The Indiana Pacers announced Saturday the re-signing of veteran forward/center Jeff Foster to a contract. The Pacers also announced the signing of free agent forward/center Jeff Pendergraph to a contract along with four NBA Development League players, Jarrid Famous, Tyren Johnson, Darnell Lazare and Matt Rogers. Per club policy no terms of the contracts.
The 6-11, 250-pound Foster, a free agent, has been with the Pacers his entire career. He has career averages of 4.9 points per game and 6.9 rebounds. Foster is among the Pacers’ top 10 in 11 different statistical categories.
“Jeff Foster has been and is the kind of player we want in our uniform,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “His work ethic, his competitiveness, his hustle, the spark he brings to a game and his locker room presence set an example for every player. We are elated to have him back.”
“This has been my home and I’m glad to be staying home,” said Foster. “Very few modern-day athletes have the opportunity to play their entire career in one city. I’m honored to have such a great opportunity in such a great city.”
Pendergraph, 6-9, 240 pounds out of Arizona State, was a second-round draft pick of the Sacramento Kings in the 2009 NBA Draft, but traded on draft night to Portland. As a rookie with the Blazers, he played 39 games with averages of 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. During the 2010 preseason, he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and was waived by the Blazers.
“We’re very happy to have Jeff on our team,” said Bird. “He’s got size, power and a competitiveness we’re looking for. After being out last season, he’s healthy, fit and ready to help us achieve our goals.”
Lazare comes from the Pacers’ D-League affiliate in Fort Wayne. The 6-8, 240-pound forward from Louisiana State has played in four games with averages of 19.2 points and 8 rebounds. Johnson, 6-8, 224, from Louisiana-Lafayette, appeared in seven games for Rio Grande with averages of 18.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. Famous is a 6-11, 240-center from South Florida, who played in six games for Iowa and was ninth in league scoring at 21 ppg and fourth in rebounding at 12.2. Rogers is a 6-11, 225-pound center who was in four games with Texas with averages of 9.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg.