IC Cold Links: Rush "Shocked" After Hearing Pacers Nearly Traded Him At Deadline

The Brandon Rush emotional roller coaster may have just taken another nosedive.

The second-year shooting guard had no knowledge that he was on the trading block leading up this week's trade deadline. But Rush soon found out, after he was running late for the team flight, that his teammates were worried that he had been traded. It was only with 10 minutes to go before the trade deadline that Rush was safe and sound in his Indiana Pacers uniform again. Rush, along with teammate T.J. Ford, were nearly shipped to the Charlotte Bobcats for Gerald Henderson, Nazr Mohammed and D.J. Augustin. The deal fell through at the last minute.

The Indianapolis Star reported today that Rush was convincingly shaken up at the thought of being traded. In a 40-second conversation, reporter Mike Wells noted that Rush used the word "shocked" four times and was visibly upset.

"I was definitely more shocked than anything," Rush said. "I didn't see it coming. Nobody told me anything about being on the trade block. It was more of a shock. I know (I can get traded) down the road because it's part of basketball."

Rush stayed in his usual starting spot during Friday night's loss to New Orleans. He played 22 minutes, scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.

While Rush struggled getting over the news of leaving Indianapolis, his teammate Ford took the entire scenario in stride. Check out Wells' story for some interesting quotes from Ford. Also hit the jump for all the usual game recap links.

• AP Story
• Box Score
• NBA.com Recap
• PACERS: Inside the Game: Hornets 107, Pacers 101
  Bruno's Inside the Game has all of the numbers, notes, quotes and highlights from the loss.
• HORNETS: 02/19/10 Post Game Quotes
  Some of the many quotes spoken in the locker room following the action. Mike Dunleavy notes that the blue and gold are still struggling with following their coach's pre-game instructions: "We just came out of the gates and just didn't do what we talked about in pregame meeting, how defending certain plays, getting back on defense. The whole night we never go the loose balls and that was really the difference. We got off to a bad start, it seems like they got a huge lead and it was too much to overcome."
• Pacers can't recover after dismal first half
  Mike Wells recaps the loss citing that the Pacers are in shape to sit out the first half like they tried to do Friday night.
• Darren Collison, David West propel New Orleans Hornets past Indiana Pacers
  The Times-Picayune recaps the game from the Hornets' perspective.
• The Hornets beat the Pacers
  More Hornets' perspective from the blogosphere.
• Game #54 Recap: They Just Can’t Do It
  Always Miller Time shows its displeasure at the lack of offense during last night's outing.
• Older but not better, Celtics keep the faith
  Yahoo! Sports reviews the trades that squeaked through at the deadline, while also offering up some analysis the Pacers' near-trade with the Bobcats.
• Indiana Pacers Daily Digest: On the passing of the NBA trade deadline and F Tyler Hansbrough
  John Oehser is back on the Indiana Pacers Examiner beat as he checks in with the team during its nonchalant trade deadline spectacular.
• Indiana Pacers give New Orleans Hornets blessing in disguise | New Orleans Hornets Central - - NOLA.com
  The Times-Picayune thinks the Pacers gave the Hornets a great blessing by playing the role of the "disinterested" team last night.
• Pacers-Rockets Preview
  Preview for tonight's matchup against the new-look Rockets.