Pacers say that Tyrese Haliburton sprained his left elbow and absorbed a mild left knee bruise and will be reevaluated in two weeks. Team is also awaiting additional opinion on the results of the scans.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2023

Haliburton suffered the injury late in the third quarter when he lost his right shoe, fell awkwardly, and hurt his left knee and elbow on the play.

“He’ll get looked at tomorrow closely,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, per ESPN. “He’s walking out of Madison Square Garden on crutches, so I would guess his availability on Friday will be in question, and probably Saturday, too, but who knows.

“One of the great things about Tyrese is he has been banged up the last year and a half that he’s been with us, and he always wants to play. He always wants to play, and it’s something that’s really helped our culture as a team. So we’ll hope for the best. We’re surely not going to put him in harm’s way.”

Haliburton posted 15 points and seven assists before he left the game for good; on the season, Haliburton is averaging 20.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 10.2 dimes per game on 48.0 percent shooting from the floor and 39.9 percent from beyond the arc.

The post Tyrese Haliburton Will Miss the Next Two Weeks Due to a Sprained Elbow and Knee Bruise appeared first on SLAM.

The Pacers are reportedly intent on trading Turner if a new extension can’t be negotiated before the trade deadline comes in February. As of Thursday, Turner is averaging a career-high 17.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on 55.2 percent shooting from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Turner has been involved in numerous trade rumors over the last few seasons, including last season when he was linked to trade rumors linking him to the Clippers and the Lakers. The Clippers could utilize Turner’s two-way dominance, and he would be a welcomed addition to a veteran-laden team.

The Pacers (23-19) are seventh in the Eastern Conference and could undoubtedly use Turner, and signing him to a long-term extension would help them make a run to the playoffs.

The post REPORT: Knicks, Clippers, and Raptors Interested in Acquiring Myles Turner appeared first on SLAM.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Indiana and Turner have opened up extension talks. However, Matt Moore of Action Network reported that if no deal can be negotiated, the Pacers might pull the trigger and move on from the eighth-year veteran.

Turner is averaging 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on 55.6 percent shooting from the field and 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. He’s been the subject of trade rumors for a couple of seasons despite being one of the top defensive big men in the League while blocking 2.3 shots per game for his career.

Over his last five appearances, Turner has put up 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game and is knocking down 62.3 percent of his shots.

The Pacers (21-18) are seventh in the Eastern Conference, squarely in the play-in tournament, and hold the tiebreaker over the New York Knicks. Indiana had won six of its last eight games and was on a four-game winning streak before the Philadelphia 76ers snapped it on Wednesday.

The post REPORT: Indiana Expected to Trade Myles Turner At the Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

The 26-year-old has solidified himself as one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, and he is having his best scoring season to date during this 2022-23 campaign. Turner is averaging 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks on an efficient 54.1 percent from the field. Amongst centers in the League, his accuracy from downtown is remarkable at 41.7 percent from three. The highest right now for the center position this year.

Despite being mentioned in some trade rumors in the past several months, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Pacers want to continue having Turner in Indiana. He can stretch the floor and defend at a high level: The quintessential modern-day big man that’s hard to find.

His experience of having already played eight seasons in the NBA increases Turner’s value. With Indiana’s promising young core of Tyrese Haliburton and rookie Bennedict Mathurin making their mark this season, Turner can help take this team to the next level. If negotiations break down, the 26-year-old can become a free agent when the season ends.

The Pacers (16-16) are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, with the same record as the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks (16-16) and the seventh-seeded Miami Heat (16-16). Indiana will look to change that when they play their next game versus the Heat on Friday.

The post REPORT: Myles Turner and Indiana Open Up Contract Extension Talks appeared first on SLAM.

A lot of it is wishful thinking and outside perspective, hoping Turner’s deft shooting and interior defense would be a perfect fit for turning the Lakers season around, but mainly, it’s just noise. Noise that Turner isn’t paying attention to anymore. 

“Nothing changes,” Turner told The Athletic after Sunday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. ”Just go out there and focus on getting wins for this team. That’s just where my focus lies. You can’t pay attention to outside noise — doesn’t change anything, bro. All I can do is go out there and play my game.”

The Pacers won a nailbiter against the Lakers on Monday night at the buzzer due to a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Andrew Nembhard. It was Indiana’s 12th win of the season; only six teams have more wins than them at this point of the year. 

Turner is having one of the best seasons of his career. He is back at his natural position, a center, after last season’s trade of Domantas Sabonis, and he’s reaping the rewards. Despite Turner publicly stating how he could help a center-needy team like the Clippers on Adrian Wojnarowski’s podcast earlier this season, the Pacers are off to a better start than the Clippers and Lakers.

He’s blocking shots, rebounding well, and making shots at a sizzling clip. He’s averaged 2.6 blocks per game, 18.0 points, and 8.5 rebounds, and he’s making 1.5 threes per game. Turner is shooting 54.4 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from three, and 82.9 percent from the free throw line.

“Just win games, bro,” Turner said between the loss to the Clippers and the win over the Lakers. “That’s really all I want to hang my hat on, is winning games, being a part of winning games. That’s the most important thing for me right now. Just help this franchise out, so what I can do.”

The Pacers are set to play the Kings on the road Wednesday night.

The post Myles Turner: ‘Nothing Changes’ Despite All the Trade Rumors Around Him appeared first on SLAM.

The two sides have yet to come up with an agreement, but negotiations may have to pick up soon now that another team has entered the frame. The Lakers’ neighbors, the Los Angeles Clippers, have been rumored to be interested in acquiring Turner as well, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus.

Clippers big man Moses Brown is the only pure big man after Ivica Zubac on the Clippers’ roster, but head coach Ty Lue has only gone to him for eight games this season. Instead, Marcus Morris has been the go-to backup center for Zubac so far.

With no depth at the center position and not having the services of Kawhi Leonard for most of the early campaign, Los Angeles has still managed to hold on to a record of 8-6, which is good enough for the seventh seed in the Western Conference. The team’s early woes are starting to show that losing Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason was huge.

Adding Turner to the mix will work wonders for the Clippers. The Pacers’ big man is averaging 17.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks a game. The move would immediately make this Los Angeles team one of the best defenses in the league when healthy, with Turner playing alongside the likes of Leonard and Paul George. Only time will tell if they are willing to pull the trigger on the pursuit.

Los Angeles will be in action tonight as they take on the Dallas Mavericks at 8:30 P.M.

The post REPORT: Clippers Interested in Trading for Myles Turner appeared first on SLAM.

Over the past couple of seasons, Turner has been linked to multiple trade reports and rumors. However, he has yet actually to be acquired by another team. These trade rumors have happened so often and been so persistent that Turner has become ‘numb‘ to them.

“If I’m the Lakers, I take a very hard look at this with the position that you’re in. I know what I can provide for a team. My leadership, my shot blocking, my three-point ability, and just my ability to make plays out there on the floor.”

Turner is entering the last year of his contract with the Pacers, and in his time there thus far, he has been a dominant force. Since coming into the League in 2015, Turner has averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game throughout his eight-year career. Turner is also shooting a career 48.8 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from beyond the arc.

The Lakers could use a defensive presence like Turner right now, as they rank 26th in overall defensive rankings this season. It is still very early in the season, but the Lakers just secured their first win of the season, bringing their overall record to 1-5.

This could be a win-win move for the Pacers and Lakers if a deal were to be done. There’s still a long season ahead, and if the Lakers do get it turned around, it’s unlikely they’ll give up such high picks. Only time will tell what is to come for both Turner and the Lakers, but it is definitely a situation to keep an eye on.

The post Myles Turner Speaks on What He Could Possibly Bring to Lakers if He’s Traded appeared first on SLAM.

Despite his personal and team success in South Beach, Hardaway decided not to ask former Coach Pat Riley or Alonzo Mourning to be his presenters at this Saturday’s Hall of Fame ceremony. That honor will instead go to the figures that fostered his love for the game from before his time in Miami teaming up with Mourning and Riley.

Tim Hardaway explains bypassing Pat Riley, Alonzo Mourning as Hall of Fame presenters. https://t.co/mBJsfMaNHQ No, not a Miami Heat snub, but rather a tribute to those who were there for him at the beginning.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) September 8, 2022

Hardaway’s presenters will be Isiah Thomas (Class of 2000), his Run-TMC teammates Mitch Richmond (’14) and Chris Mullins(’11), longtime friend Yolanda Griffith (’21), and former college coach Nate Archibald (’91).

“There’s one thing I do know I want to tell you; it takes a village to raise a kid; Chicago South Side raised a kid. This is Chicago South Side. This is for them,” Hardaway said of his decision, per Ira Winderman.

“Isiah Thomas, I grew up watching him play, my basketball idol, no question, from the city of Chicago,” Hardaway explained. “Nate Archibald, my college assistant coach, came back to his alma mater and coached me [at Texas-El Paso] and helped me understand. Yolanda Griffith, we went to high school together. We graduated in the same class. And I wanted to acknowledge her as being the first before me and wanted people to understand that. She was a Hall of Famer before me, and she needs to be recognized.”

The choice to bypass Riley, Mourning, and former Coach Don Nelson was difficult. Hardaway knows it and even admitted that he “can’t even mention a lot of people that I want to mention.” As a result, Hardaway’s speech will likely not “mention a lot of people” that he wants to mention.

Instead, the UTEP two-step creator will make a point to mention critical figures during his time in Miami during his HOF media session that’ll be aired on NBA TV.

“I’m sorry, everybody can’t be there,” he said of those standing alongside on stage. “And I’ll tell you this, in my speech, I can’t even mention a lot of people that I want to mention because it’s a lot of us going up this year. So I can’t mention a lot of people I want to mention.”

Hardaway’s Hall of Fame induction class includes four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobli, two-time college Coach of the Year Bob Huggins, sixth-winningest NBA coach George Karl, and veteran NBA ref Hugh Evans. Five-time All-Star Lindsay Whalen, four-time All-Star Swin Cash, and NCAA national champion and former WNBA Coach of the Year Marianna Stanley will be inducted on the woman’s side.

Mourning will attend the HOF ceremony, as well as Coach Erik Spoelstra, GM Any Ellisburg, assistant GM Adam Simon, scouting director and former teammate Keith Askins, and multiple other Heat front office members. Rily will not be able to attend due to a scheduling conflict but heaped heavy praise on Hardaway when he was interviewed for the HOF’s event program that’ll be passed around at the ceremony.

“I had just come from New York, and we had a team that was noted for defense and things of that nature, you know, rough and tumble. I needed to get a point guard, and Tim was available,” Riley said of acquiring Hardaway for the Heat from the Warriors in 1996.

“He was not the explosive, up-and-down-the-court kind of a player. He could keep a team really organized. He was tough as nails, and we were fortunate to have him.”

Hardway’s Hall of Fame induction will begin this Saturday evening.

The post Tim Hardaway Explains Why He Didn’t Pick Pat Riley and Alonzo Mourning as Hall of Fame Presenters appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, Mike Scotto of Hoopshype reported that Indiana was prepared to offer Myles Turner and Buddy Hield for Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, and two first-round picks. The Pacers were also willing to take on Daniel Theis’ contract. Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johson were traded to the Utah Jazz last week for Patrick Beverley, who addresses the defensive and long-range shooting concerns many had about the Lakers.

However, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Utah seems to be a “more likely” landing spot for Westbrook. During a recent podcast appearance, Buha reported that Indiana is offering up Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.

“As far as Westbrook’s trade market, I’ve heard Indiana and Utah are the two most likely destinations,” Buha said. “I think Utah is, from what I’ve been told, more likely than Indiana. There are several permutations there with Indiana where it could be Myles Turner and Buddy Hield together or one of the two.”

Although acquiring Hield and Turner would further alleviate the Lakers’ immediate need for shooting and versatile defenders, trade negotiations were reportedly described as “dead” earlier this summer, per Bob Kravitz. With training camp coming up, LA and Indiana could re-engage in trade talks. Hield averaged 15.6 points per game on 40.6 percent shooting from the field and 36.6 percent from beyond the arc.

His ability to stretch the court and Turner’s shooting capabilities (33.3 percent shooting) could help Westbrook regain his efficiency at the rim and make his job easier as he surveys the hardwood for dunkers or shooters. Last season, Westbrook was the scapegoat for the Lakers’ failure to make the playoffs after averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field 29.8 from long-distance.

That said, Utah is headed for a rebuild after trading Rudy Gobert and making it clear that they are willing to part ways with All-Star guard Donovan Mithell this off-season. If Mitchell is traded, Utah will likely have draft capital and players that could be used to sweeten up the pot in a three-team deal packaged around Westbrook and Mitchell.

The Lakers are reportedly keen on helping to resurrect Westbrook’s career despite the swirling trade rumors. Newly hired Coach Darvin Ham told reporters he has a “wholehearted plan” to bring the best out of Brodie, while Westbrook reportedly had a phone call with LeBron James and Anthony Davis to smooth over their commitment to playing with each other on the Lakers.

The Lakers hope the hiring of Ham and the signing of younger, more athletic talent will help them return to the playoffs after a disastrous 2021-22 campaign full of injuries and drama surrounding their Big 3.

The post REPORT: Utah and Indiana Emerge as Trade Partners for Russell Westbrook appeared first on SLAM.

Exclusive interview with @DeandreAyton on re-signing with the Suns with @espn @andscape as well as insight on how he felt after the #Pacers offer sheet he signed was matched. Also words from #Suns GM James Jones and head coach Monty Williams on Ayton https://t.co/Lj02W9cjN8 #nba

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 19, 2022

Not only is the contract going to gurantee generational wealth, according to Ayton, but the negotiations Ayton and his reps went through also became a lesson about the business of basketball.

It’s been a tough couple summers for the former Arizona Wildcat, PHX and Ayton’s reps couldn’t agree to an extension last summer, then multiple reports came out saying the franchise thought they could find Ayton in other centers, Ayton was benched during Game 7 for “internal” reasons according to Coach Monty Williams, but GM James Jones said he wanted to re-sign Ayton.

