Indiana Pacers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Spurs Sign Ben Moore To Two-Way Contract

November 20th, 2018 at 10:53am CST by Arthur Hill

NOVEMBER 20: The Spurs have officially signed Moore to a two-way deal, the team announced today in a press release.

NOVEMBER 17: The Spurs will sign former Pacers power forward Ben Moore to a two-way contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Indiana waived Moore two weeks ago to free up a roster spot. He re-signed with the team over the summer, agreeing to a partially guaranteed deal, but hadn’t appeared in any games this year. He got into two games last season as a two-way player. After going unclaimed on waivers, Moore returned to the Pacers’ organization with its G League affiliate in Fort Wayne.

The signing will fill the second two-way slot for San Antonio, which had been among a handful of NBA teams with an opening. Center/forward Drew Eubanks is the Spurs’ other two-way player.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/19/18

November 19th, 2018 at 8:11pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Here are Monday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

The Magic assigned rookie guard Melvin Frazier Jr. to Lakeland, the team’s PR department tweets. Frazier, a second-round selection, has appeared in two games with the Magic and three with Lakeland, where Frazier has averaged 7.3 PPG in 23.6 MPG. Lakeland plays the Austin Spurs on Tuesday.
The Pacers assigned center Ike Anigbogu to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, according to a team press release. The 2017 second-round pick has appeared in one game for the Pacers this season and four for the Mad Ants. He’s averaging 10.5 PPG and 10.0 RPG for the G league club.

Victor Oladipo To Miss At Least One Game

November 19th, 2018 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

Pacers guard Victor Oladipo will miss the team’s next game, but doesn’t view his right knee injury as serious, per J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). “A little sore, but I’m good,” Oladipo said.

Tyreke Evans Gaining Comfort In Offense

November 18th, 2018 at 5:46pm CST by Eric Spyropoulos

Still in the early stages of his first season with the Pacers, Tyreke Evans continues to find his groove and fit on the team. Evans posted his best game of the season in Indiana’s win on Friday, and has said that he is continuing to adjust to the offense and will look to be more assertive moving forward.

Signed this past offseason on a one-year deal, Evans serves as the Pacers’ sixth man, providing capable shooting and ball-handling in bench units. So far this season, Evans is averaging 11.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while knocking down 40 percent of his 3-pointers and playing 20.3 minutes per game.

The Pacers will continue to need Evans to step up alongside Victor Oladipo as they look to navigate the top of the Eastern Conference and cement themselves as true playoff contenders.

Ike Anigbogu Recalled From Fort Wayne

November 17th, 2018 at 2:29pm CST by clarkcrum

Nearly two weeks after being assigned to the G League, the Pacers have recalled center Ike Anigbogu back to the team, according to an official press release. Anigbogu has appeared in four games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Indiana’s G League affiliate, averaging 10.5 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Brandon Rush Working Out For Sixers?

November 14th, 2018 at 12:08pm CST by Luke Adams

12:08pm: Spears has since deleted his tweet about Rush’s Sixers workout, so it’s unclear whether or not that audition is on the team’s schedule for next week. Either way, it’s safe to say that Philadelphia will explore all its options when it comes to adding shooting to its roster.

12:03pm: Veteran NBA sharpshooter Brandon Rush has a workout lined up with the Sixers next week, a source tells Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (Twitter link). According to Spears, Rush suffered a broken thumb on September 10, but has since recovered from that injury.

A previous report had suggested that Rush was among a group of players who worked out for the Timberwolves on September 10, so the injury may have occurred during that session. Before breaking his thumb, the 33-year-old also drew some interest from the Pacers and Warriors, Spears reports.

Rush, the 13th overall pick back in 2008, has appeared in 481 career regular season games for the Pacers, Warriors, Jazz, and Timberwolves. While his overall career numbers – 6.8 PPG and 2.9 RPG in 22.0 MPG) – are modest, Rush has always been a reliable outside shooter, with a career .402 3PT%. He signed a 10-day contract with the Trail Blazers last season, but didn’t see the court and hasn’t played in an NBA game since the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

Having traded two of their strongest long-distance marksmen to Minnesota in their blockbuster deal for Jimmy Butler, the 76ers are in the market for shooting help and have an open roster spot. General manager Elton Brand said on Tuesday that Philadelphia will be patient and evaluate all its options for that roster opening, so I wouldn’t expect the club to immediately lock up Rush to a contract.

Free Agent Stock Watch 2019: Central Division

November 9th, 2018 at 9:02pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Every week, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents next offseason. We examine if those players’ stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we turn our attention to the Central Division:

Justin Holiday, Bulls 29, SG (Up) – Signed to a two-year, $9MM deal in 2017
Holiday is playing heavy minutes for the injury-riddled Bulls. His scoring average (12.0 PPG) is modest, given the amount of playing time he’s receiving, but he’s been solid from long range (38.9%) and rarely turns the ball over. His OBPM (Offensive Box Plus/Minus) is a career-best 1.7, according to Basketball Reference. Defensively, he leads the club in steals (1.6). Holiday probably won’t find a starting gig on the open market, but he’d be a solid second unit option on a playoff contender.

