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Pacers to meet with Gortat
We are one day into this years free agency and the Pacers are already chasing down some players . The first player on the list is Orlando Center Marcin Gortat. Gortat flew under the radar for most of last season until the playoffs where he stepped up big in the absence of Dwight Howard because of Foul Trouble/Rests.
The Pacers have 8million Cap Room to play with and feel like Gortat would help strengthen up their weak inner D .
Gortat is to meet with the Pacers on FridayComment
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Pacers sticking to Re-Building Plans
The Indiana Pacers have offered both Josh McRoberts and Jarrett Jack new contracts today in an effort to keep most of the teams core . President Larry Bird says that the team is in the second year of a three-year rebuilding plan and that he and general manager David Morway have no intention of deviating from.
"We're going to get down below that and we're going to build with a young core group," Bird said. "Then we won't have any complaints to go forward with."
"Indiana is the first place I want to play," Jack told the Indianapolis Star on Tuesday. "Like I said over and over, the Pacers are the ones that put me in the position to get a lucrative contract. I would love to come back and play for them for many years to come."
It seems like the Pacers are open to talking trades but not if it involves one of the "big four" . Granger , Rush , Hansbrough or Hibbert.
"It's a three-year plan and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize any of these young guys because they are going to be good," Bird said. "If I can add to that core through a trade, I probably will."
*Credit to RealGM and the Indianapolis Star for some of the info*Comment
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Jarrett Jack is a solid contributor. I've always liked his style of play. If the Pacers manage to land Gortat, that would be pretty dope. lol.Comment
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imo, Jack could start for a handful of teams in the league. He started for the Blazers when they posted a 41-41 record 2 years ago.Comment
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Pacers go undefeated in the Summer League
The Pacers went into the Summer League in Orlando with one goal , to get Hansbrough , Price , Rush and Hibbert used to playing together . Its no secret that GM Larry Bird thinks these four players plus Danny Granger are the future of the Pacers . "When you look at that four and then add Danny , you see one of the best young cores in the NBA" explained Bird .
Tyler Hansbrough
First-round pick Tyler Hansbrough made as strong a first impression as could be hoped, averaging 18.2 points and 5.6 rebounds while earning praise from all corners of the gym. "I think he's terrific," said Nets President Rod Thorn. "He knows how to play and he works his tail off every night. He rebounds, he gets to the foul line, he's relentless. I like him and he's a good kid, as well.
"I think he'll be a very good player in this league. People who said what he did in college he wouldn't be able to do in the NBA should come here and watch him." Two other NBA Coaches also had high praise for the EX-UNC Star . "I think he's a tough, hard-nosed guy with a lot better skills than people gave him credit for when he came out," said Orlando's Stan Van Gundy. "I think he's a sure thing to have a successful NBA career."
"I love the way he plays," said Utah's Jerry Sloan. "He has terrific energy and he's a guy who will be a factor in this league a long time. He'll make people work to guard him and he's a guy who clearly will help you win."
Hansbrough was selected in the All Summer League - First Team .
My opinion of what I saw (Archer2k407)
He was faster up and down the court than I remembered and had a better 3 than I first thought . Not saying his three point shooting is good but its an area that I thought he didnt have and he showed on 1 or 2 occasions that he did . His toughness/hustle on the boards was about what I expected to see from him . Looked real good overall but it`s only the Summer League.
Roy Hibbert
Roy Hibbert did what Roy Hibber does , he scored inside and grabed rebounds with ease . The two areas that Hibbert showed some improvement on from last season was that he avoided clumsy fouls and defended alot better when in man on man situations . "I think his defense was really good," said O'Brien. "I saw a lot of growth, even from the end of last year to now. I think it's a result of all the work he has put into it from a conditioning standpoint and being on the court in the offseason.
"The guys he went up against (in Orlando) are pretty decent players and he was able to score. And his leadership was very, very good down here. Everything he did was very positive, in my eyes."
Hibbert led the team in scoring (20.2) and rebounding (9.0) and averaged fewer than five fouls per 48 minutes – less than half his 10.2 rookie mark.
My Opinion of what I saw
He didnt do alot out of the ordinary for me . He grabbed boards and scored with ease when he was allowed to gain deep position on the D . His scoring was way up from last season but he took ALOT more shots than normal so I will take that stat with a pinch of salt to be honest . I`ve always liked Roy and saw nothing to show me why I would stop now.
A.J Price
Price didnt put up the numbers like Tyler or Roy but he still made an impression on the Pacers coaching staff in the Summer League Games . His flashy passing and good 3 point shooting were to be his main strengths in the 5 games . "A.J. Price played very well," O'Brien said. "I still think when all is said and done and people look back in a couple years, they're going to be shocked he was a late second-round draft pick.
"He looked as comfortable out on this basketball court as any point guard down here. He has a great feel for the game and scores it, sees the open man, consistently makes the right decisions. He's a strong player and has really terrific range."
Price averaged 8.2 points and a team-high 3.2 assists.
My Opinion on what I saw
I remember seeing him for UCONN in the NCAA Tourney and thinking this guy takes on way to many ill-advised midrange shots . He didnt seem to have any real explosivness either when attacking the hoop . In the Summer League he seemed to be alot more composed than that day , I saw him willing to pass alot and being able to stop and shoot a 3 in the face of the D. I liked what I saw but he tried a few too many flashy passes for me .
July 6th - Nets/6ers 67 - 75 Pacers
July 7th - Thunder 88 - 91 Pacers
July 8th - Pacers 95 - 79 Jazz
July 9th - Pacers 91 - 88 Celtics
July 10th - Pacers 68 - 54 Magic
*Quotes and Stats taken from Pacers.com , Majority written by me*Comment
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Reports : Pacers set to sign Dahntay Jones
Looking for defense, athleticism and depth for their wing rotation, the Pacers apparently have found a guy that can help in all three areas.
Dahntay Jones, a 6-6 wing player who started 71 games for Denver in 2008-09, reportedly has agreed to a four-year, $11 million contract.
The Pacers eyed the wing position as the third priority in Free Agency after re-signing Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts (LOL) . The rush to get help in that position comes after the Pacers decided to NOT pick up Marquis Daniels Team Option . "Marquis was a great player but you have to make the smart economic decision sometimes" explained GM Larry Bird .
Jone`s agent had this to say on the matter ...."I think ideally he would have loved to have stayed in Denver and continued building on what the team did last year," Bartelstein said. "But, for financial (reasons), it just didn't make sense. And it's a little bittersweet. He would have loved to have stayed with the Nuggets. The fans were great to him, he really enjoyed playing for George Karl and with his teammates. But, it's also a business. The Pacers present a great opportunity for him, a big role on their team. After weighing everything he thought it was the right decision to make."
A Twitter page bearing Jones' name included the post: "INDY here I come."
Jones, 28, has connections to the Pacers. He teamed with Mike Dunleavy at Duke during the 2001-02 season and is the cousin of former Pacers player Al Harrington.
In six NBA seasons, Jones has developed a reputation for aggressive defense and high-flying dunks. He specializes in the "pick-and-pound," coming up with a steal and finishing with a stylish jam.
He is not much of an offensive threat, averaging 5.4 points with the Nuggets last season and 5.1 in his NBA career. He only attempted 17 shots from the 3-point line in 2008-09 but made 11 for an impressive .647 percentage.
Jones would have to be ready to contribute straight away seeing as Mike Dunleavy is unlikely to be ready for the start of the season .
My Opinion on the Signing
I like it , Jones is a upgrade on Daniels in a similar role in my eyes . He doesnt bring anything offensivly but a bit of agression but neither did Marquis . Hes a tough defender who showed in the playoffs that he wont be intimidated by anybody including an NBA great like Kobe Bryant.
Good step in the right direction is my general feeling about this signing .
*Some of the writing from Pacers.com , Some from Me"Comment
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I hated the pick personally but he impressed me in the summer league . I mean its only the summer league so take from that what you want lolOriginally posted by Agent A5Comment
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Hansbrough will be a decent role player when he's ready, but I don't see him doing much more.
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Hansbrough was a beast in summer league...just like what he'll do in this 'chise. ;)
And in real life.
^ Shouts to MvP for the sick sig. GFX TEAM BACK
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Pacers to play first ever NBA Pre-Season game in Taiwan
The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced Friday the Indiana Pacers will participate in the first-ever NBA game played in Taipei, the Pacers first overseas trip since 1996. The announcement took place earlier today in Taipei with NBA Greater China CEO Tim Chen, Mayor of Taipei Hau Lung-bin, Minister of the Sports Affairs Council Tai Hsia Ling, and President of the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association, Wang Ren-Da.
On Oct. 8, the Pacers will play the Denver Nuggets at Taipei Arena in Taipei, Taiwan. The game in Taipei is the fourth preseason game the NBA has announced that will be played outside the United States and Canada this October. To date, the NBA has staged a total of 93 games outside of the U.S. and Canada in 31 cities in 16 countries and territories.
“I think this is a great opportunity for our franchise and hopefully recognition from the NBA of the team we are building, the way we play and the effort that our players put forth,†said Pacers President of Basketball Larry Bird. “Having been to Europe as a player with the Celtics and later as part of the U.S. Olympic Team, it’s a great opportunity to promote our game and create new fans of the Pacers. The Far East loves the NBA and for us to be a part of this trip is an important milestone for the Pacers.â€
*This article is from Pacers.com*Comment
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Oh, hai.
Lol, why would you want to go to taiwan.Comment
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