The Indiana Pacers have been the talk of Indianapolis the past few days with plenty of chatter around the Pacers' deal with the CIB to help run Conseco Fieldhouse.

Among all of the talk, Mark Montieth did a little reporting on the status of Tyler Hansbrough by checking in with Hansbrough's father, who is a doctor, to see if he had an update on his son's health. Dr. Dad deferred the details, not wanting to speak for the Pacers' doctors, plus there's the whole HIPPA thing, but he did offer Montieth a general positive response to share with the public. Bottom line is, he felt confident that Tyler would be ready to go once camp started and he's been working out this summer. This verifies what the what folks with the Pacers have been saying this summer while trying to say nothing definitive.

After the jump, a few links of interest including tons of podcasts as Larry Bird and Mayor Ballard made the radio rounds yesterday. Includes an interesting discussion about T.J. Ford and Danny Granger between Dan Dakich and Bird. Also, scratch Kyle Lowry from the list of potential point guards for the Pacers.

• Podcasts: Dan Dakich with Larry Bird, Mayor Ballard, Anthony Schoettle, JMV with Larry Bird, Mark Patrick with Larry Bird.
• Deal with Dallas gives Bobcats financial flexibility
  Rick Bonnell reports on Charlotte trading for some flexibility but still needing to fill a need at point guard.
• Cleveland Cavaliers sign guard Kyle Lowry to offer sheet
  Brian Windhorst reports on Pacer PG target, Kyle Lowry getting a $6 mil/year offer from Cleveland which puts him out of range for anything the Pacers could offer this year.
• Sources: Denver Nuggets reach agreement with Al Harrington
  The Denver Nuggets have reached an agreement in principle on a five-year, $34 million contract with former Pacer, Al Harrington.
• Ridnour ready to join Minnesota's point guard parade - JSOnline
  Charles F. Gardner reports that the Bucks are now searching for a backup point guard since Luke Ridnourappears set to joing the PG pool in Minnesota. Local boy Travis Diener may get a look whic seems like a good fit for Travis.
• Pacers are major piece of puzzle
  Emmis CEO, Jeff Smulyan sticks up for the Pacers in a Letter to the Editor.