if the second-year forward remained with the team he would be on "very thin ice." "I just hope the thin ice don't break," Williams said this afternoon after the first workout of the Pacers rookie and free agent camp. "I'm going to do everything in my power to keep it thin and try to thicken it up a little bit.""

"Brandon Rush grabbed the attention of Indiana Pacers fans on draft night when he referred to one of the franchise's most successful and beloved players. "I want to try to be the next Reggie Miller," Rush told The Kansas City Star. What exactly did he mean? In an interview with The Indianapolis Star, Rush said he was referring to Miller's skill and the success the Pacers had in Miller's tenure."

"Danny Granger's long-range future with the Indiana Pacers could be settled later this summer. The 6-9 swingman, who was the Pacers' leading scorer last year in his third year in the NBA, is eligible for a long-term extension. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he'll likely begin talks with the Pacers in a few weeks. "These things are never easy, but they want to keep Danny and Danny wants to stay," Bartelstein said today."

"Four local players are expected to play in the Pacers rookie and free agent camp that runs Thursday through Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse. Ben Davis graduate Stanley Burrell, Pike and Purdue product David Teague, Indiana University's Earl Calloway and Butler's Pete Campbell are among those who have been invited and are expected to play."

"The Indiana Pacers don't look like a team primed to be a major player in the free agent negotiating period that begins today. After deals with Portland and Toronto that will bring seven players to town, the Pacers appear to be looking to clear salary-cap space rather than add to the payroll. A possible free agent target for the Pacers is Carl Landry. The Houston Rockets extended a qualifying offer of $711,517 to the 6-9 forward and former Purdue standout, meaning they have the right to match any offer he receives."

"Basketball legend Oscar Robertson said he thinks the NBA hasn't done enough to repair its negative image and is breaking the law by keeping high school players from jumping to the pros. The Hall of Fame guard also denounced the league for its rule that players must be a year removed from high school before entering the draft. "I think that's illegal, to be honest," Robertson said. "If you can go to the army and fight in Iraq at 18, why can't you play basketball? "This is something concocted probably by the NBA and the NCAA. It seems like it benefits both. It benefits colleges more than anybody. If you can go fight in a war, why can't you go play basketball? Tennis ..."

"Jermaine O'Neal said he is thankful for the way his career blossomed with the Indiana Pacers. Now he's ready for a fresh start."

"By agreeing to a trade of Jermaine O'Neal on Wednesday and Thursday night's deal with Portland, the Pacers acquired seven players -- including Brandon Rush, who said he wants to be the next Reggie Miller."

"The Indiana Pacers may have added their center of the future in Georgetown's Roy Hibbert. The 7-2 senior spent his college career as a true back-to-the-basket center, averaging 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots in his final season."

"The Pacers acquired three players, none of whom they drafted, then team president Larry Bird spent a bizarre news conference trying to follow league rules that prohibit teams from commenting on trades until they are final on July 9."

"True to form, General Manager Kevin Pritchard kept the Trail Blazer war room hopping Thursday night, putting together five trades that landed a veteran power forward, a potential all-star guard, a player on the European “futures” market and four future second-round draft picks. Whew! When the smoke cleared Thursday, Portland owned the rights to Indiana power forward Ike Diogu, guard Jerryd Bayless from the University of Arizona, French forward Nicolas Batum and the future picks."

"Busy on NBA Draft day for the third consecutive year, the Trail Blazers have acquired No. 11 pick Jerryd Bayless and forward Ike Diogu from the Indiana Pacers for No. 13 pick Brandon Rush, point guard Jarrett Jack and forward Josh McRoberts."

"The teams in question can't comment on the done-but-not-officially-done Raptors deal with the Indiana Pacers, but Jermaine O'Neal has no problem talking about it. O'Neal, who officially will become a Raptor on July 9 did exactly that, confirming the deal with the Associated Press yesterday. But O'Neal will not be the only return in the deal -- T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston and Toronto's 17th pick -- for the Raptors. Coming with O'Neal to the Raptors is the Pacers' 41st pick in last night's draft. With that pick, the Pacers, on behalf of Toronto, selected Nathan (Baby Shaq) Jawai, a 6-foot-10, 280-pound behemoth out of Australia."

""With the 17th pick in the 2008 NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors select Jermaine O'Neal of the Indiana Pacers." It didn't matter what commissioner David Stern actually said last night – for the record, it was Georgetown's Roy Hibbert instead of O'Neal – everyone knew he should have announced O'Neal at that spot and the newly minted Raptor sounds pretty pumped about the trade that will land in him Toronto. "They have a ton of talent," O'Neal told The Indianapolis Star yesterday, confirming a trade to the Raptors that can't be officially announced until July 9 because of the NBA's complex salary-cap rules."

"The Indiana Pacers have a tentative agreement to send forward Ike Diogu and the rights to guard Jerryd Bayless to Portland for point guard Jarrett Jack, forward Josh McRoberts and the rights to shooting guard Brandon Rush. The Pacers drafted Bayless, a 6-3 Arizona freshman, at No. 11, and Portland drafted Rush, a 6-6 junior from Kansas, at No. 13 in tonight's draft."

"Busy on NBA Draft day for the third consecutive year, the Trail Blazers have acquired No. 11 pick Jerryd Bayless and forward Ike Diogu from the Indiana Pacers for No. 13 pick Brandon Rush, point guard Jarrett Jack and forward Josh McRoberts."

"Bryan Colangelo used the words "legitimate", "simmering" and "negotiating" to describe the five potential deals he was juggling for T.J. Ford on the eve of the NBA draft. Turns out he could have saved himself a lot of time by just using the word "done." Respected NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports let the cat out of the bag late yesterday afternoon, reporting the deal had been completed in principle. Pending physicals, it will send Ford, centre Rasho Nesterovic, the Raptors' pick in tonight's draft (17th overall) and another warm body to Indiana (to make the financials work) in exchange for 29-year-old centre Jermaine O'Neal."

"The anticipation is building. The Indiana Pacers have the 11th pick in tonight's NBA draft, their highest since 1996. Wednesday night, they agreed in principle to a deal with Toronto for the rights to the Raptors' 17th pick. Whom they should take has been dissected and debated since the draft lottery in May. Will their two first-round picks greatly improve the franchise next season? Probably not, but president Larry Bird expects the players to help the franchise end their two-year skid of missing the playoffs. The Pacers have glaring holes at point guard and in the post. Which direction they go -- big or small -- is uncertain. Bird, in typical fashion, isn't tipping his hand, though ..."

"Ira Jaffee had to see this for himself. The executive director of the Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center was approached by his sports director with an unusual inquiry. A precocious youngster wanted to play in a basketball league with older players, a request Jaffee, head of the JCC since 1984, hadn't heard before or since. "I went out and observed him and could see he had incredible skill for a kid who was 9 or 10 years old. There was no question about his ability to compete with the older kids," Jaffee said. Tonight, that kid, Eric Gordon, is heading to the NBA."