“This is a blessing,” Ayton told ESPN’s Andscape. “This contract not only has generational impact for my family, but also with the way we are able to work in the Phoenix community and home in the Bahamas. That is the things that we go by …

“I’ve come to understand that this is a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. I just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it.”

With Ayton know locked in with the Suns for the next four seasons, he says his happy that the “process is over” with. The offer sheet Phoenix matched that Ayton signed saved Phoenix approximately $43 millions and an extra contract year. Both Williams and Jones said they were happy to have Ayton back in the fold to build off their franchise record 64-18 season.

“I just told him, I’m happy for him,” Jones said. “I’m proud of him for how he handled it and how he approached it. I’m just excited for what his next steps look like. He’s motivated to continue to improve, and we’re motivated to help him reach that level. And if he can reach that level, we’re a great team, an even better team. We’re already a good team. We’re already a great team, but we’re even better.”

“James and myself, we talk a lot and he’ll let me know what’s going on with the contract and ask for my opinion,” Williams added. “I try to stay out of persuading him when it comes to him making decisions. But we knew any offer that he got, we were going to match — I’m happy for Deandre just because I know this is what he wanted. He wants to be in that class of players that’s regarded in this way. So, from that standpoint, I think as a competitor, that’s what you want. When you see a guy working for that, that part is pretty cool.”

Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 63.4 percent shooting from the field.

The post Deandre Ayton ‘Happy’ After Re-Signing With Phoenix Suns appeared first on SLAM.

As soon as the Suns received the four-year, $133M offer sheet, the franchise matched it. Deandre Ayton returns to Phoenix and can't be traded without his consent for a full year. https://t.co/dBXGN3qbCK

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 15, 2022

Deandre Ayton has reportedly signed a four-year max offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

RFA center Deandre Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133M maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Nima Namakian (Innovate Sports) and Bill Duffy (BDA Sports + WME Sports) tell ESPN. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the largest offer sheet in NBA history.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

Ayton’s agent, Nima Namakian, negotiated the largest offer sheet in League history for Ayton to head to Indiana. Free agency talks between Ayton’s reps and the Suns’ front office have been up and down after multiple reports said that Phoenix thought they could find another center that offered what Ayton could do on the court. Phoenix reportedly sent him a qualifying offer on the eve of free agency.

Last summer, the two parties couldn’t agree on a deal to keep Ayton on Phoenix. Since then, GM James Jones publicly stated he was confident that Phoenix could bring Ayton back to the fold. Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic subsequently reported that multiple teams were interested in acquiring Ayton before Indiana emerged as the favorite to sign him in May.

Woj further reported that Phoenix seemed unlikely to want to send Ayton to Indiana via sign-and-trade but is likely to match the offer that the Pacers extended. The Suns have 48 hours before deciding on matching the largest offer sheet in NBA history. If they do, Phoenix could trade Ayton as soon as January 15.

So far, Suns haven’t shown an interest in negotiating a sign-and-trade on Ayton with the Pacers, but the expectation remains that Phoenix will match the record-$133M offer sheet once it’s signed, sources tell ESPN. Suns could trade Ayton as soon as Jan. 15 once sheet is matched.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 63.4 percent shooting from the field.

The post REPORT: Deandre Ayton Signs Max Offer Sheet With Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

In an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” Windhorst said the Pacers are “very close” to either offering Ayton a contract or executing a sign-and-trade and could sign Ayton as soon as Monday. 

The Pacers had to officially trade two-way point guard Malcolm Brogdon to Boston to create enough cap space for Ayton. Windhorst says that since the Brogdon trade is “on the verge” of being approved, the Pacers now can offer Ayton a max contract or negotiate a sign-and-trade with the Suns.

Pacers center Myles Turner, who’s been at the center of trade talks throughout multiple offseasons, would likely be a trade piece if Indiana were to pull off a sign-and-trade for Ayton. On June 28, Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said that the team was not actively shopping Turner, but Windhorst’s reporting suggests otherwise.

Windhorst appeared on “Get Up” last Thursday to say that the Pacers were looking into sign-and-trades “potentially involving” Turner. 

Ayton posts career averages of 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 59.9 percent shooting from the field. In his last two seasons with Phoenix, the former Arizona Wildcat helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021 and set a franchise record for wins in 2022. Since Ayton is a restricted free agent, the Suns can match any offer the Pacers send Ayton’s way if they wish to retain the former No. 1 overall pick.

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Charania appeared on the “Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday to discuss NBA news and the Nets’ offseason storylines in light of Kevin Durant’s blockbuster trade request. His report comes three days after Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports reported that the Lakers and Nets are “actively engaged” in an Irving-Russell Westbrook trade package.

“There’s no traction on any type of a Lakers deal for Kyrie Irving,” Charania said. “There’s nothing new on that, and I’m not quite sure we’re gonna see that take place.”

It seemed as if Irving was committed to the Nets for the 2022-23 season after opting into his one-year player option last week, but the tables turned following Durant’s trade request.

Charania went on to say that Durant’s stance on a trade request has not changed, and there has been “no signal” that Durant will rescind his request. Charania noted, “if anything, that stance is expected to continue throughout this offseason.” 

The NBA insider claimed the Nets are operating as if Durant and Irving will remain with the team next season. The Nets signed T.J. Warren and Edmond Sumner on Tuesday and re-signed Patty Mills and Nic Claxton during Thursday’s first day of free agency.

Brooklyn is “open” to dialogue with other teams but will not trade Durant until the price threshold of “All-Star-type players [and] a boat load of draft picks” is met, according to Charania.

Charania’s statements match the reporting of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who appeared on SportsCenter Sunday to claim no traction between the Nets and Lakers on a deal surrounding Irving.

Wojnarowski insinuated that the Nets might remain patient in the cases of both Irving and Durant with the hope of receiving a better deal. While the Lakers and Nets seem to be on opposite sides, for the time being, a trade centered around Irving is certainly a possibility.

The post REPORT: ‘No Traction’ On Possible Kyrie Irving Lakers Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Nets general manager Sean Marks made the moves as Booklyn’s future is uncertain in light of Kyrie Irving’s decision to opt into his player option, only to have Kevin Durant make a trade request three days later. 

Warren, who missed most of the past two seasons with a stress fracture in his left foot, averaged 19.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 53.6 percent shooting during the 2019-20 season. A standout in the 2020 NBA Bubble, Warren notably scored a career-high 53 points on 20-for-29 shooting in a win over the 76ers. He averaged 31 points in six games in the Orlando bubble and is a career 15.5-point per game scorer.

The 28-year-old is entering his eighth NBA season after stints in Indiana and Phoenix and will play for Brooklyn on a one-year deal.

The Nets reportedly signed another ex-Pacer in Sumner. The 26-year-old missed all last season with a torn left Achilles tendon but has since fully recovered and is expected to be a part of the Nets’ backcourt rotation. Sumner averaged career-highs in points per game (7.5), assists per game (1.8), and three-point percentage (39.8) in 53 games during the 2020-21 season.

Warren could be a replacement if Durant were to be traded to another team, while Sumner provides the Nets with backcourt depth in the scenario Irving also leaves Brooklyn.

The post REPORT: Nets Sign TJ Warren and Edmond Sumner appeared first on SLAM.

The Celtics are sending Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith and a 2023 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/etqmr9l0l7

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Brogden averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game last season.

Celtics are also including Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan in the trade, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Brogdon will provide the Celtics with a sure-handed playmaker and shooter when he arrives in Beantown. The 2017 Rookie of the Year has never averaged more than 2.4 turnovers per game and only coughs the ball up 1.8 times per game for his career. Brogdon has also dished out 5.9 dimes per game over the last two seasons and passed a career-high 7.1 assists per game during the 2019-20 season.

Brogdon is also a solid scorer that can provide some spacing as a career 37.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

The former Virginia product will likely come off the bench behind Marcus Smart.

The post REPORT: Celtics Trade For Playmaking Point Guard Malcolm Brogdon appeared first on SLAM.

At 26-years-old, Turner is entering the last year of his four-year, $72 million contract and is extension eligible until June 2023. One of the game’s premier defenders, he is a two-time NBA block champion with a career average of 2.3 blocks per game.

But as of late, Turner’s struggled with injuries and has failed to play in more than 47 games in the last two seasons. He would have led the league in blocks in 2021-22 if he had met the 58-game minimum, but a left foot injury limited him to just 42 games.

The Pacers cleaned house at last season’s trade deadline when they sent a package including All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson (who later agreed to a buyout with the Pacers and joined the Chicago Bulls). During the draft, the Pacers selected Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin in the hopes of providing a scoring punch.

With Turner surrounded by what could be a strong group of playmakers and scorers, the Pacers have decided to keep the big man in Indiana, at least for the time being.

The post Pacers Say They Are Not Actively Shopping Myles Turner appeared first on SLAM.

Two seconds later, a 25-year-old Pierce side-stepped to his left and launched a trey ball to the back of the rim and through the net as TD Garden exploded.

Coming off the heels of a first-round sweep against the Brooklyn Nets, Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum dished out some commentary on Pierce’s clutch step-back bucket.

Jayson Tatum shares his thoughts on this big-time Paul Pierce shot from this day in 2003! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/qiVVdgk4Nl

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 27, 2022

“I felt like he told him what he was about to do. Talking to him, side-step trey ball in the Garden. Something I might do,” Tatum said.

Tatum’s duffy has been on full display since hitting a game-winning layup in Game 1 against the Nets at home, while the side-step trey ball has been a staple in the young star’s bountiful arsenal of offensive weapons. In their sweep against Brooklyn, Tatum averaged a team-high 29.5 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting a scintillating 41.9 percent from beyond the arc.

He’s taken the step as a two-way superstar against one of the game’s best scoring threats, holding Kevin Durant to just 12 points and 3-18 shooting as his primary defender throughout the series.

With Milwaukee entering Game 5 tonight against the Chicago Bulls with a 3-1 lead, the Celtics and Tatum might soon find their matchup for the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The post Jayson Tatum Shares His Thoughts on Paul Pierce’s Clutch Three 19 Years Later appeared first on SLAM.

San Antonio Spurs icon Manu Ginobili will be a first-ballot induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame @Hoophall Class of 2022, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 31, 2022

WNBA legend Swin Cash – a four-time All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist – will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame @Hoophall Class of 2022, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Cash is currently part of the New Orleans Pelicans front office.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 31, 2022

On the NBA and WNBA side, Spurs legend Manu Ginóbili will be inducted into HOF for his first time on the ballot. Heat and Warriors legend Tim Hardaway will also be inducted. Swin Cash, a four-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who is currently working in the front office of the Pelicans, will be inducted too.

Two longtime coaches in the NCAA and NBA will be enshrined as well. Bob Huggins, head coach of the West Virginia men’s basketball program and two-time Coach of the Year winner, and George Karl, the sixth-winningest head coach in League history, will be entering the HOF.

Finalists must receive 18-24 votes from the HOF committee to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The class of 2022 will be announced on Saturday during the men’s Final Four in New Orleans, with the ceremony taking place on Sept. 10.

The post REPORT: Manu Ginobli, Swin Cash Elected to 2022 Hall of Fame Class appeared first on SLAM.

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner — out since mid-January with a left foot stress reaction — will miss the rest of the season, sources tell ESPN. Turner has made good progress in his recovery, but the Pacers have only seven games left and will miss the playoffs.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 28, 2022

The Pacers only have seven games left in the season. Since they’re lottery-bound, Indiana won’t rush Turner back despite the Texas Longhorn product reportedly making good progress in his recovery.

Turner finished the season averaging 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game in 42 games and 50.9 percent shooting from the field, and 33.3 percent shooting from three-point territory.

The Pacers (25-50) are 13th in the East, heading into the final stretch of the regular season, and will face the Raptors on Monday.

The post REPORT: Myles Turner Out For the Rest of the Season appeared first on SLAM.

Although Indiana Pacers guard TJ Warren has recovered from consecutive stress fractures in his left foot and returned to full basketball activities, he will sit out team’s final 12 games and prepare for the 2022-2023 season, sources told ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 17, 2022

“After thoughtful conversation with T.J. and his representatives, it has been determined that the most beneficial course of action at this point is to allow him to focus on the 2022-23 season,” President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said.

While only playing four games during the 2020-21 campaign, the former 14th overall pick in the 2014 draft has remained sidelined for the entirety of this season despite fully recovering from the stress fractures.

Wojnarowski reports that conversations between Warren’s representatives and the team led to the understanding that returning to a Pacers roster that will miss the playoffs makes little sense – sitting at 13th in the Eastern Conference standings – opting to prepare for the 2022-23 season.

Warren’s sample size with the Pacers is small, averaging 19.8 points while shooting 40.3 percent from deep in the 2019-20 campaign, however, the return of a sharpshooting guard next to recently acquired second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton could provide for a shakeup in Indiana and the Eastern Conference.

The post Pacers Announce T.J. Warren Will Miss Remainder of the Season appeared first on SLAM.

One notable buyout player is Tristan Thompson, who was released from the Indiana Pacers and will be signing a new deal with the Chicago Bulls.

Although the deal was announced by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle late last week, the Bulls made the deal official in a press release on Saturday. To make room for Thompson, the Bulls subsequently released Alfonzo McKinnie.

While he isn’t necessarily a starting caliber big anymore, Thompson has 11 years of NBA experience. He’s a force in the paint, standing at 6-foot-9 and 254 pounds.

On his career, Thompson has averaged 9.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest. This season, he has spent time with the Pacers and Sacramento Kings, producing 6.3 points and 5.3 boards in 34 contests. As the Bulls look to make a deep playoff run, Thompson’s experience could be key as he’s been to the NBA Playoffs five times, logging 83 games (70 starts) of action.

The post Bulls Officially Sign Tristan Thompson, Release Alfonzo McKinnie appeared first on SLAM.

Haliburton joined ESPN’s “The Jump” on Thursday to discuss the trade, and he admitted he was left shocked by the move, enough to the point where he said at first he thought it “was a joke.”

Haliburton was part of a trade deadline deal between the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers that sent Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson to the Pacers in exchange for Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, and a 2023 second-round pick.

Thompson has since been released by the Pacers and will sign with the Chicago Bulls.

While Haliburton was shocked by the trade, initial returns have been positive. Through his first four games, Haliburton is averaging 20.8 points, 11.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game compared to his averages of 14.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while with the Kings.

Haliburton also managed to snag his first win in a Pacers jersey on Wednesday night, dropping 21 points, 14 assists, and five rebounds in a 113-108 win over the Washington Wizards.

The Pacers are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 20-40.

The post Tyrese Haliburton Says He Thought Trade to Pacers Was ‘A Joke’ appeared first on SLAM.

IT’S GO TIME! (via @TaylorSportsGrp) pic.twitter.com/SXyaLyPUu1 https://t.co/W18bNhhRhh

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 14, 2022

The fourth overall pick out of the 2009 NBA Draft is the first player to be suspended and reinstated since Chris ‘Birdman’ Anderson was reinstated by the League in 2008.

Evans is immediately eligible to negotiate with teams and will be able to sign a contract as soon as noon Friday, per the NBA. Since he entered the Association, Evans averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Evans averaged 10.2 points, 2.9 boards, and 2.4 dimes per game when he last played for the Pacers.

Tyreke Evans in HS in the Punks section of SLAM Issue #111. Been a hooper. Still a hooper.

Subscribe now to our BRAND NEW Digital Archive for the endless gems like this.

Free preview: https://t.co/SgfNhvFuMf
Subscribe now: https://t.co/bjzCbj5PuY pic.twitter.com/fmfdtqYuMH

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 14, 2022

Evans has played for the Kings, Pelicans, Grizzlies, and the Pacers. He was named the Rookie of the Year in 2010.

The post NBA Officially Reinstates Tyreke Evans After Two-Year Ban appeared first on SLAM.

Full trade: Indiana sends Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round pick via Miami to Cleveland for Ricky Rubio, lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick via Houston and a 2027 second-round pick via Utah, per sources.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2022

LeVert scored 22 points, including some huge baskets down the stretch to help his new team rally against his old team for a 120-113 comeback victory on Friday night. LeVert received a standing ovation from the Pacers fans during pregame introductions. The Pacers also honored the 27-year-old guard with a special highlight package during the first timeout.

Pacers President Kevin Pritchard spoke with ESPN about Caris LeVert before the game how he struggled with his decision to trade LeVert about one week prior.

“He was one of the hardest people I’ve ever had to trade,” Pritchard said. “He is a special person, and I want to thank Caris. He’s probably going to go score 50 tonight.”

Caris LeVert (22 PTS) with a HUGE clutch bucket for the @cavs late in the 4th!

Watch Now on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/oz9UCQxdQa pic.twitter.com/TTs3NXTxum

— NBA (@NBA) February 12, 2022

With the win, Cleveland notched their fifth straight (35-21) to stay in contention for the Eastern Conference’s top seed behind the Miami Heat. After the game, LeVert couldn’t hide his excitement after playing with his new teammates.

It didn’t take @CarisLeVert long to realize that this is a special, resilient, fun @cavs team, and he can’t wait for what lies ahead.#LetEmKnow | @SerenaWinters pic.twitter.com/JmKq1klZaA

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) February 12, 2022

The post Caris LeVert Helps Cleveland Cavaliers Burn His Old Indy Team After Trade appeared first on SLAM.

The Pacers are trading Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday to the Kings for Tyrese Hailburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/VwjKcZ0BkA

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 8, 2022

The Pacers are also sending Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday to the Kings and will be receiving Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson.

Sabonis has been involved in trade rumors since December. When the reports first came out, it was reported that the Pacers not only wanted to trade Sabonis but Caris LeVert and Myles Turner to jumpstart their rebuilding process. So far, only LeVert has been moved after the Michigan product was traded to the Cavaliers over the weekend.

The Kings moving Haliburton comes as a surprise after Sacramento told potential trade partners they wanted to keep De’Aaron Fox and Haliburton and build around the budding backcourt. However, the NBA is a business, and when you get a chance to acquire an All-Star, you have to pull that trigger sometimes.

Sabonis averages 18.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, one of seven players in the League to put up similar numbers.

The Pacers (19-36) face the Hawks (25-28) on the road on Tuesday.

The post Update: Pacers Sending Domantas Sabonis to the Kings appeared first on SLAM.

“We are very excited to add a dynamic young player of this caliber and experience,” Cavs GM Koby Altman said in a statement on Monday. “Caris LeVert fits uniquely into our culture, and his Ohio roots brings an immediate connection to our community. We look forward to seeing what type of impact he can make on this roster. We also want to send our best wishes to Ricky Rubio and his family. Ricky has been the consummate professional, and his leadership both on and off the court was invaluable, and we respect everything he brought to this franchise.”

OFFICIAL: #Cavs acquire F Caris LeVert.

DETAILS: https://t.co/AvCpnTb3av pic.twitter.com/28cLLHjmvl

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 7, 2022

LeVert will reportedly take on the off-guard spot opposite All-Star point guard Darius Garland who has been hampered by a sore lower back as of late. The acquisition of LeVert adds scoring punch to a lineup that is missing Collin Sexton since he went down for the season with a knee injury in February.

“He and Garland in the backcourt is really dynamic,” Carlisle said. “These guys have improved a great deal today.”

LeVert has been in trade rumors since December when the Pacers were rumored to be looking to trade former All-Star Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, and LeVert to help speed up their rebuilding process. When the Cavs and Pacers agreed to the exchange, it was about 90 minutes before tipoff of their game against each other on Sunday. Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle confirmed the news pregame with assembled media.

News of the trade was delayed so Carlisle could notify LeVert was headed down the hall.

With the Cavs (33-21) squarely in the driver’s seat as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, LeVert can help raise the ceiling of a team that has blasted away any preseason expectations many around the League had for them. Cleveland still has time to make one more move as well. The NBA’s trade deadline isn’t until Thursday.

LeVert signed a three-year, $52 million contract with Brooklyn in 2020. Since re-signing with Brooklyn, he’s been moved to Indiana and now Cleveland. The 27-year-old guard averaged 18.7 points and 4.4 assists for the disappointing Pacers (19-36). The Cavaliers will return to action on Wednesday when they play the Spurs at home.

The post Cleveland Cavaliers Trade Ricky Rubio For Caris LeVert appeared first on SLAM.

Despite not having the services of superstar Kawhi Leonard this season and losing Paul George in December to an elbow injury, they now stand at seventh place in the West with a 26-26 record. The team hasn’t closed the door on either player being shut down for the season and is looking for point guard help just in case.

According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Clippers are in the market for a point guard in a trade with possibly six players being targets.

“If the Clippers dip below .500, it should come as no big surprise. But this isn’t a lost season without Leonard and George. Not at all. In fact, the Clippers found their identity on defense by examining their roster and trying to find out who will fit with their stars in the years to come.”

Despite all the good vibes on the court this season, no team is ever fully complete. Change is inevitable. And the next step for the Clippers is to find a new point guard.

While Reggie Jackson currently covers the position, the Clippers see him as more of a scorer. What they want by his side is a playmaker. Someone like Fred VanVleet or Kyle Lowry for Leonard in Toronto, or even George Hill was for a young PG-13 in Indiana. L.A. wants a point guard on that level, someone who can manage the game or provide a spark depending on the situation.

So, what kind of point guard can the Clippers reasonably obtain? Over the past few weeks, numerous reports have cited names like Jalen Brunson, Dennis Schröder, Kemba Walker, Goran Dragic, Spencer Dinwiddie, and John Wall as targets.”

The team plan’s on moving potential expiring contracts such as Serge Ibaka, Ivica Zubac (team option for 2022-23 season), or Nicolas Batum (player option for 2022-23)

The Los Angeles Clippers made team history by making Western Conference Finals last season before falling to the eventual conference champion, Phoenix Suns.

The post REPORT: The Clippers Make Multiple Players Available For Point Guard Help appeared first on SLAM.

Giddey talked about his relationship with LeVert when he initially met him in 2018 at a Basketball Without Borders camp in India.

LeVert was Giddey’s coach for the camp, and he said he recalls that LeVert “was really big on believing in me.”

Giddey has since made a name for himself in the basketball world, getting drafted sixth overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2021 NBA Draft after a stellar rookie season with the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL. Giddey has had a solid start to his NBA career, too, putting up 11.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.

In 2018 LeVert was entering his third season in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets and is now in his sixth season since being drafted out of the University of Michigan. Over his career, LeVert has averaged 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.

The duo played each other for the first time in the NBA on Friday night. The Pacers won the game 113-110 in overtime, with LeVert scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds, while Giddey had a double-double scoring 15 points and snatching 10 rebounds to go along with five assists.

The post Josh Giddey Discusses Relationship With Caris LeVert: ‘He Believed A Lot in Me’ appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson’s initial 10-day, which he signed on January 11, expired this morning, prompting the organization to use Stephenson’s final 10-day before being faced with the decision of signing him for the remainder of the season or letting him walk.

Like numerous other former NBA veterans looking to get back into the League, Stephenson has signed multiple 10-days – becoming the first player to sign a fourth 10 day- first signing with the Atlanta Hawks. After appearing in six games for the Hawks, Born Ready then signed his first of three 10-days with the Pacers on the first of the new year.

Typically, a player is restricted in signing more than two 10-day contracts with a single team. However, due to the COVID-19-related hardship exemption, that restriction only applies to standard-10-day agreements. Stephenson is now on his second such deal.

In 11 games played for the team that originally drafted him back in 2010, Stephenson averages 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field in 19.5 minutes a game.

Beat the game clock, bust out the air guitar

Lance Stephenson drains the triple on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/L8Rrlv9ZoR pic.twitter.com/Ib1kCKv8VR

— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2022

It didn’t take long for the Brooklyn-native to fall back into his groove while rocking the yellow and navy blue; in his third game back in Indiana, Stephenson dropped 30 points, five dimes, and a few air guitars in the Pacers’ 129-121 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. In the Pacers’ next game, Stephenson was back to firing from all cylinders against the Utah Jazz, scoring 16 points while dishing out 14 assists in the Pacers’ win three days later.

Through Stephenson’s fourth 10-day, the organization has provided more flexibility as his contract will expire a week before the February 10 trade deadline.

The post Pacers Sign Lance Stephenson to Final 10-Day Contract appeared first on SLAM.

Malcolm Brogdon (sore right Achilles) will be shutdown for at least 10 days to rehab his injury, according to head coach Rick Carlisle.

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 23, 2022

The last time Brogdon saw any action was against the Los Angeles Lakers last week when he contributed 19 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 26 minutes in a Pacers win.

The Lakers game is one of only two games Brogden has been able to play in the past month, along with the January 12 game against the Boston Celtics when he played only 17 minutes. A stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols kept him out of the lineup as well.

Brogdon’s upcoming absence is just the latest of a long list of injury problems to key players for the Pacers. Indiana is missing Domantas Sabonis who is out due to an ankle injury suffered in the Lakers game last week, Myles Turner (stress fracture in foot), T.J. McConnell (hand surgery) and T.J. Warren, who has yet to suit up because of a broken foot.

Brogdon is averaging 18.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in 28 games. The Pacers (17-30) are on the road toplay the Pelicans (17-28) on Monday

The post REPORT: Indiana Pacers Sit Malcolm Brogdon For 10 Days Of Rehab appeared first on SLAM.

Long before the Lakers’ 111-104 loss to the Pacers, Vogel and his staff were reportedly given assurances that the franchise would support him “in taking a hard line while coaching the star.” ESPN says that the Lakers’ message can be described as “You got to do what you got to do.”

Vogel decided to test that power in the final 3 minutes, 52 seconds of the fourth quarter against Indiana. Westbrook was 5-for-17 from the field when Vogel benched Westbrook for Malik Monk, with L.A. trailing 101-94. Westbrook’s defensive effort was also crucial in the benching after Caris LeVert blew by Westbrook for a layup early in the final frame of the game.

“Playing the guys that I thought were going to win the game,” Vogel said when asked about his decision to bench Westbook.

As reported by multiple outlets, Vogel’s job security as Lakers head coach has been in jeopardy due to the Lakers’ tough start to the season. At 22-23, the Lakers have underperformed despite acquiring multiple Hall-Of-Famers, most notably trading for Westbrook in a blockbuster draft-day trade.

Westbrook reportedly left Crypto.com Arena before speaking to reporters. On the season, Westbrook is averaging 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game on 43.3 percent shooting from the field. He is currently the all-time leader in triple-doubles and averaged a triple-double in four seasons. He sports a 142-51 record when he records the feat as well.

“It’s frustrating. I can tell you that,” Carmelo Anthony said in defense of Westbrook per ESPN. “It’s frustrating as a player who’s trying to make it right, trying to do things right. This is new for him. This is a new situation. This is a new environment. We got to help him through it. I mean, that’s the only thing we can do, is make sure his mental is right. That’s the only thing I care about. I don’t care about any basketball stuff when it comes to Russ.

“As long as his mental is right, then I’m good.”

The post REPORT: Lakers Front Office Gave Coach Frank Vogel Greenlight to Bench Russell Westbrook appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Athletic, the Kings will remain active in trade conversations but have informed teams in the trade market that are intent on building their franchise around Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. The Kings reportedly informed Fox and his representation that they do not want to trade him and want to center the team around him and Haliburton as well.

The Athletic further reports that a deal for Domantas Sabonis will not happen. It remains to be seen how the Kings decision will impact their ability to trade for Ben Simmons.

According to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee, the Sacrament Kings are shopping De’Aaron Fox in trade talks for Indiana Pacers All-Star Domantas Sabonis and Ben Simmons ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline in February,

Fox was reportedly off the table in trade discussions during the offseason, but the Kings (18-28) are 11th in the Western Conference and have reversed course as they fight for a spot in the play-in tournament.

The Kings were also rumored to have been involved in trade talks with the Philadelphia 7ers for Simmons during the offseason, but negotiations stalled since the Kings didn’t want to give up Fox. That has reportedly changed, per Anderson, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported on The Athletic NBA Show podcast that he sees Sabonis and Simmons as the KIngs’ two biggest priorities ahead of the trade deadline.

The Kings rewarded Fox with a five-year contract extension after the 24-year-old point guard averaged a career-high 25.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game last season while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from deep. The front-office brass reportedly had lofty expectations of Fox, expecting the Kentucky product to match or exceed those numbers during the 2021-2022 season.

Through 42 games, Fox is putting 20.9 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, and a career-worse 25.3 percent from downtown.

For Sabonis, his name has been involved in trade talks since December. The Pacers are 15-29, 13th in the East, and are reportedly looking to rebuild and move Sabonis, Caris LeVert, and Myles Turner. The two-time All-Star has put up solid numbers, averaging 18.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.0 steal per game on top of shooting 57.3 percent from the floor.

Exchanging Fox for Sabonis or Simmons could reverse the fortunes of the Kings who have toiled through two decades of perennial futility. Sacramento hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2005-06, the longest active drought in the League by 10 years. Trading Sabonis, LeVert, and Turner will only accelerate the Pacers’ reported intent to rebuild.

The post REPORT: Kings Intend On Keeping De’Aaron Fox and Building Around Him and Tyrese Haliburton appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN, he is expected to be sidelined beyond the Feb. 10 NBA trade deadline.

Pacers center Myles Turner is expected to be sidelined beyond the February 10 NBA trade deadline, sources tell ESPN. Team says he will be re-examined in two weeks, but teams interested in trading for Turner will have to do due diligence on injury as they weigh offers.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 18, 2022

Turner was held out of the Pacers Monday 139-133 loss to the Clippers after Coach Rick Carlisle said that Turner was dealing with a sore left foot on Sunday. The two-time block leader is still traveling with the team as it embarks on a five-game Western Conference road trip.

Since December, Turner has been involved in trade rumors, is on public record saying he wants a more prominent role than what he’s been provided with, believing that the Pacers see him as a role player.

“It’s clear that I’m not valued as anything more than a glorified role player here, and I want something more, more opportunity,” Turner told The Athletic in December. “I’m trying really hard to make the role that I’m given here work and find a way to maximize it. I’ve been trying to the past two, three seasons. But it’s clear to me that, just numbers-wise, I’m not valued as more than a rotational role player, and I hold myself in a higher regard than that.”

As of Tuesday, Turner is averaging 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game this season. He’s shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the three-point line.

On Wednesday, Indiana (15-29) will face the Los Angeles Lakers (22-22).

The post Pacers Announce Myles Turner Out For Two-Weeks After Suffering Foot Injury appeared first on SLAM.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Pacers’ Caris LeVert has drawn the eye of two NBA teams, but the asking price may be too high.

“Caris LeVert has known suitors in Cleveland and New York, but so far Indiana has requested multiple first-round picks for the 27-year-old guard as well, sources said.”

LeVert is in his seventh season in the NBA and his second with the Pacers, joining via trade from the Brooklyn Nets last season.

Over his career, LeVert has averaged 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, but those numbers have taken a jump since joining Indiana. LeVert has posted 19.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game through 64 games since becoming a Pacers.

While LeVert could be on the move, Fischer reports that center Myles Turner still looks to be the most likely candidate to find himself traded before the deadline, with a laundry list of teams interested including “Dallas, Minnesota, New York, Sacramento, Charlotte, and Portland.”

Fischer reports in the same article that Indiana has put in calls for several players themselves. The Pacers seem to be looking for help on the wing, with Fischer reporting interest in acquiring Torrey Craig, Justin Holiday, or Jeremy Lamb.

The NBA trade deadline is now less than a month away, taking place on Thursday, Feb. 10.

The post REPORT: Pacers Caris LeVert ‘Has Known Suitors’ Ahead of Trade Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Pacers announced their intentions to keep Lance through the end of the season.

The Pacers are expected to keep Lance Stephenson for the rest of the season, league sources say, thanks to his very strong play in this third Indiana stint that has won admiration from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.

Stephenson has one day left on his initial Indiana hardship deal.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 9, 2022

Anyone that saw Stephenson’s last two games saw this decision from the Pacers’ front office coming. They waived Kelan Martin to open a roster spot for the 6-5 guard the team drafted 40th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft.

First, he stole the show when Kyrie Irving’s made his return to the Brooklyn Nets roster by scoring an NBA-record 20 points off the bench in the first quarter on his way to a 30 point performance last Wednesday.

20 points.
8-9 shooting.
4-5 from deep.

In one quarter.

Lance. Stephenson. pic.twitter.com/kaNyZvlniZ

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2022

Then he followed it up by dishing a career-high 14 assists to go with 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals in the Pacers’ 125-113 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. His playmaking sparked his teammate Domontas Sabonis to a 42 point and six rebound night on 18-22 shooting.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?@StephensonLance @Dsabonis11 #NBAAllStar | #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/ak54pyLdvQ

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 9, 2022

After the Nets game, Stephenson expressed his feelings about being back in an Indiana uniform via the Indy Star.

“As soon as I put that jersey on, I feel like I just get my powers,” Stephenson said after scoring 30 points, just three points shy of his career-high, against the Nets on Wednesday. “I don’t know what it is. Every time I put that jersey on, I just feel comfortable, and when you playing in front of people that’s happy for you to play and egging you on, it just makes the game more easier.”

This is Stephenson’s third stint with the franchise. On Monday, the Pacers (15-25) return to action against the Celtics (19-21).

The post REPORT: Indiana Pacers Sign Lance Stephenson For the Rest Of Season appeared first on SLAM.

Irving was out early pregame getting up shots in his red and white Kyrie 3s. In the game, he decided to sport the “Mamba Mentality” Kyrie 3s, which were inspired by Kobe Bryant’s previous Bruce Lee theme and featured a split “Kyrobe” logo on the tongue.

First look at Kyrie. NJ’s own is back. (: @darenscarberry) pic.twitter.com/6uTwZ18N8z

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 5, 2022

After going scoreless in the first quarter, missing his first three shots, Uncle Drew started to warm up in the second quarter knocking down three straight shots, sinking two free throws, scoring Brooklyn’s first eight points. In the first 17 minutes, Irving’s stat line stood at eight points, two rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Kyrie Irving drops in his first bucket of the season!

Nets, Pacers on League Pass:https://t.co/oz9UCQxdQa pic.twitter.com/Z0CVPHr4Dt

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2022

After sitting much of the third quarter, Irving made a positive impact again, sparking an 8-0 Brooklyn run to end the third quarter with two buckets, including a buzzer-beater to cut the Pacers lead to single digits going into the final quarter.

Then, when he returned to the game with 8:39 left, Kyrie Irving went off, scoring ten points to seal the Nets’ comeback from a 19-point deficit to win 129-121. Irving’s performance helped the Nets outscore the Pacers 69-48 in the second half.

#13 #11 pic.twitter.com/fVna2VF6rk

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 6, 2022

In 32 minutes, Irving finished with 22 points (on 9-17 shooting from the field), three rebounds, four assists, and played active defense, registering three steals on the night. The story of the game is how long Irving will take to knock off the rust and get acclimated to his role on the team. There’s also the question of whether he makes the All-Star game or not; he will provide an All-Star-type buzz in every arena he travels to for the rest of the season.

“Just a lot of gratitude just to be present tonight with everyone,” Irving said per ESPN. “Just go out there and have fun doing what we love to do. It was a not-so-good first half for us, and we came in the locker room, and we knew that in order to build this identity that we want to have later in the season, we got to start now.”

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The post Kyrie Irving Makes His NBA Return Against the Indiana Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

While it remains to be seen if Irving will play his typical workload of minutes, 34.9 minutes per game last season, Nash doesn’t think Irving’s conditioning is at a point where he can play 38 minutes.

“But I think he can play a big chunk of the game. He’s played a lot–he’s had three of four full court days with the five-on-five, so I think he’s capable of playing extended minutes, but not necessarily his customary high 30’s.”

Irving hasn’t played yet for the Nets this season due to being unvaccinated, and vaccine mandates in New York preventing unvaccinated New York residents from entering certain indoor facilities, including Barclays Center, where the Nets play their home games. Brooklyn front-office officials decided that they prefer that he get vaccinated and be eligible to play as a full-time player.

In the wake of the Nets’ COVID-19 outbreak and the recent rise of the Omricon variant forcing over a hundred players into the health and safety protocols, the Nets reversed course on their preference Irving get vaccinated and announced that they would bring Irving back as a part-time player.

Nash admits that there will be an adjustment period for Irving who will have to get used to some new wrinkles in the Nets offense but he is confident Irving will find his rhythm and role within the Nets quickly.

“It might take a little bit but Kyrie knows what he’s doing,” Nash said. “He’s been with us and he also can adapt to situations and so we haven’t had a ton of time to really give him the tutorials, but that’s something that we are happy to do on the fly as well. But more importantly, try to feel a sense of cohesion with his teammates, get comfortable playing the game, before we overload him with a ton of thoughts. I think he’ll be fine.”

Irving scored 26.9 points, grabbed 4.8 rebounds, and dished 6.0 assists per game on 50.6 percent shooting from the field, 40.2 percent shooting from the three-point line, and 92.2 shooting from the free-throw line during the abbreviated 2020-2021 season.

With Irving active and Kevin Durant and James Harden clearing protocols recently, the Nets are healthy for the most part and should bode well for their chances to contend for a spot in the 2022 NBA Finals. Brooklyn (23-12) is second in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Bulls (25-10) for the number one by just two games.

The post Kyrie Irving Expected to Play ‘Big Chunk of the Game’ appeared first on SLAM.

Although he’s no longer in his prime, Stephenson was a solid player for the Pacers during the two previous stints he spent with the team. He began his career in Indiana, then had a second run with the team starting in the 2016-17 season.

Now, Stephenson is once again a Pacer for the third time. While there’s a good chance this is only temporary, he’ll be a quality veteran for the struggling franchise. Before signing this deal with Indiana, Stephenson was on a 10-day deal with the Atlanta Hawks where he got limited action.

In his first game with the Pacers on Sunday night, Stephenson was a legitimate contributor. In a close loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he posted six points, three assists and one rebound in just 13 minutes of action.

It’s unclear what Stephenson’s future is in Indiana, but for now it’s great to see him back with his former team. With depleted rosters across the league, teams have looked very different over the past several weeks.

The post Lance Stephenson is a Pacer Once Again appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, Marc Stein reported that Lance Stephenson had signed a 10-day hardship contract with the Atlanta Hawks.

Stephenson is getting the chance with the Hawks as part of the NBA’s new hardship contract program, allowing teams struggling with COVID-19 outbreaks to sign short-term replacement players to continue playing games.

It’s been over two years since Stephenson last suited up for an NBA team, playing 68 games with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2018-19 season and averaging 7.2 points per game in the process.

However, Stephenson is an NBA vet, having played 508 career games with seven different NBA teams. Most will remember Stephenson for his six seasons spent with the Indiana Pacers, where he averaged 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.

If Stephenson suites up for the Hawks during his 10-day contract, that will make Atlanta the eighth different franchise he’s played for in his career.

The Hawks have been hurt hard by the league’s health and safety protocols, with Trae Young, Clint Capela, and Danilo Gallinari all currently unavailable.

The post REPORT: Lance Stephenson Signs 10-Day Contract With Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

Carlisle will miss multiple games as former Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce will step in as interim coach in his absence.

Pierce was named an assistant coach with the Pacers this summer after serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, leading them through the rebuilding process for two and a half seasons. Before coming to Atlanta, Pierce spent five years with the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant.

Most recently, Pierce assisted Gregg Popovich en route to the USA’s gold medal run in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. His first test at the helm of the Pacers will be tonight when Indiana faces off against the Dallas Mavericks (12-12).

The post Lloyd Pierce to Serve as Interim Head Coach After Rick Carlisle Tests Positive for COVID-19 appeared first on SLAM.

In an interview with The Atheltic’s Jared Weiss, Turner indicated he was unhappy with his current situation with the Indiana Pacers.

“It’s clear that I’m not valued as anything more than a glorified role player here, and I want something more, more opportunity,” Turner told The Athletic Tuesday. “I’m trying really hard to make the role that I’m given here work and find a way to maximize it. I’ve been trying to the past two, three seasons. But it’s clear to me that, just numbers-wise, I’m not valued as more than a rotational role player, and I hold myself in a higher regard than that.”

During much of his seven-year tenure with the Pacers, Turner has been in and out of trade rumors. However, despite being unhappy with his role, Turner has put up big numbers, averaging 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game over his career. He has also led the League in blocks per game in two seasons.

The Pacers haven’t had the success they would like to start the season. They’re currently 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-16. Despite this, Turner has played well, averaging 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and an NBA-best 2.8 blocks per game.

Turner isn’t the only Pacer recently involved in trade rumors, with Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert being named as others potentially in the mix.

The post Myles Turner on Current Role With Pacers: ‘I Want Something More’ appeared first on SLAM.

Rick Carlisle had positive result on rapid test after last night’s win over Knicks, sources told ESPN. He took a PCR test today to confirm, but that result is not expected until Friday.

Pacers host Mavs on Friday, the first time Carlisle was scheduled to coach vs. his old team. https://t.co/Ibb31hMOS4

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 9, 2021

McMahon further reported that Carlisle took a PCR test Thursday but results aren’t expected until Friday. Indiana faces the Mavericks on Friday, it could be Carlisle’s first game against his former team. If the PCR test comes back positive, League insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that assistant coach Lloyd Piece will fill in against Dallas.

On Thursday morning, the Pacers and Raptors announced that they had canceled their scheduled practice due to health and safety protocols, citing “an abundance of caution.” The Raptors have no player or staff member in protocols as of yet. They both played and won against the Wizards earlier this week, the Raptors doing so on Sunday, and the Pacers on Monday.

The post REPORT: Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle Enters Health and Safety Protocol appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell will be out for “several months” after having surgery on his right hand to repair torn ligaments.

McConnell suffered the injury in the Pacers 114-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 1 and has not played in either of the Pacers’ games since.

According to further reporting from ESPN, McConnell will be in a cast for 10-12 weeks, and he will be re-evaluated after that period.

McConnell’s injury is a tough blow to a Pacers team already struggling this season, currently 10-16 good for 13th in the Eastern Conference standings and fourth in the Central Division.

McConnell is averaging 8.4 points, and 4.8 assists on 24.2 minutes per game this season, primarily doing so off the bench for Indiana. Throughout his career, McConnell has played in 478 games averaging 6.8 points and 5.0 assists per game. He is in the first year of a four-year $35.2 million deal signed in the offseason.

The post REPORT: T.J. McConnell Out ‘Multiple Months’ After Surgery on Hand appeared first on SLAM.

According to reports, the Pacers have been receptive to trade talks centered around potentially moving Caris LeVert, Domantas Sabonis, or Myles Turner. All three have received interest from rival teams, in particular Sabonis and Turner, who have garnered frequent calls about their availability over the past several seasons.

However, newly hired Coach Rick Carlisle wants to keep the two big men together and have them around to help grow with the current roster. Sabonis is regarded as the Pacers’ best player and through 26 games this season, the 25-year-old is averaging 17.8 points, 12 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Sabonis’ scoring is at its lowest since the 2018-2019 season, but he remains a valuable asset for the franchise.

It’s unclear to rival teams how quickly the Pacers will begin to make moves, but teams around the League expect the franchise to be patient with its trade prospects and decide on the best offers they can negotiate.

Since Malcolm Brogden is coming off a freshly signed two-year extension, keeping him around until 2025, he is ineligible to be traded during the 2021-2022 season. NBA bubble star TJ Warren has yet to play this season, battling a persistent foot injury that has only allowed him to play four games since last season. Warren reportedly told the front office that he wished to remain with the team.

The Athletic further details that Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson are primed to gain more playing time if Sabonis and Turner are moved. The 13th and 22nd overall picks respectively in the 2021 NBA Draft. Thus far in his rookie year, Duarte has shown to be a dependable two-way favorite of Carlilse, averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 boards, and 2.0 dimes a game.

The Pacers, led by owner Herb Simon, are a team that’s avoided going into a rebuild and have always attempted to put the best they can on the floor, even if that means being a bottom two playoff seed or losing in the first round of playoffs. With the Pacers dead last in fan attendance, the Pacers might be asking themselves, how much worse can it get?

The post REPORT: Pacers Open To Trading Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, Or Myles Turner appeared first on SLAM.

With that in mind, Indiana is missing one of its best scorers in T.J. Warren, who hasn’t played yet this season due to a left foot fracture. 

Over the weekend, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle gave an update on Warren, saying he had a foot scan recently that showed “continued healing.”

Carlisle would go on to say that Warren won’t be back on the floor in game action until 2022, ruling him out for a return this month. 

“He’s not gonna have another scan until the later stage of the month or early January, so he will not play in December,” said Carlisle. “There’s a chance that he could get the go-ahead to keep escalating the workload, but for now it’s just about (how) he’s clearly out of the boot, starting to do things more actively.”

Warren played in just four games last season with this foot injury. The last time he played significant minutes was in the 2019-20 season, when he averaged 19.8 points per game while knocking down 40.3% of his 3-point attempts. 

While there’s no guarantee he comes back this dynamic as a scorer, the 28-year-old will certainly be a huge lift for the Indiana offense. 

Warren is set to become a free agent following this season, which means a high level of production upon his return will be important. 

The post Pacers Forward T.J. Warren Out Until 2022 appeared first on SLAM.

After Anunoby missed Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz with a hip pointer, the Toronto Star’s Doug Smith reported that “According to (vice president of player health and performance) Alex McKechnie, it’ll be a while.”

This loss will place more responsibility on the remaining frontcourt players Siakam, Khem Birch, and Chris Boucher, who are healthy` on the roster. Raptors’ head coach Nick Nurse talked about it this week via The Star.

“Pascal’s got to kind of fill in there for OG, a little bit more like he’s probably used to,” Nurse said. “And Khem and Chris gotta bring it, they’re going to have to bring a good 25 minutes each, 30 maybe, somewhere between 25 and 30 for those guys. And other guys got to bring it, too.”

The Raptors have now lost five of their last six games for fall to a 7-9 record going into the road trip. They fell to the Jazz (10-5),119-103, but had a chance to redeem themselves against Sacramento (6-9), Golden State (13-2), Memphis (8-7), and Indiana (6-10).

The post REPORT: Toronto Raptors Lose OG Anunoby With Hip Injury ‘For A While’ appeared first on SLAM.

Gobert and Myles Turner got into it pic.twitter.com/M9Rkb6IwYz

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 12, 2021

It all started when Pacers center Myles Turner shoved Rudy Gobert in the back after a missed layup while screaming an expletive. Gobert responded by trying to drag him to the floor. Then the two started wrestling before being separated.

After the game, Turner blamed the scuffle on Gobert, knocking him down on a previous play via NBA.com.

“I had to stand up for myself in that situation,” Turner said. “I don’t think I did anything wrong. But that’s not for me to decide. We’ll talk to the League and see what happens from there.”

Rudy Gobert has his reflection on the incident via The Salt Lake Tribune.

“Guys need to stop acting like they’re going to do more and [just] play basketball,” Gobert said.

“And if they do want to do more, let’s do it outside the court and without security, and then we’ll figure it out. But on the court, ain’t nobody going to do s—. Let’s stop acting like we’re about that life. Most guys are not.

Donovan Mitchell, who yelled at the Pacers bench before getting ejected finished with 26 points, five rebounds, and four dimes, blamed the referees for allowing too much physical play early to build up frustrations on both sides.

“That whole thing could have been avoided — just draw the line early, as opposed to letting it build-up for the whole game,” Mitchell said.

The League has made no announcements of fines or suspensions yet.

The post Rudy Gobert and Myles Turner Reflect On Scuffle That Lead to 4 Ejections appeared first on SLAM.

After the game, point guard Malcolm Brogdon had high praise for his star center’s often overlooked defensive efforts.

“We’ve got the best defensive player in the League on our team. I hope people saw that tonight,” Brogdon said.

“We got the best defensive player in the league on our team…Myles shows that every night. He gets no recognition year after year, but hopefully this year he’ll get defensive player of the year.”@MalcolmBrogdon7

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 12, 2021

Turner’s three blocks Thursday also signaled for a new accolade to be added to his bag, moving into fifth place all-time in Pacers history for blocks with 908, 337 boards behind Pacers legend Jermaine O’Neal.

“I’m still climbing. I still got a ways to go. Fifth is cool, but I think Jermaine O’Neal is No. 1, and he knows I’m on his ass,” Turner said according to James Boyd of the Indy Star.

With a 5-8 record, the Pacers and Turner will look to grab a win against the Philadelphia 76ers (8-5) Saturday.

The post Myles Turner Moves Into Fifth All-Time For Blocks with Indiana Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

While speaking on The HoosHype Podcast with Michael Scotto, Turner said that being in trade rumors isn’t a concern for him anymore and shouldn’t be for others either.

“You’ve got to go out there and take control of your own destiny. If you get traded, so be it. Go out there and kill it. If you stay with your organization, come out and show them why they paid you,” Turner said. “You can make it an ego thing, but this is a business at the end of the day. The organization is going to do what’s best for the organization. They’re not inclined to care about your feelings in a sense.

“Now that I see myself in these rumors all the time, it’s just like another day for me. It’s like, ‘Oh, what else is new?'” Turner said.

Turner has made himself a wanted commodity in his seven NBA seasons. Thus far, Turner has accumulated career averages of 12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.

Turner has been a difference-maker on defense for years, having led the League in blocks per game twice. He is currently leading the lead in blocks per game this season with 3.2 per game.

Despite strong play from Turner, the Pacers have been underwhelming to start the season, sitting at 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4-8.

The post Myles Turner Discusses Mindset When Involved in Trade Rumors appeared first on SLAM.

Gibson sprained his ankle in the first half of the New York Knicks’ 104-113 loss against the visiting Toronto Raptors.

Gibson’s injury had forced Knicks rookie Jericho Sims to play in the place of Nerlens Noel ls who has been out for seven straight games.

Coach Tom Thibodeau says he didn’t have a sense of the severity of Gibson’s injury and Noel warmed up and “couldn’t give it a go” according to Fred Katz of the Athletic Reports.

According to Katz, Thibodeau says that Gibson did practice on Tuesday and that both he and Noel, who Thibs says “missed practice for personal reasons,” will travel with the team when they play the Pacers on Wednesday. They’ll both be listed as questionable.

Taj Gibson participated in practice today, Thibodeau says. Nerlens Noel missed practice for personal reasons. They’ll both travel to Indiana for tomorrow’s game, where they’ll be questionable.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) November 2, 2021

The post Knicks’ Taj Gibson Suffers Sprain Ankle Against Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

Perhaps just as importantly, ESPN salary cap expert Bobby Marks notes that due to the length of Brogdon’s contract following the extension, Brogdon is unable to be traded this season. This part is especially important as it was a commonly held belief that the Pacers would have to surrender Brogdon in their pursuit of embattled Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons.

Brogdon, who entered the league at 24-years-old after being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round, had a career season in 2021-22.

Averaging 21.2 points, 5.9 assists and 0.9 steals per game while posting a true shooting percentage of 56.1, Brogdon’s on-court production and leadership (both in the locker room and in the community) have made him a key part of the Pacers’ organization. Frankly, Brogdon’s such a savvy and professional figure to help lead the franchise that it’s reasonable to assume Indiana’s price for the Georgia native also sought to cover his intangible benefits.

In addition, for a franchise always looking to remain competitive, ensuring that Brogdon remains in a Pacers uniform not only allow the team to continue building continuity but it keeps arguably their best scorer lighting it up for their side.

The post REPORT: Malcolm Brogdon Signs Extension, Cannot be Traded in 2021-22 appeared first on SLAM.

The Nets then sent the draft rights of Juan Pablo Vaulet to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Edmond Summer and a 2025 second-round pick (via the Miami Heat).

Sources told Charania that the Rockets will waive Doumbouya and the Nets will waive Summer, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

The Brooklyn Nets are trading forward Sekou Doumbouya and a second-round pick to the Houston Rockets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 6, 2021

The Nets benefited most from the trade as ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that the deal will save the Nets $6.8 million towards the luxury tax and $8.1 million overall.

In a similar vein, the Pacers essentially traded a second-round pick in order to free up $2.7 million under the salary cap, per Marks’ calculations.

Most notable perhaps, is that Doumbouya—a late lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft—is set to be waived after only showing sporadic flashes with the Detroit Pistons and failing to stick with the rebuilding Rockets, the favorites to reach the 2022 NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference.

Where the 20-year-old ends up next in his young career will be of interest, with his offensive development yet to have caught up to his defensive potential.

The post REPORT: Rockets Complete Three-Team Trade with Nets, Pacers for Sekou Doumbouya appeared first on SLAM.

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Indiana Pacers and 76ers have reportedly discussed a trade involving Caris LeVert—a player many in and around the league believe to have All-Star potential—and Simmons.

However, the Pacers aren’t the only team who have reported interest in Simmons, with the Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angles Clippers, and more rumored to be engaged with Philadelphia as well.

LeVert is a recent addition for Indiana, getting sent that way from the Brooklyn Nets following the multi-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets and Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets.

Last season, LeVert missed time after a medical with the team discovered that he had a cancerous mass on his kidney that needed surgery. Following the surgery, LeVert managed to play in 35 games for Indiana with averages of 20.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.

Simmons himself had a strong regular season in Philadelphia, being named to his third All-Star game while averaging 14.3 points, 6.9 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Until he is traded, Simmons is refusing to play for the 76ers and was not present for the team’s opening preseason game on Monday night.

The post REPORT: Sixers Discussing Potential Simmons-LeVert Trade with Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

A league source said the Timberwolves, Pacers, Cavaliers, Pistons, Raptors and Spurs are still inquiring about Ben Simmons’ availability.

Simmons vs. Sixers: An inside look at a messy NBA divorce https://t.co/pF1YNcWHBK via @phillyinquirer

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) October 2, 2021

The Minnesota Timberwolves, who are reportedly unwilling to give up Karl Anthony-Towns or Anthony Edwards in any deal for Simmons, as well as Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs have all reached out to the Sixers in hopes for a potential deal. There were earlier rumors about a deal with Golden State but Warriors owner Joe Lacob questioned Simmons’ fit on the team.

The next chapter of this ongoing story comes Monday, when the 76ers open up their preseason with a matchup against the Raptors. The team already has held $8.25 million of Simmons’ salary on October 1st. If Simmons misses Monday’s game, he faces a fine of roughly $227,000 and will continue for every game he is not present going forward.

Simmons averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game for the Sixers last year. His second place finish in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year voting showcased the two way talents that helped him make his third-straight All-Star appearance.

The post REPORT: Six Teams Have Inquired About the Availability of Ben Simmons appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pacers found that LeVert has a stress fracture in his back and will likely be out for the preseason.

However, Wojnarowski reports that there is optimism from the Pacers camp that this injury won’t cause LeVert to miss significant time, and he should return “sometime around the start of the season.

LeVert missed time last season after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Pacers when a medical revealed a cancerous lump in the guard’s kidney. Thankfully, he had successful surgery and returned to action for Indiana in March.

LeVert was traded to the Pacers in January as part of the multi-team trade that saw James Harden make his way to the Nets, Victor Oladipo make his way to the Houston Rockets and Jarrett Allen make his way to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

LeVert managed to get 35 games in for the Pacers before the end of the season, averaging 20.7 points, 4.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. In LeVert’s five-year career, he has played in 260 games, averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.

The post REPORT: Pacers Guard Caris LeVert Sustains Stress Fracture, Likely Out for Preseason appeared first on SLAM.

Just 25 years old, Sumner was set for a breakout season in his fourth year in the NBA. However, the former second-round pick unfortunately will have to wait a while until he’s able to get on-court action again. 

As first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Sumner tore his Achilles tendon during workouts on Thursday. 

Last season with the Pacers, Sumner had the best year of his career. He averaged 7.5 points per game while shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. 

Achilles injuries are brutal, but there’s still hope Sumner returns healthy next season and ready to take that next step. 

The post Pacers Lose Guard Edmond Sumner To Achilles Injury appeared first on SLAM.

The Pacers announced on Tuesday that T.J. Warren’s rehab was not going as planned, and as a result, he will be out indefinitely.

Warren is rehabbing from a fractured left foot suffered during last season. The Pacers report that the stress fracture is healing, but “not at the pace previously expected.”

Warren took to Twitter to let Pacers fans know that he is committed to doing the “rehab process right.”

Warren only played in four games for the Pacers last season before his foot injury ended his season, but in 2019-20 Warren played in 67 games and averaged 19.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Over his seven seasons in the NBA, Warren has averaged 15.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

The news comes at a difficult time for Indiana, with the start of training camp just three weeks away, beginning on Sept. 28.

The post T.J. Warren Rehab Delayed, Now Out Indefinitely appeared first on SLAM.

Jarreau originally played on the Miami Heat’s Summer League team and averaged a robust stat line of 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game in Las Vegas. His near triple double performance against the Atlanta Hawks showed his skillset as a playmaker.

With the uncertainty of what type of contract the Heat was going to offer (Exhibit 10 or two-way), Dejon took the safer offer from Indiana. If Jarreau makes the opening night roster, he’ll be eligible to spend 45 days with the Pacers during the season unless the team restructures the deal.

Jarreau finished his college career playing three seasons at the University of Houston after transferring from the University of Massachusetts. Jarreau was the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was named the 2021 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player when he helped lead Houston to the Final Four in Indianapolis.

By trading Aaron Holiday during the NBA Draft for the rights to the 22nd pick, Isaiah Jackson, the Pacers found themselves in need for another ball-handler behind Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. McConnell. With Caris LeVert and Edmond Sumner also considered as options, Jarreau could be getting valuable time in the G-League.

The post DeJon Jarreau Signs Two-Way Contract With the Indiana Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Indy Star, Lamb likely will begin the 2021-22 season with the Pacers but will be elsewhere before the end of the season. 

Indiana will reportedly look to trade Lamb once he proves he is fully recovered from his recent ACL injury. Since returning from that injury, he played in 36 games towards the end of the 2020-21 season and averaged 10.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest while shooting 40.6 percent from deep. 

At just 29 years old, Lamb still brings a lot to the table as a scorer. Depending on the Pacers’ asking price, he could be one of the more enticing players on the trade market throughout the regular season. 

The post Pacers Could Look To Move Jeremy Lamb During 2021-22 Season appeared first on SLAM.

However, over the next handful of days, the Pacers and Spurs would work towards a sign-and-trade deal that would mutually benefit both teams. 

In this deal, Indiana sent San Antonio a future second-round pick and the rights to swap second rounders in a future draft. In return, the sign-and-trade would allow the Pacers create a Traded Player Exception of approximately $7.4 million. 

The Spurs still get McDermott at the price they originally agreed upon, but gain draft capital in the process. The Pacers now can use this new TPE for flexibility in deals over the next year. 

This type of transaction has become more common this offseason, as we’ve seen many sign-and-trades be facilitated between teams to create these exceptions. 

The post Pacers Create Trade Exception In Doug McDermott Deal With Spurs appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski adds that the Wizards will trade forward Chandler Hutchinson and a 2022 second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs as the sign-and-trade expands to include the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Washington’s decision to trade for Dinwiddie comes on the heels of a blockbuster trade that saw them deal All-Star guard Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers late last week.

Dinwiddie, who averaged 20.6 points and 6.8 assists per game in his last fully healthy season, is a steady and efficient playmaker who may not put up the gaudy stat lines Westbrook has become known for but is more than capable of being the Wizards’ second option behind Bradley Beal.

And, in regards to Beal—who was said to be weighing his future with the franchise prior to the 2021 NBA Draft—Washington’s aggressive pursuit of one of the better point guards indicates their desire to keep the rising star in D.C.

After going clawing their way into the 2021 NBA Playoffs behind a 34-38 record and a career season from Beal, the Wizards have once again given themselves a chance to make a run to the postseason.

The post REPORT: Spencer Dinwiddie Acquired by Wizards in 5-Team Sign-and-Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Then later during the NBA Draft, it was announced that the Wizards dealt the first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers for point guard Aaron Holiday. The Pacers used that pick to draft University of Kentucky forward Isaiah Jackson.

On Twitter, Westbrook thanked his former team and the city of DC for their support.

I’m blessed to have been a part of such a stand up organization. It didn’t take long to make a home in DC, and I will forever be grateful and appreciative of my experience with the organization. Thank you! #thedistrict

— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) July 30, 2021

The Lakers now represent the fourth team in as many seasons for Westbrook. He is set to be the fifth former MVP to suit up for four NBA teams in four years or fewer, accompanying Bob McAdoo, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and Derrick Rose according to Elias Sports Bureau research.

The moment Russell Westbrook touches the floor for the Lakers, he will be the 5th former MVP to play for four different franchises in a span of four seasons or fewer joining Bob McAdoo, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Derrick Rose h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/NWAIK5FNF4

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 30, 2021

The post Los Angeles Lakers to Get Russell Westbrook in Multi-Team Deal appeared first on SLAM.

According to reports from Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, the Lakers “discussed” Kyle Kuzma and the No. 22 pick with the Indiana Pacers for the No. 13 pick and salary filler but were “turned down.”

Kuzma and the Lakers’ 22nd pick was also discussed with the Pacers. The talks centered around acquiring the 13th overall pick from Indiana and needed salary filler but was turned down, HoopsHype has learned.

J. Michael of the Indy Star confirmed the report due to the fact that TJ Warren was getting healthy and will be ready for next season.

This is accurate. TJ Warren is healthy so they declined Kuz. Lakers have been hustling to jump into the lottery to get ahead of the Wizards https://t.co/ozto9dFRAZ

— J. Michael (@ThisIsJMichael) July 27, 2021

It is unknown who the Pacers player would have been for a salary filler, however. Some believed it could have been Warren because the salaries matched, but that could be unlikely due to his performance in the NBA bubble in Orlando. Others believed it could be Jeremy Lamb, who Indiana is shopping around the NBA.

Kuzma averaged 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists a game for the Los Angeles Lakers this past season.

The post Lakers Reportedly Offered Kyle Kuzma, No. 22 Pick to Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Carlisle has agreed to sign a four-year, $29 million contract by the Indiana Pacers.

Carlisle spent 13 seasons in Dallas, accumulating a 555-478 record, and leading the Mavs to their first and only NBA championship in 2010-11.

Prior to his gig in Dallas, Carlisle was the head coach of the Pacers from 2003-04 to 2006-07. He boasted an 181-147 record, and led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2003-04.  

Carlisle stepped down from his role as head coach a day after it was announced longtime president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson was leaving the franchise. There’s were also reports that there was tension between Carlisle and the Mavs’ young superstar Luka Doncic.

However, Carlisle stated that Nelson’s departure and any potential conflict with Doncic was not the impetus for his resignation. 

Pacers are hiring Rick Carlisle as their new head coach, per @espn_macmahon

He was their coach from ’03-’07 pic.twitter.com/5VRor7WikW

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 24, 2021

“”You never want to get to a point where you ever feel like you’re overstaying your welcome, and I just felt like this is the right time,” Carlisle said Thursday. “I just have such great respect for [Mark Cuban] and everyone there, and I’m fortunate to move on to another great opportunity.”

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban also announced that he will not be seeking compensation for Carlisle’s departure (as Carlisle still had two years left on his contract with the Mavericks) as he did not want to interfere with Carlisle’s hiring process. 

Carlisle takes over a highly talented, but often injured, team in the Pacers.

Under Nate Bjorkgren, who was relieved of his duties as head coach after a disappointing 38-44 season, the team struggled to find a rhythm and was eliminated from the play-in tournament (the first time they missed the playoffs in five years).

However, Carlisle is still optimistic about the roster—which includes blossoming players such as Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, and Caris Levert—and is excited to try to replicate the magic he once found as a coach in 2010-11. 

“[General manager Kevin Pritchard] and I have talked extensively about the roster. I like their roster. It’s a team of skilled, unselfish guys that play hard. It’s always possible that moves could be made before the season, but I think Kevin and I are both very excited about getting the roster healthy and seeing what this team can be,” said Carlisle.

The post Rick Carlisle Agrees to Four-Year Deal to Become Next Pacers HC appeared first on SLAM.

After a tumultuous 34-38 season, the Pacers announced this morning that they have decided move on from the 45-year-old Bjorkgren.

The Indiana Pacers announced that Nate Bjorkgren will not be retained as the team’s head coach.

More info:https://t.co/2d2BIaO1W5

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 9, 2021

Indiana missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2014-2015 season under Bjorkgren, who replaced Nate McMillan (currently the interim head coach of the Atlanta Hawks) in Oct. 2020. The team’s six-year playoff streak was broken after the Pacers were trounced by the Washington Wizards, 142-115, in the NBA’s inaugural Play-In Tournament.

Reportedly, Pacers management met with Bjorkgren on Tuesday to discuss his future with the team and concluded the disconnect was too large between him and a veteran-packed locker room with playoff aspirations.

According to ESPN, the Pacer’s front office believed in Bjorkgren’s basketball mind and might have retained him if the organization was headed toward a rebuild. Instead, the front office remains committed to its young core of Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner to lead them toward Eastern Conference contention.

While a year ago, Indiana interviewed over 20 applicants for the position, they’ll most likely comb over that list once again while three other head-coaching positions have opened up in Portland, Boston and Orlando.

Bjorkgren only had one guaranteed year left on his original three-year contract that he signed after winning the 2019 NBA Finals with the Toronto Raptors as an assistant coach under Nick Nurse.

Before his pit stop in Toronto, Bjorkgren was an assistant coach and player development coordinator for the Phoenix Suns, and the head coach for two G League teams (the Iowa Energy and Bakersfield Jam; now named the Iowa Wolves and Motor City Cruise).

The post Nate Bjorkgren Out as Pacers Head Coach appeared first on SLAM.

While missing 22 of Indiana’s 69 games is likely the factor in his being left out of current consideration for defensive awards and accolades, Turner will get a consolation prize in winning the NBA’s blocked shot title over Rudy Gobert. 

The NBA announced that Turner will be recognized for the title even though he did not play in the required 70 percent of the games that are typically needed for someone to qualify as a statistical leader. For the record, Turner averaged 3.4 blocks per game in 47 games while Utah Jazz center, Rudy Gobert averaged 2.7 blocks per game in 71 games.

Here’s how it happened:

“By the NBA’s rule, Turner would have needed to appear in 51 games to qualify for the award, so he fell four games short. But if Turner had played in those four additional games to reach the minimum and didn’t even block a single shot, his average would have still been 3.1 per game—still well ahead of Gobert’s.“

There is a rule exception that gave Turner the title. For players that fall short of the game’s threshold, the NBA will figure out the number of additional games they would have needed to play to reach it. Since Turner fell four games short of 51 to automatically qualify, the League placed in four games of zero blocks. Then it divided his total number of blocks (159) by 51 instead of 47. Therefore, Turner averages 3.1 blocks per game, which is still more than Gobert’s 2.7 blocks—making him the regular-season blocks champion.

The rule exception has been around for years, which allows a player to be recognized as a stat champion if, quote, “the player would have led the league in the category had he played the required number of games with his current category total.”

This is the second time in the last three seasons that Turner has won the title.

The post Myles Turner Wins Blocked-Shot Title Over Rudy Gobert Per NBA Rule appeared first on SLAM.

Although OKC hasn’t been great recently, losing 17 of their last 18 games, this was rock bottom. First-year Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault was very straightforward postgame, calling the loss embarrassing. 

“It’s embarrassing. I’m not gonna try to spin that. We are still grateful to be playing basketball. Adversity tests the connection of the team. It tests everything, it squeezes you and it shows you who you are.”

The theme of the season for the Thunder under Daigneault has been to control what you can and learn from mistakes. He’s preached that you have to keep a clear mind and approach each day with a fresh outlook. After the loss on Saturday, Daigneault once again spoke on this. 

“I told the guys after the game, you gotta get off your feet, get mentally, physically and emotionally 0-0 tomorrow morning. It’s about turning the page and keeping the guys connected. Getting them back into the next moment and the next game, that is one we gotta flush.”

As they look to continue to increase their lottery odds, losing games shouldn’t be a concern for OKC. However, losses of this caliber are nothing but bad for the winning culture they’ve built over the past decade. 

The post Pacers Hand Thunder Worst Loss In Franchise History At 57 Points appeared first on SLAM.

Brissett joined the Pacers on a pair of 10-day contracts this April after being waived by the Toronto Raptors prior to the start of the 2020-21 season.

Considered an active defender with solid instincts and off-ball movement, Brissett has averaged 4.8 points per game this season while shooting .688 percent from the field and .571 percent from 3-point range.

With frontcourt pillars T.J. Warren, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner all currently sidelined, Brissett has a chance to play ample minutes for Indiana in the meantime. Brissett played a career-high 24 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, tallying 13 points and six rebounds while starting in place of Sabonis.

The post Pacers Sign Second-Year Pro Oshae Brissett to Three-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Pacers owners, Herb Simon, Steve Simon, and the Simon Family, would release a statement following Tuesday’s news:

“Pacers fans will remember Bobby ‘Slick’ Leonard as the spirit of our franchise. With a charisma, intensity, and wit to match his nickname, Slick made us champions. He was our biggest fan and our most loving critic, and he personified Pacers basketball for generations of Hoosier families. Most importantly, though, Slick and Nancy are our family, and his passing leaves an unfillable void in the hearts of everyone associated with this organization. We keep the entire Leonard family in our prayers, and we recognize and honor Slick for what he meant to our state both on and off the court.”

