Jarret Jack Set To Join Raptors, Pacers Won't Match Offer

by Tom Lewis on Jul 20, 2009 6:26 AM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

Never forget the impact of Jarrett Jack.

Mike Wells talked to Jarrett Jack who confirms the Indiana Pacers will not match Toronto's 4-year, $20 million offer for the combo guard and all-around good guy. Toronto has scheduled a presser to announce Jack's signing on Tuesday when he will officially join college running mate Chris Bosh and the rest of the Raptors.

Pacer fans should never minimize the one season of run Jack gave the Blue and Gold.

Jack should always be remembered for doing his part to lay the foundation for any future success the Pacers enjoy. He arrived amidst a rebuilding job by Larry Bird after a big chunk of demo was completed last summer. In his one season, Jack did plenty to help move the team back in the right direction in their attempts to change the culture inside the Fieldhouse and the team's perception outside the Fieldhouse.

Jack was all class from the day he arrives, so it's no surprise that his comments on the way out were all class and I'm sure the Pacers' organization reciprocates his feelings.

"I wanted to be a Pacer come next season," Jack said. "I'm indebted to coach (Jim) O'Brien for what he did for me last season. Not only him, but also (team president) Larry Bird and (general manager) David Morway. They put me in the position to play well and get a long-term contract. I'll always be indebted to them."

Not matching Toronto's offer was an easy business decision for the Pacers, but one they struggled with because Jack is held in such high regard for what he can do off the court, as well as on. He was onboard from day one, fully invested in the game plan. He always played for the "we" before the "me" and tried to hold himself and his teammates accountable. It was a tough year with close losses and poorly-timed injuries, but Jack was always there ready to spill his guts in all 82 games.

For that, his brief tenure in Indy should leave a lasting legacy that offers a standard for all players to measure themselve by with a simple question: What are you doing to make the Pacers better today?

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We'll survive

I wish Jack the best. I think he’s got a unique skill set and he should be a fine backup in Toronto. But he’s not a prototypical PG or a combo guard (which is what they signed him to be). As much as he helped this team, $5 mil a year was simply out of the Pacers’ price range. Any argument that the team should have blown their wad on Jack instead of spreading money around to upgraded defensive players (Dahntay Jones, Earl Watson and possibly Tony Allen?) is hard to support with logic. Ask yourselves what the Pacers really needed to get better, and throw out your sentimental attachment to Jack. He’s a nice player, but he’s not much better on defense than T.J. Ford and Travis Diener. No matter how much he scores per game, and how nice of a guy he is, you’re not getting into the playoffs with point guards who can’t stop the ball. And at that cost, it made no sense to retain him.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

by LukeNukem on Jul 20, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions

I would express my thoughts but this hits it on the head.

The odd thing to me is that Jack seemed like he should be a better defender. He has the size and toughness to be better but couldn’t quite get it together. I guess it’s probably a quickness issue.

It’s looking like the next big piece we need for our puzzle is a long-term starting caliber PG. And we can’t force it for the wrong guy. This year’s team isn’t a title contender so we might as well bide our time until we can get the PG of the future

"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."

by psvirsky on Jul 20, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea...

It was inevitable, but I do hate seeing him go. I really enjoyed watching him next year. And what kind of Pacer fan is happy to see someone go who hit a buzzer beater to beat the Knicks? I like Calderon, but I would not be surprised to see Jack steal ALOT of his minutes. Rumor is they do not like how Calderon is SO safe with the ball and can’t lead a RUNNING offense. He is a great half court, set point guard, but Jack will not be satisfied being a backup.

by captain flitzy on Jul 20, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions

well done cornrows...

I feel the same way about Jack, and this was a very well done piece.

I heard a story from someone that lives in Portland now, she is an older woman that said she follows the Blazers pretty closely. She said that she became a Pacers fan last year, just for the simple fact that Jack came to us. Jack has such an impact with the way he approaches his game on a day to day basis that even after he leaves a team, the fans never leave him. I feel that is going to be the way he is remembered here in Indiana, as least from this fan.

~SHaFF!~
The Little Sports Blog That Could:
http://www.thelittlesportsblog.blogspot.com/

by SHaFF87 on Jul 20, 2009 9:35 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

You can’t teach toughness and leadership, two attributes vital to any championship teams floor general. Jack obviously had both, and at the ripe age of 25, I guess we figured he was done developing(?). The 5 mil/year is not a big contract, only rich for Larry’s blood I suppose and for some supposed “backup combo guard who will never be on a perennial contender” . I’m sure that’s what the naysayers said at Georgia Tech and I hope he proves them wrong again — best of luck in TOR, JJ.

by Liffick on Jul 20, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

excuse me...

for some supposed “backup combo guard who will never START on a perennial contender.”

by Liffick on Jul 20, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

So RFAs have no decision on where they end up?

All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!

by rollonubears on Jul 20, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

RFA that were offered a qualifying offer like Jack was can:

1. go back to the team for the one year qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent the next year. (ben gordan did this)

2. come back to the team for a new deal (mcroberts did this I believe)

3. sign an offer sheet with another team BUT the original team can match that contract and they have to come back (like orlando and gortat or jazz and milsap)

4, Flee to europe but the original team holds your rights (hawks and childress)

by dbcb on Jul 20, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

forgot one...

5. sign an offer with another team and the original team declines to match (jack)

by dbcb on Jul 20, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

the jack/rush for bayless tradehas now become the rush for bayless trade…. should be interesting couple of years from that regard.

i’ll miss jack but it would have been terrible to match that contract. going from ford/rush to ford/watson is not much of a drop off IMO (for on the court production at least)

by dbcb on Jul 20, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

This is what I was afraid of. Now that it’s Rush for Bayless it becomes even more paramount that Bayless not become a serious player. Renting Jack for 1 non-playoff year was not worth dealing a really good player.

by ThirtyOne on Jul 20, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus, we got Josh McBobs. And I am very excited for him to get some more minutes this year.

All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!

by rollonubears on Jul 20, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

im only interested if he has a beard

by dbcb on Jul 20, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, he is not getting rid of the beard. The beard is good luck.

All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!

by rollonubears on Jul 20, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Good post Cornrows

I think the best years are ahead for Jarrett. I understand this is a business decision, but I really grew to like him as a player for the Pacers. He is one of those guys who will earn every penny he is payed, and deserves every penny too. Best of luck, I will be watching the Raptors a bit more this year!

by jantz101 on Jul 20, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

thats exactly...

what the blazers fans said about the pacers when he came here.

~SHaFF!~
The Little Sports Blog That Could:
http://www.thelittlesportsblog.blogspot.com/

by SHaFF87 on Jul 21, 2009 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Very good post

Honestly, this post confirms everything I already thought about Jack. I’m a Raptors fan and am very excited to have him in Toronto. He seems like a really good fit for the team and an outstanding guy to represent the organization.

by Vittorio De Zen on Jul 21, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions