Rodney Stuckey appreciates the 'good situation' he will join with Pacers

While many Pacers fans wring their hands at the prospect of the Pacers remaining roughly the same team while others in the East improve. If you aren't getting better, you're getting worse may indeed apply to the Pacers this season if further moves aren't made.

But it could be worse. Just ask Rodney Stuckey.

The current situation in Indiana looks like nirvana to the veteran guard who signed a veteran minimum deal with the Pacers for his eighth NBA season. Candace Buckner spoke with Stuckey about taking the minimum to join what he described as a "good situation with a great team."

He copped to his past problems in Detroit, taking his share of blame for his run-in with coach John Kuester in 2011, describing it as youthful frustration in the midst of a lot of losing. It was also a learning experience which helped him mature to the point where he is now a 28-year-old vet who appreciates the opportunity to play a role on a winning team.

"If they want me to come off the bench, then I'll do that. If they need me to start, I'll do that. It doesn't really matter. Whatever they need me to do, I'll do," Stuckey said. "I'm excited to have a fresh start. It's going to be good for me. ... I want to win. I'm going to come in and work hard. I'm going to earn everyone's respect. I'm going to earn my minutes and I'm just going to come in and just compete."

Stuckey goes on to describe how he's looking forward to earning his way with the Pacers by learning how to fit in with the Pacers and competing to win.

Now the Pacers and Frank Vogel in particular have to figure out how to best use Stuckey to keep the Pacers competing to win.