Leonard, who spent seven seasons in the NBA, is the Pacers’ winningest head coach with 529 career victories and three ABA championships. The ABA’s All-Time Coach, Leonard would spend 50 total seasons with the Pacers’ organization in multiple capacities, including 36 seasons as a broadcaster.

The Indiana native is considered one of the state’s “50 Greatest Players,” having been the first player enshrined in the Indiana University Sports Hall of Fame and eventually being inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

A banner with his name on it and “529” hangs in the rafters at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, with Leonard having been an affable man and a father figure in his time with the organization.

He and his wife, Nancy, have five children, 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The post Hall of Fame Head Coach, Bobby ‘Slick’ Leonard, Passes Away at 88 appeared first on SLAM.

Specified as “small left navicular stress fracture,” Warren originally underwent surgery for the injury on Feb. 5 after suffering the injury in just his fourth game of the season.

Warren, one of the outstanding performer’s during the NBA’s 2019-20 restart, hasn’t seen the court since playing against the Boston Celtics on Dec. 29.

After averaging a career-high 19.8 points per game last season (on an absurdly high .610 true shooting percentage), Warren will end his 2020-21 campaign with a scoring average of 15.5 points per game. He’s averaged 19.2 points per game on .510 percent shooting from the field and .374 percent from 3-point range since the 2017-18 season.

The 27-years-old, suffered a similar stress fracture injury in 2016 while with the Phoenix Suns but returned fully healthy for the following season.

The post T.J. Warren Ruled Out for Remainder of 2020-21 Season with Stress Fracture appeared first on SLAM.

However, to this point, they’re 19-23. On the outside looking in at the playoff hunt, their rocky road to the postseason, now appears as if it could be catalyst for another franchise-changing decision.

According to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the Pacers are listening to offers on 2017 Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and are “monitoring” All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis as well.

A highly intelligent player who improves every season, Brogdon has averaged a career-best 21.6 points per game in 2020-21 on a true shooting percentage of 56.3, to go along with 6.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. However, in his fifth NBA season at 28-years-old, there may be no better time to capitalize on his trade value than now.

Sabonis, will likely be more difficult to pry away, as the 24-year-old is already a two-time All-Star and one of the most skilled players in the league. Taken with the 11th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Sabonis is a averaging 20.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season.

The post Pacers to Consider Trading Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis appeared first on SLAM.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, LeVert is on track to return to the lineup in the second half of the season. The Pacers plan to be patient with him throughout his recovery, especially considering the uniqueness of the situation. While there’s no timetable for his return, it appears LeVert will be making his Pacers debut at some point in the regular season.

Prior to his trade and surgery, LeVert played in 12 games for the Nets to start the 2020-21 season and averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. Based on his versatile style of play, he should fit in well with the young core of Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner in Indiana. 

The Pacers are also still missing T.J. Warren, who was one of the most dominant players in last seasons’ bubble. While Warren is still out of the lineup at this point, LeVert will be a huge addition to the production and success of the team.

Even with a diminished roster for most of the season, Indiana is still 16-19, which is good for the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. When fully healthy, there’s no reason to think that the Pacers won’t climb back into the top portion of the East standings. 

The post Caris LeVert Set To Return In Second Half Of Season appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron, who finished with the highest vote count among fans, got the first pick in the draft and selected Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Team LeBron’s starting lineup for the game will consist of himself, Antetokounmpo, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic; all five of whom are or have been considered MVP candidates this season.

Meanwhile, Team LeBron’s bench will feature Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown, Los Angeles Clippers wing Paul George, Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.

Durant, opting for chemistry, selected Brooklyn Nets teammate Kyrie Irving with his first pick in the draft.

Team Durant’s starting lineup will feature Irving, Sixers center Joel Embiid, Clippers wing Kawhi Leonard, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal.

However, Durant won’t be playing in this season’s All-Star Game, as he’s currently recovering from a left hamstring injury. This circumstance will only fuel the perception, even from the Greek Freak, that Team LeBron is the overwhelming favorite to win.

Durant got the first pick of the reserves in the draft, and with that, he took another Nets teammate in James Harden (LeBron’s first reserve selection was Lillard).

The remainder of Durant’s reserves will be composed of Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (who replaced injured Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis), New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic.

The two members of the Jazz, Mitchell and Gobert, were the last two players taken in the draft (with Gobert being the final selection).

This became the source of some playful quips by LeBron.

Team Durant has the more inexperienced roster of the two teams, with Williamson, LaVine and Randle all playing in their first All-Star Games and Mitchell, Vucevic, Booker and Tatum playing in their second. with Durant unable to play, Harden is the player with the most All-Star Games under his belt, with this being his ninth appearance.

Team LeBron has only Brown playing in his first All-Star Game, and Sabonis, Gobert and Doncic are playing in their second. LeBron also has the most experienced non-captain in Paul, who is playing in his 11th All-Star Game.

In total, Team LeBron has a combined 66 All-Star appearances on their roster compared to Team Durant’s 39 total appearances.

The NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, March 7, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The game will be broadcast on TNT, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

The post LeBron James, Kevin Durant Select Their Squads For 2021 NBA All-Star Game appeared first on SLAM.

It didn’t take long for McConnell, as he checked into the game with 6:20 remaining in the first quarter. With 15.2 seconds remaining in the second quarter, he had set the record.

The previous single-half record was eight, and the NBA record for steals in a full game is 11, an accolade shared by Spurs’ Larry Kenon (Dec. 26, 1976) and Nets’ Kendall Gill (April 3, 1999).

TJ McConnell had NINE steals in the first half.

The NBA record for steals in a game is 11… (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/qWo6dmzcVd

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 4, 2021

Along with setting the record, McConnell stuffed the stat sheet and finished the game with 16 points, 13 assists and a franchise-best 10 steals to mark his second career triple-double. He became only the 11th player to record a triple-double with 10 steals and the first by a player coming off the bench (per NBA.com).

Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised McConnell for his all-around performance:

“McConnell earned it, he earned it tonight. He’s a pest all the time. He’s super competitive all the time.”

TJ McConnell tonight:

16 PTS
13 AST
10 STL (9 in 1st half, NBA record)
8-8 FG

He is the first player to record a triple-double with steals on 100% shooting since steals became official in 1973-74. pic.twitter.com/zv8LpTipAd

— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 4, 2021

The un-drafted six-year point guard prides himself on always being a team-first guy and says that he wasn’t focused solely on snagging steals. McConnell’s defensive effort, and offensive contributions, helped the Pacers come back from a 19-point deficit.

“I was just playing with our defensive principles and trying to help run the team, I wasn’t going out of my way to make steals,” McConnell said. “We kind of dug ourselves a hole, so I’m happiest about the win.”

McConnell and the Pacers will be back on the court tonight as they face off against the Nuggets.

The post T.J. McConnell Breaks NBA Record With Nine First-Half Steals appeared first on SLAM.

The three-point contest will be headlined by two former champions of the event, the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker. The remainder of the three-point contest will be made up by the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine, Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell and Boston Celtics’ duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. All six of the players competing in the three-point contest will also be playing in the All-Star Game.

The NBA skills challenge will have a first-time winner, as all six entrants have yet to win the event. Five of the six players competing will be playing in the All-Star Game, those are the Suns’ Chris Paul, Dallas Mavericks’ guard Luka Doncic, Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis, New York Knicks’ forward Julius Randle and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic. Portland Trailblazers’ forward Robert Covington is the lone participant in the skills challenge who will not feature in the All-Star Game.

That is in sharp contrast to the dunk contest participants, none of whom will be playing in the All-Star game and all of whom will be participating for the first time. The dunk contest features just three players this year, two rookies in Pacers’ Cassius Stanley and Knicks’ Obi Toppin, and the Trailblazers’ Anfernee Simons. The dunk contest has a star-studded cast of judges, all of which are former winners. Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown, Spud Webb, Josh Smith and Jason Richardson will be the five judging the event.

These events will take place on the same day as the All-Star Game, Sunday, March 7. The skills challenge and three-point contest will occur before the game, with the dunk contest being performed at halftime.

The post NBA Announces Participants For All-Star Skills Challenge, Three-Point And Dunk Contest appeared first on SLAM.

However, blocking shots isn’t everything when it comes to defense. Turner knows this all too well, after averaging a league-best 2.7 blocks per game in 2018-19 and not winning the award. 

He recently spoke to Eric Woodward of ESPN and talked about how there’s more to being a defensive specialist. 

“You can lead the league in shot-blocking and still not make an All-Defensive team.”

To Turner, it’s more about making an overall impact on that side of the floor and changing the outcome of the game. 

“When I come out there, defensively, I make a huge difference. I change games. Fourth quarter, that’s where I really lock in. I really feel like I’m able to push my team and I’ve won a lot of games with my defense, so just knowing that I have that and knowing that my teammates know that I’m back there and being able to have everybody’s back, it makes it easier for everybody.”

As good as Turner has been defensively, the Pacers have been a middle of the road team defensively overall. For Turner, continuing to evolve the team defense in Indiana will result in more wins as they look to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference once again. 

The post Myles Turner on His Defense: ‘I Change Games’ appeared first on SLAM.

Through his first five games of the season, Lamb has averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting .364 from deep. The timing of his return couldn’t be more perfect, as Victor Oladipo was traded to the Houston Rockets around the time Lamb made his debut. While the Pacers wait for LeVert to recover from a recent surgery to treat renal cell carcinoma of his left kidney, Lamb will be an excellent stopgap when it comes to scoring the ball.

Lamb recently made his first start of the season, showing just how impactful he has been on this Pacers roster. He’s already notched two games of 20+ points this season and has been instrumental in Indiana winning three of their last four games.

The post Jeremy Lamb Making Big Early Impact For Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

However, when Pacers team doctors discovered a small mass on his left kidney, the immediate concern became the Ohio native’s health. He’s now out indefinitely as he undergoes further testing to determine if the mass is cancerous, although Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard expects him to return to the court.

For his part, LeVert says that he “didn’t have any symptoms” and “was feeling 100 percent healthy” prior to last week’s blockbuster trade.

Nonetheless, with a family medical history that includes a father that passed away due to heart failure at 46-years-old and a mother with multiple sclerosis (MS), LeVert is well aware of the seriousness of the situation.

“So, in a way, this trade definitely showed and revealed what was going on in my body; so I’m definitely looking at it from that side and definitely humbled to know that this trade could’ve possibly saved me in the long run.”

LeVert, long seen as one of the most promising young players in the league, is averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game this season.

The post Caris LeVert: ‘This Trade Could’ve Saved Me In The Long Run’ appeared first on SLAM.

After being one of the most explosive scorers in the Orlando bubble, T.J. Warren seems to have cooled off. Indiana has an extremely solid core who will almost certainly lead them to a playoff appearance yet again.

For more information about the numbers behind our Heat Check series, hop over to our main Heat Check 2020-21 post.

Victor Oladipo	22.7p, 5.7r, 3.7a
Myles Turner	11.3p, 6.5r, 0.5a
Malcolm Brogdon	20.8p, 4.3r, 6.5a
Domantas Sabonis	21.8p, 11.0r, 7.3a
Doug McDermott	10.8p, 4.0r, 1.5a
Jalen Lecque	0.0p, 2.0r, 0.0a	–
T.J. McConnell	3.3p, 3.8r, 5.8a	–
Justin Holiday	9.0p, 2.8r, 0.8a	–
Aaron Holiday	6.0p, 2.0r, 1.8a
Kelan Martin	2.0p, 0.0r, 0.0a
T.J. Warren	15.5p, 3.5r, 1.3a
JaKarr Sampson	0.0p, 1.0r, 0.0a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check 2020-21: Indiana Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

We broke down the Pacers’ depth chart for the 2020-21 season below. We’ve also previously published a summary of the Pacers’ offseason.

Biggest Questions

• What version of Victor Oladipo will Indiana get? Prior to his leg injury, he was playing at nearly an MVP level. Entering a contract year, Oladipo will be highly motivated to have a great year.
• Is Myles Turner the center Indiana wants to utilize long-term? He’s a solid stretch big but has failed to take that next step. Is this the season he’s able to prove himself?

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Indiana Pacers: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

Frankly, the Pacers’ biggest offseason addition isn’t even a player. It’s new head coach Nate Bjorkgren, who replaces Nate McMillan.

Pacers Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Cassius Stanley: A lanky wing out of Duke University, Cassius Stanley has the tools to be a standout defender and a capable 3-point shooter at the next level. Those type of players have always been valuable and will remain so, giving Stanley the opportunity to carve out a long career.

• Kelan Martin: Kelan Martin is another player that stands out defensively, allowing the Indiana Pacers to sustain their dominant defense even without the defensive-minded Nate McMillan around.

Pacers Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• T.J. Leaf: T.J. Leaf has yet to pan out at the NBA level after a standout one-and-done season with UCLA. Projected to be (at the least) a stretch-four that could possibly play multiple positions, Leaf only averaged 8.7 minutes per game for the Pacers in his three seasons there, shooting a mediocre .341 percent from three.

• Alize Johnson: Alize Johnson, a second-round pick in 2018, has shown himself to be a superb rebounder at 6’7.” With his potential as a catch-and-shoot option (he shot .375 percent on such attempts last season) and defense, he could be a solid rotation player for the Toronto Raptors.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Indiana Pacers: Offseason Summary 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

According to Michael Marot of NBA.com, Warren has plantar fasciitis in his right foot and will be listed as “week to week.”

While a few missed preseason games are to be expected, the Pacers are “hopeful” that Warren will make a comeback by the time they face off against the Knicks in the season opener.

Warren averaged a career-high 19.8 points and shot 53.6% from the field last season. He was on fire in the bubble averaging 31.0 points six games and even dropped 53 points against the 76ers:

“He’s just a sneaky scorer and we’ve got to take advantage of that,” president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said, per the NBA.com. “And we’ve got to play him at the four. Last time, I checked when he played the four, he was nearly unstoppable. So I imagine he’ll play at the four some this year, too.”

The Pacers are also dealing with backup guard Brian Bowen II, who will miss six to eight weeks after suffering a partial groin tear.

