IC Cold Links: Looking Back Toward The Future

by spstevenson on Aug 30, 2009 1:47 PM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

It seems that August is the month when NBA teams, writers and the fans begin looking back to the past, while simultaneously eyeing the future. It's really about all you can do when breaking news is at a standstill.

As the NBA training camps and preseason approaches, people are wondering how the offseason moves will affect the upcoming season. And when nothing new is happening in the league, people start looking back at the past to fill the void. Therefore, on a uneventful Sunday when absolutely nothing is happening with the blue and gold (could somebody sign A.J. Price? Anybody?) here are some links from the weekend that look through the windshield, while also peeking through the rear-view mirror.

After Larry Bird wrote his "advertorial" a few weeks ago, coach Jim O'Brien gave it a shot as well as he drenched fans and potential ticket buyers with a very optimistic view of the team's offseason moves that brought in Dahntay Jones, Solomon Jones and Earl Watson.
Big Smooth himself also chimed in about the offseason efforts of the Pacers. Sam Perkins wrote in his blog about the effect of the economy on NBA free agents, how the Pacers made big strides with their free-agent signings and he also touches upon saying "good luck" to the former members of the blue and gold as they enter the next NBA season.
HoopsWorld examines each Eastern Conference squad to show the expectation levels regarding the upcoming season. Luke Byrnes writes that Indiana's season will be a failure if the team doesn't make the playoffs.
Former Indiana Pacer Stephen Jackson is asking for a trade out of Golden State so he can play for a title contender. I'm guessing that takes the Pacers out of the running.
Taking a look back at the best of what 2008-09 had to offer, NBA.com put together a highlight reel of the 10 best Pacers plays from last year.

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poor aj price

the man gets drafted by a team who needs another pg on its roster, he plays very well during the summer league, he has managed to stay healthy all summer (I believe you can count the number of pacers who can say that with one hand) and by everything I hear he’s a high character guy. I can’t even imagine what’s going on in his head right now as training camp approaches……what did i do to deserve this? is larry bird going to sign himself for the 14th roster spot? i hope i dont end up getting traded for a washing machine….

If Youre not First, Youre Last

by drsuessrunner07 on Aug 30, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

Why

would the Pacers sign AJ Price?
They have enough point guards. While Price was OK in summer league, he was not outstanding. Pacers have little money. They still have depth issues at the “wing”. They still could sign a wing player for the minimum salary, like Stephen Graham. Who would you rather want to have on the roster right now, Graham or Price?
Price was a #52 pick in a rather weak draft. How many players drafted in the 50s in a weak draft are still in the league? Don’t get me wrong, I VERY much hope AJ Price is the exception, but he will have to earn the roster spot. If he shows he can be an NBA player, the Pacers should sign him. If it turns out in training camp that he is no upgrade to the third point guard on the roster, why sign him? He will have to earn the spot, and the Pacers are taking the right approach this time.

by bodi on Aug 30, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

Price

I thought Price looked good enough during the summer league that he deserves a good shot at a roster spot and deserves a year within the system to see if he grows into an NBA-caliber player. The Pacers point guard position is anything but settled. Ford is good at starter, Travis Diener is a solid 3rd stringer when healthy, but the most recent thing Earl Watson did was go from starter to benchwarmer on one of the worst teams in the league last season. Not that I don’t think Watson will work out, but he certainly will have to prove himself as well.

But purely based on summer league play, I would like to see Price get a spot. Now whether he earned it in practice or not, only the team can say and the fact they haven’t offered him a contract yet may speak loudly as to how his summer really went. I just hope things clear up before the trip overseas so there’s more to write about, at least something better than more “advertorials” from Bird and O’Brien.

by spstevenson on Aug 30, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions