Solomon Hill, Rodney Stuckey begin camp with starting unit for Pacers

The Pacers opened training camp on Tuesday morning searching for answers to unknown questions including just which players would fill in the cavernous gap in the team's starting lineup.

Frank Vogel expects the two open wing positions to create the most competition in camp with a few new faces and a couple of lightly used returning players in the mix for minutes. Day one had Vogel giving the nod to Rodney Stuckey at shooting guard and Solomon Hill at small forward.

But as SHill said following the first workout, competition will remain heated and every practice rep is important to establishing a role in the rotation.

"There's an opportunity there, you just have to step up and be ready (to) take it in practice before the games come," Hill said Tuesday. "There's a lot of guys that see that same opportunity, so practices are going to be more competitive than ever."

C.J. Miles, Chris Copeland and Damjon Rudez are the other three players most-likely to contend for minutes and a spot in the starting lineup, although Miles would be the only one of the three capable of playing either spot and the one player who will surely get an opportunity with the starters during camp.

Miles is also tending to a strained calf which had him watching the last part of practice as a precaution.

Hill and Stuckey are strong in at least one area Paul George and Lance Stephenson excelled at in the starting lineup. Hill will make his name on defense while Stuckey is strong with the ball and capable of attacking the paint and creating scoring opportunities at the rim or the foul line.

There are no dynamic, two-way players among the group of wing players fighting for minutes, so as David West points out, the Pacers have to figure out how to play and utilize the strengths of those new players.