Indianapolis Star reporter Mike Wells used his Twitter page today to reveal some new information regarding the Indiana Pacers final roster spot for the 2009-10 season.
According to Wells, a source has confirmed that the Pacers are attempting to sign 6-foot-3 guard Luther Head. Wells reports that the Pacers are "very close" to finishing the deal and adding Head to the team's roster.
The Pacers have had rumored interest in signing the guard since mid-July. But team president Larry Bird stated that the blue and gold planned to carry only 14 players on its roster as it headed into training camp next week. Second-round draft pick A.J. Price became the 14th player under contract for the next season. NBA teams are allowed to carry 15 players on its roster.
Head, who is a Chicago native, split the 08-09 season between Houston and Miami. The Rockets drafted him with the 24th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, and he stayed in Houston before being waived on Feb. 28 this year. He immediately signed with the Heat and received an increase in minutes. But a broken bone in his right hand effectively ended his season in late-March. He was not required to have surgery.
Head, who is 26 years old, averaged 8.6 points per game and 2.3 assists per game during his first four seasons in the league. His most productive year, however, was during his sophomore campaign. He played 27.6 minutes per game, while averaging 10.9 ppg, 2.4 apg and also shot a career-high 43.7 percent from the field.
If the deal is completed, Head will become the seventh guard on the team's roster (and that's not even counting Mike Dunleavy and Danny Granger, who are both listed as a forward/guard). He would join T.J. Ford, Travis Diener, Price, Earl Watson, Dahntay Jones and Brandon Rush in the Pacers backcourt.