The post TJ Warren Battling Foot Injury Before Season Opener appeared first on SLAM.

During his media availability with the kick off of training camp, Oladipo put these rumors to rest. According to Eric Woodyard of ESPN, Oladipo says he isn’t sure why he is being pinned as a guy who would request a trade. 

“I’ve been in the league for eight years now, this is my eighth year, and this is the first time anyone has accused me of anything like this.”

As he enters the final year of his contract, it will be interesting to see how things unfold. The Pacers have the ability to sign Oladipo to an extension or allow him to play out his deal and enter free agency next offseason.

The post Victor Oladipo Denies Asking Out of Indiana appeared first on SLAM.

Lecque was obtained by the Thunder as part of the Chris Paul trade less than a week ago and is the now third player from that deal to already be flipped.

Oklahoma City will get a chance to work with Leaf to get his career back on the right track while also obtaining even more draft capital. While in a rebuilding pattern, taking a chance on a guy like Leaf is something worth trying. The Pacers get a very young, athletic guard who has barely scratched the surface of his potential.

Last season in Indiana, Leaf averaged just 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in very limited action. Lecque on the other hand spent most of his time in the G League, producing 13.4 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds per contest for the Northern Arizona Suns. He was signed as an undrafted free agent prior to last season after skipping college to go straight to the NBA.

While this deal is small relative to some of the other moves around the league recently, it made sense for both parties.

The post Oklahoma City Swaps Jalen Lecque for Indiana’s T.J. Leaf appeared first on SLAM.

In 2019-20, Holiday averaged 8.3 points per game. He’ll return to the club on a deal worth $18 million through 2022-23.

Holiday joined his brother Aaron Holiday on the Pacers roster when he signed with the team in 2019 and the two will continue to play together heading forward.

Justin Holiday, now 31 years old, shot .405 for the Pacers last season in exactly 25 minutes per game.

The post Pacers, Justin Holiday Agree to Three-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

The Pacers are over the cap, it should be stated, so something would have to give if they intend to sign the former Butler product. It’s possible that the Celtics and Pacers work out a sign-and-trade deal as free agency progresses.

Charania also mentioned that it’s not impossible for Hayward to return to Boston either. He turned down a player option worth $34.5 million to remain with the team this season but could still sign a longer deal.

Hayward averaged 17.5 points per game in 2019-20, enjoying his best campaign as a pro since his All-Star season with the Utah Jazz in 2016-17.

The post Report: Gordon Hayward Wants to Sign in Indiana appeared first on SLAM.

McDermott will split time between the Grizzlies and the organization’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. He’ll join Killian Tillie out of Gonzaga, who is also expected to ink a two-way deal with the organization.

McDermott averaged 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his final season at Butler.

The post Grizzlies to Sign Sean McDermott to Two-Way Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Between Malcom Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis and T.J. Warren, the Pacers have found three players who can be key pieces of deep playoff runs. Now, Indiana must decide what to do about Oladipo’s contract extension and determine the best way to improve their offense in an abbreviated offseason.

Related: Full Indiana Pacers 2020 Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Pacers Draft Needs

Offense is the name of the game for the Pacers as they do their homework for the 2020 NBA Draft. Yet, with only a late second round pick, there’s not a high chance that they’ll find immediate help in that area.

Perhaps Indiana tries to make a draft night trade involving Myles Turner due to the rise of Sabonis; it’s possible that the Pacers can get a late first-round pick from such a move because of Turner’s age and abilities as a shot-blocker. In such a scenario, Indiana would be able to address their offensive needs as there are plenty of prospects who could add firepower in that draft range.

Indiana is one of those lucky teams that doesn’t have to worry about their depth, as only one rotation player — Justin Holiday — will become a free agent. However, they could look to replace Holiday in the draft, locating a respectable ‘3-and-D’ player in the second round.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

The post Indiana Pacers: 2020 NBA Draft Preview appeared first on SLAM.

One player who the Bucks have reportedly looked into is Victor Oladipo, reports The Ringer‘s Kevin O’Connor. Although, O’Connor notes that “at this point [a trade] seems unlikely.” Oladipo, 28, has one year left on his contract and is reportedly looking to sign a max deal.

Interested teams could view Oladipo in two ways. He could be acquired as a one-year rental for a deep playoff push, while also preserving 2021 cap space. Other teams might view him as a long-term piece and want to sign him to contract extension.

Whether it’s Victor Oladipo or someone else, the Bucks busy looking into ways to build upon their disappointing 2019-20 season.

The post Report: Bucks, Pacers Discussed Victor Oladipo Trade appeared first on SLAM.

According to Ian Begley of SNY, the idea of a four-year extension for around $80 million was discussed but talks didn’t progress much from there. While Oladipo looked like a potential max contract player during his first season with the team, it’s possible that Indiana doesn’t view him in quite that way any longer due to injury concern and a relative down year in 2019-20.

During the 2019 extension conversations, Oladipo was still recovering from injury and nowhere near ready to get back onto the court for game action. He didn’t make his debut last year until late January. When he did, he put up 14.5 points per game on .394 shooting.

Now entering the offseason before the final season of his current deal, the Pacers will have to decide whether they want to pick up extension talks to make him a cornerstone of the team for the future or trade him before he could walk in free agency next summer.

The post Victor Oladipo, Pacers Could Re-Visit Extension Talks appeared first on SLAM.

Bjorkgren has spent the past two seasons on Raptors head coach Nick Nurse’s staff. Prior to joining Nurse for the team’s 2019 title run, he was an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns.

The 45-year-old Iowan came up with Nurse and is the first assistant coach to win a title in both the NBA and the G League. The pair won together with the Iowa Energy in 2010-11.

Bjorkgren will stand alone in Indiana, however, getting his first opportunity as a head coach at the NBA level. He’ll inherit a roster that performed admirably in 2019-20 despite key injuries to players like Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

The Pacers’ vacancy was one of four head coaching vacancies in the NBA. With Bjorkgren soon to be locked in to the position, just three gigs remain (OKC, NO, Houston).

The post Pacers to Hire Nate Bjorkgren as Head Coach appeared first on SLAM.

In addition to a summary for each of the 30 teams (accessible in the link grid below), we’ve also tiered the top NBA free agents league-wide and published a general comparison of all teams’ cap space. Follow @SLAMnewswire on Twitter for constant offseason updates as we head into free agency.

Projected Roster Players

Projected Free Agents

Dead Money

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Exceptions Available

• Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception – $9,258,000
• Bi-Annual Exception – $3,623,000

Key Offseason Decisions

• The only roster decision is to keep T.J. McConnell for $3.5M or waive him for a savings of $2.5M. Everyone else is fully guaranteed without any options.
• The next decision is about how much of a barrier the luxury tax will be. The Pacers are closer than they usually are. If they re-sign Justin Holiday, Indiana will be pressed up against the tax.

Projected Team Salary

$138,721,641

Indiana’s immediate roster decisions are simple. They’ll probably guarantee T.J. McConnell because his role is worth a minimum of $3.5M. After that, it’s all about the luxury tax. The Pacers are only $10.3M under the tax. And that’s before re-signing Justin Holiday. Of course, if the team decides it’s time to swing a big trade, that could free up room under the tax. (@KeithSmithNBA)

Cap Space Forecast

-$29,581,641 (9^th out of 30). $10,310,717 under the Luxury Tax.

Team Salary Cap Outlooks

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Per Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Victor Oladipo is looking to ‘move on’ from the Pacers this offseason. This is somewhat surprising, as Oladipo went to college at Indiana University and has had some great moments in Indiana with the Pacers as well.

In his first year with the team back in the 2017-18 season, he broke out and made his first NBA All-Star Team, averaging 23.1 points per game. Since then, he’s played 55 games through two seasons due to injury.

After parting ways with their former head coach Nate McMillan, Indiana will have the chance to bring in a coach that Oladipo likes to convince him to stick around. He will make $21 million in the final year of his deal in the 2020-21 season, although he is eligible for extension this offseason.

How those extension negotiations go will be very telling for the Pacers. If it is clear that he has no interest in re-signing, perhaps you do trade him way for assets before he walks away for nothing after the upcoming season.

However, Oladipo’s trade value is the lowest it has been in a while. How much could the Pacers really get for a guy coming off of injury with an expiring contract? If they are forced to move Oladipo, the Pacers would find the most success sending him to a team that Oladipo would commit to re-signing with.

Weiss mentions that a potential trade for Victor Oladipo could be to the Boston Celtics for Gordon Hayward, who also will have one more season under contract if he opts into the final year of his deal, which seems likely.

He also said that Myles Turner may be in the same boat as Oladipo and could be wanting out this offseason. It will be a fascinating next few months for the Indiana Pacers to see how this all unfolds.

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Previously a candidate for several front-office positions, Billups is now focused on transitioning from the broadcast booth into coaching in the NBA.

Per Woj, the Pacers are considering Billups among a long list of potential candidates, which includes:

• Dave Joerger
• Becky Hammon (Spurs)
• Will Hardy (Spurs)
• Dan Craig (Heat)
• Chris Quinn (Heat)
• Jamahl Mosley (Mavs)
• Stephen Silas (Mavs)
• Darvin Ham (Bucks)
• Charles Lee (Bucks)
• Pat Delany (Magic)
• David Vanterpool (Wolves)
• Ime Udoka (Sixers)
• Jacque Vaughn (Nets)
• Nate Tibbetts (Blazers)

If Billups lands the Pacers’ head coaching position, he would join Steve Nash as another coach was hired this offseason without having pro coaching experience.

The Pacers recently fired coach Nate McMillian after signing him to a contract extension less than a month earlier.

The post Report: Chauncey Billups Candidate For Pacers Coaching Job appeared first on SLAM.

Another thing that has changed is the physicality which teams are allowed to play with. In the modern NBA, fouls are much more prevalent and teams aren’t allowed to bully their opponents on defense.

Reggie Miller, who is one of the better shooters in NBA history, spoke on this topic earlier this week. As an analyst for TNT, he gave his thoughts on a foul that was called during a Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat game.

“If this was in the 90’s,” Miller said, “[and] you couldn’t contest my shots, you had to go on the side of me, I’d average 45 points. I just don’t know how you contest shots nowadays.”

The league certainly has changed when it comes to the rulebook and what is considered a foul. Defenders are at a disadvantage with how many ways they could be called for a foul against jump shooters. To Miller’s point, this also allows shooters to get off more clean looks, therefore further pushing the league towards shooting more threes.

Miller averaged 18.2 points per game in his career on .395 from three-point range. While he likely wouldn’t average 45 points in the modern NBA, it would be interesting to see how him and other shooters from his decade would have performed if the game were officiated like it is today.

The post Reggie Miller on Modern NBA: ‘I’d Average 45 Points’ appeared first on SLAM.

McMillan had been the coach of the Pacers for four seasons and led the squad to four consecutive playoff appearances. Three of those playoff showings ended in four-game sweeps.

McMillan’s tenure with the team spanned the Paul George Era in Indiana to the team’s current one and the organization deserves credit for rebuilding a playoff contender on the fly despite significant adversity.

The team now features several building blocks for the future, particularly All-Stars Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo, as well as Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner.

Indiana will now seek out a replacement despite stiff competition on the open market. The Pacers are one of five teams in need of a new head coach.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pacers would be interested in Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni, should he be made available.

The post Pacers Fire Head Coach Nate McMillan appeared first on SLAM.

Despite an onslaught of injuries, including the loss of Victor Oladipo for the first half of the season and the more recent loss of All-Star Domantas Sabonis right in the thick of the final stretch of the season, the Pacers have clinched a fifth straight playoff berth.

McMillan has been in the head coach’s seat for four of those seasons and was an assistant with the team prior. His overall .571 regular season win percentage as the lead coach comes despite turnover on the roster, most notably the trade that sent Paul George from Indiana to Oklahoma in exchange for Oladipo and Sabonis after his first year on the job.

The Pacers are currently fifth in the East but could finish anywhere between the No. 4 and No. 6 seeds. The team’s success in the bubble wouldn’t have impacted the organization’s decision to extend his contract according to the Indy Star.

Prior to the extension, McMillan’s contract was set to expire at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

The post Pacers Announce Nate McMillan Extension appeared first on SLAM.

A two-week timetable would mean that Sabonis’ progress would be gauged on Aug. 8. Considering that the seeding round only runs through Aug. 19, it’s very possible that he misses the entire final eight regular season games.

At this stage in the process, Sabonis hasn’t been ruled out for the season, however. It’s of course possible that Sabonis returns to the bubble and passes through the required quarantine in time to see some action in the playoffs.

The Pacers sit in the No. 6 seed in the East thanks in no small part to the 18.5 points and 12.4 rebounds per game Sabonis chipped in. Any long-term absence of Sabonis will thrust Myles Turner into a larger role. Turner put up 15 and 8 in the team’s Sunday exhibition.

The post Domantas Sabonis Out Indefinitely, Will Be Re-Evaluated in Week or Two appeared first on SLAM.

Not only is Oladipo hoping to return to their court depending on how his body feels, now J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star reports that he’s expected to suit up for the squad in their pre-restart scrimmages.

Oladipo missed a year of action with the quad injury that he suffered in the 2018-19 campaign and he only returned to the court in January.

While the playoff-bound Pacers would certainly benefit from one of their chief offensive option, it’s no surprise that the guard is approaching the unprecedented return to play with caution.

Oladipo is currently set to be a free agent in the 2021 offseason.

The post Victor Oladipo Changes Course, Trying to Play in Restart appeared first on SLAM.

Oladipo had only seen action for the Pacers in 13 games this season after making his season debut in late January. That didn’t stop Indiana from establishing itself as a force in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers currently hold the No. 5 seed in their conference.

The loss of Oladipo is a significant one for the team nonetheless. Oladipo is just two seasons removed from averaging 23.1 points per game for the Pacers.

Oladipo will forfeit a projected sum of $3M, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, but the decision could be a wise one for the former Hoosier given that he’ll be eligible to sign a contract extension come October.

Related: The complete list of NBA players opting out of Disney World games

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