IC Cold Links: Granger Reports To Vegas For USA Basketball Camp
by Tom Lewis on Jul 19, 2010 6:00 AM EDT
in Indiana Pacers News
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PrintDanny Granger reports to USA Basketball training camp today in Las Vegas where workouts begin in earnest tomorrow.
Granger is one of 21 NBA players looking to make the 12-man roster for the FIBA World Championships in late August. This is Granger's first experience with USA Basketball so I'm looking forward to seeing how he shows up in the workouts. Even though all of the top-level talent from the Olympic gold medal team is sitting this one out, Granger will have to shine this week to make the trip to Istanbul, Turkey on the final roster.
After a quick survey of the roster, I'd say Granger has to be one of two players selected among a group of wing players that includes Rudy Gay, Lamar Odom, Andre Iguodala, Jeff Green and Gerald Wallace. I'm making an assumption that Kevin Durant will be on the roster with two other wings from the group mentioned above. There are other factors involved as well, for instance, players like Andre Iguodala have been participate with USA Basketball in the past so that may give him a boost from day one.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see what Granger can take away from Vegas (and hopefully Istanbul) to improve his impact on the Indiana Pacers. Last season was a struggle for Granger, not only because of the losses, but he also dealt with injury for two-thirds of the season. He didn't deal with either particularly well, so being around other young team leaders around the league this week should have a positive impact.
More importantly, I'm assuming Granger is 100 percent healthy otherwise he wouldn't be participating. So he has a great chance to turn heads and ultimately show that he's ready to go next season and raise his game and ultimately the Pacers to another level.
After the jump, a few more links of interest including Granger talking team chemistry, Ramon Sessions rumors and the Pacers listed among the winners and losers from summer league.
- New Mexico Daily Lobo :: Homegrown NBA star returns to cultivate young talent
Shawn Abeita catches up with Danny Granger while he was back in Albuquerque for his basketball camp. - NBA summer league: Winners & losers
According to Marc Spears, the Indiana Pacers emerged from summer league among the winners. - The seven biggest stories of Las Vegas summer league
Kevin Arnovitz has a nice recap of the buzz out of Vegas including the final very important item on the financial issues facing European pro basketball. The threat of getting paid in Europe has always been an argument for the players' leverage should NBA owners shut things down next summer. I never agreed with the premise but now it sounds like it's not even a viable option. - Timberwolves Dealing Again - Basketball News & NBA Rumors -
Bill Ingram reports on the latest offseason rumors and has the Pacers among the teams checking with Minnesota about Ramon Sessions. - NBA.com: Heat agree to terms with James Jones
David Aldridge updates his Free Agent Wach List. - Jordan shares his disappointment of Heat Big Three
Michael Jordan joins the chorus of all-time NBA greats scoffing at LeBron James joining Dwayne Wade instead of beating him.
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David Kahn is weird
I know, not the first time you’ve heard that. The Hoopsworld article says Cleveland’s in the lead for Sessions because they can give Delonte West’s unguaranteed contract. They just gave away Al Jefferson for a trade exception, now they want to give away Sessions. Why in the world does Minnesota need to shed salary so bad? They’re already WAY under the cap, hell they’re flirting with the salary FLOOR. It isn’t like there’s still a bunch of stud FA’s to go get this summer. Is the franchise in terrible financial shape or something? If it isn’t that I’m honestly baffled.
As for Danny, pull out of the USA camp. Rest the knee. If you played for a different team and you didn’t I’d call you unpatriotic (somewhat in jest), but you’re a Pacer and your knee’s bugged you for a few consecutive years now. With the luck we’ve had with Price and Hibbert playing in games elsewhere, yeah, pull out.
Some call it rationalizing, some call it shilling, some call it being blind. I call it holding on for dear life.
Agreed on Granger getting out of USA basketball
This guy has only averaged 64 games per year over the last couple of seasons. Why on earth is he going to push his body during the summer?
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
Maybe because he has a dream of playing for his country?
Just because he missed a couple of games doesn’t mean he’s JO. The reason why he re-injured himself is because JOB pushed him into the line-up before he was 100% recovered(remember how he came back much quicker than expected?). Hopefully Danny will learn something from the other young guys and use that to benefit his game and in turn this franchise.
Sessions
I was all about Sessions last year, definitely want him now. I’m all about giving the chance to a PG who dropped, what, 24 dimes in a game.
Not sure what we have to offer though. They be interested in Rush?
by Nathan S. on Jul 19, 2010 10:59 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I had a trade worked out for Sessions last week.
http://www.indycornrows.com/2010/7/14/1569140/another-point-guard-trade-idea
I’m going to put some numbers together and look at some other possible solutions as well.
Meh on Sessions
Has Sessions really done anything except for having a surprisingly good monthlong stretch in Milwaukee? Last year his play was virtually identical (per minute) to TJ Ford. He’s overpaid, and has 3 years left on his contract. Also, it looks like for the 2nd straight year he’s been replaced by Luke Ridnour. I’d rather keep what we have, play TJ to up his trade value and have Lance get minutes as the primary PG backup.
Triangle?
Not going to make excuses for Sessions’s mysterious disappearance last season, but if he really struggled in the triangle, and had a pretty solid run in Milwaukee, I think he’s worth a shot. My concern is that he hadn’t developed a three point game, so he could “struggle” here too…
And from what I saw in summer league, Stephenson looked effective with the ball in his hands. I won’t say that he can’t be a PG anymore than I thought he looked like a potential piece there, but you’ll need to forgive me for not wanting to immediately jump on giving a 19-year-old second round pick a set role on the team in a position that has nothing but question marks.