Rodney Hood, Cavaliers, 26, SG (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $3.47MM deal in 2018
Hood accepted the Cavaliers’ qualifying offer as a restricted free agent over the summer with the aim of landing a lucrative mult-year pact as an unrestricted FA next summer. Thus far, Hood hasn’t really stood out from the pack on a struggling team. With Kevin Love sidelined by a foot injury, Hood had an opportunity to be a bigger offensive force. Instead, his numbers have declined. He averaged 14.0 PPG in 27.7 MPG last month but has posted a 9.3 PPG average in 26.0 MPG through four November outings.

Stanley Johnson, Pistons, 22, SF (Down) – Signed to a four-year, $12.85MM deal in 2015
Johnson didn’t receive a rookie scale extension and he’ll be a restricted free agent if the Pistons extend a $5.3MM qualifying offer after the season. Right now, that’s a big if. Johnson lost his starting job to Glenn Robinson III after shooting 35.2% overall and 25.0% from deep while committing 16 turnovers in seven starts. The Pistons are currently looking at Johnson as a small ball power forward off the bench. He’s looked comfortable in that role, posting back-to-back double-digit games while shooting with more confidence.

Tyreke Evans, Pacers, 29, SG (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $12MM deal in 2018
Coming off a career year with the Grizzlies in which he averaged 19.3 PPG, Evans was expected to be one of the league’s premier sixth men. He’s still finding his way with a much more talented team, averaging 10.9 PPG, though he’s been fine beyond the arc (41.7%). In his last six games, Evans is averaging 10.0 PPG while shooting 38.2% from the field. Evans’ numbers should spike up but for now, he hasn’t done anything to make him more attractive on the open market than he was this summer.

Khris Middleton, Bucks, 27, SF (Up) – Signed to a five-year, $70MM deal in 2015
Middleton has a $13MM option on his contract for next season and it’s a foregone conclusion he’ll test the open market. His value continues to rise with his early-season performances. He’s the second-best player on a very good team, averaging 19.3 PPG and shooting a whopping 45.5% from long range. Throw in career bests in rebounding (5.2 per game) and assists (4.3) along with his solid defense and Middleton will be highly coveted in July.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Sabonis' Play Presents Pleasant Dilemma

November 9th, 2018 at 5:32pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis is off to a hot start and that presents a tricky dilemma for the front office, Zach Lowe of ESPN notes. Myles Turner signed a four-year, $72MM extension last month but Sabonis has thus far outplayed him. Statistics bear out that Indiana’s offense suffers when both are on the court, though Turner has a higher ceiling because of his 3-point shooting and rim protection, Lowe continues. Sabonis is eligible for an extension prior to the start of next season but it’s tough to pay big bucks for two players at the same position, Lowe adds.

Central Notes: Turner, Hill, Bucks, Sabonis

November 8th, 2018 at 8:59pm CST by JD Shaw

Pacers center Myles Turner has struggled since signing his contract extension with the team, averaging 11.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in 12 starts this season. He faced criticism after Wednesday’s game against Joel Embiid and the Sixers, only to have a teammate immediately jump to his defense.

“I think he shouldn’t concern himself with what people are saying or thinking,” Victor Oladipo said of Turner, according to Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star. “He’s just got to play within himself. He’ll figure it out. He’s still young. I’m not making no more excuses for him, but the truth of the matter is he’s just got to find it within himself.

“He’s perfectly fine,” Oladipo continued. “He’s going to find his groove, and then everybody’s going to be like, ‘Whoa, he’s playing great. So what do you think about him playing great?’

“Everybody’s so quick to judge someone when they don’t play well. But everybody’s not in here. Nobody is in his shoes. Nobody’s putting on the jersey he’s putting on. Nobody’s out there playing the game he’s playing. So you can’t really judge him. We have no right to. But people are going to anyway. Me, personally, I really don’t care what people think about him. I love him to death. His upside is huge, and he’s just going to continue to keep getting better. And when he figures it out, watch out.”

Turner is well-liked in the Pacers organization and is in his fourth season with the team. Despite struggling to effectively rebound, he remains an intriguing two-way player with plenty of room to grow in his NBA career.

Here are some other notes from the Northwest:

Cavaliers guard George Hill will miss approximately one to two weeks with a shoulder sprain, the team confirmed. Hill was evaluated at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health on Thursday, where he underwent an MRI that revealed the sprain. He will now undergo a period of treatment and rehabilitation.
Stephen Curry believes this season’s Bucks are similar to the Warriors in their first season without Mark Jackson. “They’re very similar to four years ago here,” Curry said, according to Mark Medina of the The Mercury News (Twitter link). “A change of scenery sometimes helps. You get a little boost of energy, a little shift in focus and perspective. And that little bit (of a) difference can unlock something. It’s still early. They’re taking care of business like they should. It’s important when you have that much potential to get off to a good start.”
Domantas Sabonis‘ solid play could shift the Pacers‘ rotation this season, Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star contends. Sabonis could work his way into the starting center position, which would force Myles Turner to either play off the bench or share the frontcourt with him.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/7/18

November 7th, 2018 at 9:50pm CST by Arthur Hill

Here are Wednesday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

The Pistons have sent forward Henry Ellenson and guard Khyri Thomas to their Grand Rapids affiliate, the team announced in an email. Both have played two games for the Drive this season.
The Grizzlies have recalled rookie guard Jevon Carter from their Memphis Hustle affiliate, according to a tweet from the team.
The Pacers announced that guard Edmond Sumner and forward Alize Johnson have been assigned to their affiliate in Fort Wayne. Both have seen action for Indiana this season, with Sumner appearing in five games and Johnson playing three.