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A.J. Price Ready For His Shot With The Pacers
by Cornrows
on Jul 3, 2009 10:51 PM EDT
in News
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A.J. Price showed up on a couple of local radio shows this week and proved to be a great interview. Love the calm confidence he's carrying into summer camp.
Here's a clip of the crossover move Price and Schultzy discussed:
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McRoberts Adds Muscle Heading Into Summer League
by spstevenson
on Jul 3, 2009 3:27 PM EDT
in News
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Indiana native Josh McRoberts is intent on becoming an Indiana Pacer for life. In Bruno's latest blog entry from summer league practice, McRoberts makes it clear that he is working harder than ever to earn playing time in an increasingly tight position battle with teammates Jeff Foster, Roy Hibbert, Troy Murphy and rookie Tyler Hansbrough. McRoberts has added 20 pounds of upper-body muscle while working on "everything" concerned with his basketball skills.
McRoberts is a restricted free agent, but the Pacers have already picked up the qualifying offer on the forward. Although he's expected to be back in a Pacers uniform this season, whether or not he ever receives a long-term deal from the team is questionable. Here is some of what McRoberts told Bruno.
"I hope I get more of an opportunity and I think I'll earn more of a chance. I feel like I've got a wide range of things I can do. I think I've gotten a lot stronger. I've really improved my shot and right now it's just trying to put it all together in the environment with the team and to play with these guys out here. Hopefully, I can be with the Pacers forever. I'd love to play here the rest of my life."
Pacers forward Mike Dunleavy also updated his blog -- You, Me, and My Knee -- this morning. Dunleavy extended a welcoming message to the Pacers two rookies, while telling fans that he's very excited to play with Hansbrough, even though the rookie is a Tar Heel and Dunleavy is a former Blue Devil. Dunleavy also mentions that his knee is still improving, though there is still no word yet on a return date.
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IC Cold Links: Summer League In Full Swing
by spstevenson
on Jul 3, 2009 8:40 AM EDT
in News
3 comments
With the Indiana Pacers summer league practice session underway and the NBA free agent market becoming thinner by the hour, here are some links to keep you on top of the action.
- After the first day of summer league practice completed, Roy Hibbert sat down with Mike Wells to tell the world that he's motivated by skeptics to become the best center on the team.
- Bruno gave us an inside look at the first day of practice. Coach Jim O'Brien is taking the helm of the team this summer as he wants as much time as possible with his young players.
- Rookie Tyler Hansbrough is still receiving attention about his intensity in practice. Fox-59 News says the former UNC player's greatest strength is his passion for the game.
- ESPN updated its Ultimate Standings, a ranking that situates every major sports franchise. The Pacers, which ranked No. 112 last year, jumped up 16 spots for the 2009 edition. The story gave the Pacers the biggest props for their fan affordability.
- Marcin Gortat, who the Pacers were reportedly chasing in the free-agent market, is close to becoming a Dallas Maverick, according to the Dallas Morning News.
- In other free agent news, former Pacer Ron Artest is changing roster spots with Trevor Ariza. Artest signed with the Lakers, while Ariza is the newest addition for the Houston Rockets.
- Bill Benner of the Indianapolis Business Journal comments on the great summer that the Indiana Fever are having in the WNBA.
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Pacers Close To Losing Out On Gortat
by spstevenson
on Jul 2, 2009 8:55 PM EDT
in News
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Mark Stein of ESPN.com is reporting the Dallas Mavericks are close to signing Marcin Gortat. Stein said Gortat gave a verbal committment to the Mavs to sign an offer sheet next week. The Indiana Pacers have been linked to Gortat since the free agent market opened on Wednesday morning. The Rockets, Spurs, Hawks, Cavs and Thunder have also been heavily interested in the restricted free agent.
Stein said the Mavs' deal is expected to be worth the team's full mid-level exception, a five-year offer starting at $5.6 million. The Pacers have $8 million available to spend on free agents this summer. It appears that the Mavs offer will effectively end the Pacers pursuit of the 6-foot-11 power forward.
Gortat averaged 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds during Orlando's trip through the NBA Postseason this Spring.
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Ron Artest Claims He's Going To The Lakers
by Cornrows
on Jul 2, 2009 8:12 PM EDT
in News
8 comments
Ken Berger reports that Ron Artest has come to an agreement to sign a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The original source for Berger's story was Artest himself, so Berger did the smart thing and tracked down another source who corroborated Ronnie's declaration.
There has been plenty of chatter locally about trying to bring Ronnie back to the Pacers to jump start the team's chances for the playoffs next season. Sure would've created an incredible buzz around the team but that point is moot now. Ronnie said he wanted to play for a championship contender and he found the ideal situation. The contract details should be interesting.
This could definitely push Trevor Ariza to Cleveland which isn't good for the Pacers. As for Ronnie, the Lakers should be ideal. Even with Yao and McGrady in Houston, Ronnie still felt he should be the lead dog which can be a blessing or a curse depending on the day of the week. Out in L.A., Ronnie knows Kobe has top billing and he'll surely respect anything Phil Jackson tells him. Seeing Ronnie busting his guts in a secondary role could be special as long as he keeps his head straight.
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Jim O'Brien Coaching Up Summer Leaguers For Pacers
by Cornrows
on Jul 2, 2009 5:08 PM EDT
in News
1 comment
Bruno updates us from the first day of camp for the Indiana Pacers summer league team. In past years, an assistant coach has done the heavy lifting with the summer league team, but the young core of the Pacers team involved this year, JOB is taking advantage of the time and calling the shots.
"We'll probably be together 17 times with practices or games. That's a great chance for Brandon, Roy and Josh and Tyler to really grow their games. If A.J. or Will Blalock or somebody like that can get a uniform, or (Derrick) Byars or Anthony Smith or Scott Vander Meer, all of these guys, it's a chance to evaluate and also improve the guys that are going to be in uniform."
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1 day ago
dbcb
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IC Cold Links: Pacers Begin Bargain Shopping
by Cornrows
on Jul 2, 2009 6:43 AM EDT
in News
6 comments
Here are a few items of interest to ponder after day one of the free agent period:
Pacers read to go discount shopping
Mike Wells blogs about the Pacers' goal to make the most out of the little cap room they have to spend this summer. We also learn about a few Nuggets on the Pacers' radar as well as Atlanta eyeing Jarrett Jack.
Conrad Brunner on Kravitz & Eddie (audio). Bruno leads the league in reading between the lines so I found his comments on Jarrett Jack possibly fielding offers the Pacers won't be willing to match quite interesting.
From the FanPosts, dbcb links to stories about the Pacers' interest in Marcin Gortat and Fabricio Oberto.
Ron Artest reportedly piquing Cleveland's interest
I imagine the Cavs would rather sign Ariza but Ronnie may be the next option for the right price. Artest has indicated that he wants to assess a team's championship capabilities when signing but I'd think any team that considers themselves a championship contender will have to think long and hard about adding Ronnie to the mix.
Sources: Trevor Ariza leaning toward leaving Los Angeles Lakers - ESPN
Yikes! I'm rooting for Ariza to Portland because I really don't want to see that defensive menace come to town with the Cavs. Forget Shaq, this should be the type of player LeBron James wants the Cavs to bring in if he's going to stay past next year. Ariza could become the defensive version of Robert Horry, just popping up on championship teams.
If Gordon Leaves, Bulls Could Get Daniels -- NBA FanHouse
Tim Povtak makes the case for Quisy to joing the Bulls to fill the void left by losing Ben Gordon.
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