I like what Sessions can bring the team. At least I like what he can bring the team right now over Stephenson.
by Nathan S. on Jul 19, 2010 2:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed on Stephenson
Lets let the kid MAKE the roster and prove to be an NBA player before we anoint him #2 PG spot and give him 18-20 minutes per game.
He might be better served working on his game in Ft. Wayne part of this season.
We aren’t getting a top flight FA PG this off season. If you can trade Jeff Foster or Danthay Jones for Sessions. You should do it. He’s young and has shown flashes of NBA level work.
Worst case is a reasonably priced 2nd PG.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
Oh cmon now, he's DEFINATLEY gonna make the roster.
Talk of Ft Wayne is silly for Lance. He’ll be on the team for sure. The front office is high on him….whether he’s a wing player or a point we’ll find out. He’ll get a look at both.
Confucious say "He who dives for loose balls need proper fitting athletic cup!"
I do think we need another vet at point though, Sessions would be fine.
Confucious say "He who dives for loose balls need proper fitting athletic cup!"
He can be on our team and sent to the DLeague
I’m cool with that. Maybe it would help everyone realize hes a 2 guard.
I'd rather him play 35-40 minutes in Ft. Wayne
Than play in 20-25 games in Indy wasting away on the bench.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
Give me Price
Over Stephenson based on what I’ve seen. Stephenson could be a useful piece, but I can’t be convinced right now he should be a rotation player.
That could change by February, January, what have you, but it doesn’t make sense on November 1.
Furthermore, we play Ford with every intention of trading him, if we don’t get a PG back, we are stuck with a question mark in Price and a rookie question mark in Stephenson.
Especially if we can get D.Jones in on the deal, there is little to no risk in getting Sessions. I’d take him over our entire PG corp right now, and he’s quite literally going to be the best option we have until the deadline, assuming there are options at the deadline.
I just see more logic in getting Sessions and not forcing too much in Stephenson this year unless he absolutely shows he can hack it. Forgive me for wanting to be prepared for the event he can’t this year, especially as a PG..
by Nathan S. on Jul 19, 2010 2:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm all for a sessions trade but at the right price
I’m not sure how the numbers work out but I’d do it for either rush or dahntay jones plus solo. That way theres a new pg and room cleared on the wing and front court. Anything in which we have to take back any contact worse than sessions’ or give up one of the building blocks that hasn’t already been dangled in trade discussions should be denied.
by Cali Davi on Jul 19, 2010 1:44 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
What if A.J can’t stay healthy and Lance doesn’t work out? Then what?We all know how the T.J Ford experiment went,so who would be our starting point guard?I mean we’re all waiting for some Superstar point guard (Parker,Paul) to sign here once we get out from under these big contracts,but there’s more attractive palces than good ol Indiana. Sessions may not be a star,but with a little work on his outside game he could definitely be our point guard solution.Mark Jackson wasn’t the quickest guy on the floor but he made the other players around him better.Larry Bird said he’s tired of losing and wants to win,I feel his pain.With the deminishing crowds at the Feild House and lockout on the horizon,we need some wins.Is sessions the perfect answer? no but he would give some stability to the Pacers.
D-League
If AJ can’t stay healthy and Lance doesn’t work out, then sign a PG from the D-league and we get a better lottery pick. I’d rather have a Dleaguer making the minimum without a guaranteed contract than having to pay Sessions 3M/per through 2014. Sessions had a bad year last year, some of which might be his move to the triangle, but he really wasn’t all that good with Milwaukee. He had one big game, and got a 13 million dollar gift because Kahn is an idiot. I’m all for finding something better at PG, but Sessions just isn’t that good of a player.
Saying get a D-league PG so we can get a better lottery pick is the same as tanking. Sessions may not be a star caliber PG but he’s better than anything in the D-league.I would rather have Collison but I think a solid player like Sessions is worth the money.
No, it’s saying that I don’t want the commitment of a 3 year deal for a backup just to go from 33 wins to 36 wins. I want the Pacers to stop shooting for the middle. The Pacers only have two guys that could start on a good team, Granger and Murphy. If Roy continues to develop he’ll be there this year, but Murphy will be gone. I’m sick and tired of seeing a team fully of bench players, and don’t really want to add an overrated player with a bad contract.
I’d rather give a hungry young player a chance to prove they can play, and deal with the results. If he plays well, then the Pacers have found a diamond in the rough. If he can’t cut it, then the Pacers will be in a better position to bring in an impact player through the draft. Looking at Sessions career, would you rather be the Bucks who found him cheap and caught lightning in a bottle, or the TWolves who overpaid for him and are stuck trying to move him only a year after the signing. Additionally, not having $4.5 million tied up in a backup caliber player will give the Pacers flexibility in trades to get a quality player from a bad team (a la the Jazz and Al Jefferson). Especially with a lock-out looming, I’m all for the Pacers having as little committed salary as possible. It will be rough for a year, but it’ll give the younger players a chance to get experience and prove themselves.
I always liked James Jones.
I kinda wished we had kept him a couple years back, but I think we were a bit loaded at the wing position during that time.
by infinityzero.systemerror on Jul 20, 2010 12:40 AM EDT reply actions
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