Jeff Foster Is Back And Ready To Play For Pacers

by Tom Lewis on Jul 16, 2010 8:53 AM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

Jeff Foster's back is almost back to normal and he's ready to get back on the court for the Indiana Pacers.

Foster joined former Pacers' beat writer and current NBA scribe/radio host, Mark Montieth for about an hour on air yesterday morning pronouncing himself fit and headed toward being ready to play full throttle by the time training camp rolls around. Foster played in only 16 games last season before shutting it down in mid-December and then eventually having back surgery in February. It wasn't an easy road back from surgery but Foster finally turned the corner and is now excited to join his teammates on the court again.

Foster's presence will be a nice boost for the young front-court players, especially in practice. Much easier to show the veteran-savvy-type little things that Magnum Rolle or Josh McRoberts need to be aware of and learn to utilize instead of just trying to tell them from the sidelines. Of course, the largest benefit from a healthy return by Foster will be his trade-deadline value for a title contender trying to shore up their front-court depth for the playoffs.

After making a living throwing himself at bigger bodies in the paint, Foster has played through varying levels of pain over the past couple of years so hopefully the surgery and time off have rejuvenated his body enough for a late push to finish his career strong.

After the jump, a few links of interest including a recap of Larry Bird's radio appearances, the CIB vote today, IU alum Lawrence Frank finding a new gig.

PACERS: Trade talk, free agency, rookies Bird's talk-show topics
Bruno wraps up all of the radio appearances Larryy Bird made earlier this week.
Panel expects to vote today on Pacers deal
The CIB will vote today to finalize the Fieldhouse operations deal with the Pacers.
Frank Lands in Boston - NetsDaily
Lawrence Frank, former IU manager and leading suspect for taping the classic Bob Knight tirade, has been doing a little TV since being let go by the Nets, but will head back to the sidelines as an assistant to Doc Rivers with the Boston Celtics.
Summer League Buzz - CBSSports.com
Ken Berger updates the latest rumblings from the Vegas summer league.
Owner Chris Cohan agrees to sell Golden State Warriors for record $450M
The sale of the Warriors for $450 million adds another bit of leverage to the players in the upcoming CBA negotiations.
Rockets Keep Luis Scola, Add to Growing Payroll
Tom Ziller comments on the Rockets shelling out more cash, this time signing Luis Scola to a five-year, $47 million deal.

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I will believe it when I see it sadly. I think fosters body has fallen apart

One of my favorite pacers ever too. it is a shame his body has fallen apart and he has been stuck on these horrible teams when he could really help a contender (if healthy) somewhere else.

by dbcb on Jul 16, 2010 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

was about to say just this

he’s like the Bob Sanders of the Pacers. The man is potentially a huge factor on the team year in and year out but always fails to follow through because of some injury.

Blogging about my summer at a Chinese law firm.
NEW BLOG, as my original one is blocked by the Great Firewall.
http://ajinshanghai.wordpress.com/

by JustAJ on Jul 19, 2010 3:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Man, seeing Jalen rose on that list reminds me when he was a really really gifted player.

Oh and seeing Dale, Jalen, and Antonio on that list reminds me how perfectly and seemlessly we rebuilt on the fly bc of some epic trades. I can’t believe to this day AD had enough value to get the 5th pick in the draft (that we wasted unfortunately) and that Dale brought JO and Jalen helped bring Artest and Miller.

Sigh.. the good ol days

Sigh.. the good ol daysoh, I just Dale… I miss him hurting people and seeing Murphy play the 4 these days makes me cry

by dbcb on Jul 16, 2010 11:02 AM EDT reply actions

I picked dale… not I just dale

typing fail

by dbcb on Jul 16, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Couldn't really forsee those injuries.

Otherwise, Bender could have been a real beast.

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jul 16, 2010 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Love Jeff, always will

But the extension was a terrible mistake. Hated it then, hate it even more now. That’s full MLE money we can use on a PG either of the last two offseasons.

Some call it rationalizing, some call it shilling, some call it being blind. I call it holding on for dear life.

by IndyPacers on Jul 16, 2010 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

Compounded by the fact

That supposedly LB had a Foster to the nuggets for a 1st rounder on the table at the trade deadline of 2009.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Jul 19, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

That would have been something incredible...

Is Foster really THAT good?

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jul 20, 2010 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Mark

Always love what Jackson was doing on the court, great defense, smart decision, not flashy; I wish our new PG can be a little bit like Mark. But the strange thing is I can not see a PG right now who play the same way.
Too ba Tinsley is so stupid, he was not so far;

by cedric_A on Jul 16, 2010 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

Way to go, Tom

ESPN.com picked up this story!

According to Indy Cornrows, Jeff Foster indicated on Mark Montieth’s radio show that he’s fit and “headed toward being ready to play full throttle by the time training camp rolls around.”

Foster will give the Pacers some depth up front. His back surgery last season in February, along with Tyler Hansbrough’s injury issues, left the Pacers a bit thin up front.

A few Western Conference teams were rumored to be in the market for Foster last season — the Blazers, Nuggets — because his size could have been an asset on the defensive end of the court in the playoffs against the Lakers’ formidable frontline of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

Foster is on an expiring contract next season, and the Pacers are angling to keep their cap space for a run at free agency in the summer of 2011.

As such, if any team wants Foster again this season, the Pacers may not want to take back any contracts that aren’t expiring as well.

The FAULK

by incredibleFAULK on Jul 16, 2010 5:46 PM EDT reply actions