Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Veteran center Jeff Foster is expected to miss the next two weeks because of a high right ankle sprain, which he suffered in the first half of last Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat.

Foster’s injury leaves the Pacers (0-2) with a relatively inexperienced frontcourt, which has been abused by Atlanta’s Al Horford and Miami’s Jermaine O’Neal in the first two games.

Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said rookie Tyler Hansbrough could make his season debut Friday against the Washington Wizards as long as he has no setbacks in practice this week.

In the two regular season matchups Indiana has played, Foster only received 9.5 minutes per game, averaging just 1.0 points and 2.5 rebounds.

The Indiana Pacers announced Sunday they have picked up the options on second-year players Roy Hibbert and Brandon Rush.

Rush, a 6-6, 210-pound guard, entered the league in the 2008-09 season and averaged 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game.

Hibbert, a 7-2, 278-pound center, also began his NBA career last season and averaged 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 14.4 minutes per game.

Good NBA seats are expensive. Fans shelling out big money to sit near the court should expect a good view of the action.

But what about when players get off the bench and remain standing for a while? On the one hand, it’s nice to see guys cheer their teammates. On the other, these giants prevent fans from seeing what they paid to see.

The Cavs are one team with players who remained standing a lot, and now the league office has reportedly taken action.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

The NBA has issued a memo to its teams directing players on the bench to remain seated during games. Game officials will be keeping a closer eye and will issue faster warnings and possible technical fouls if not followed. Players are permitted to cheer, but standing during regular-game action and blocking the fans’ views apparently isn’t going to be allowed.

That goes for Tuesday night’s first preseason game at The Q, where the Cavs will host the Charlotte Bobcats in the first of eight practice games before the season opener.

The Cavs weren’t exactly thrilled that their custom has been legislated.

“It is hard to take that out of the game,” LeBron James said. “Part of the game is emotions, your teammates are all you have. That was part of the reason we played great basketball, because we cheered each other.”

I support the league protecting the paying fan’s view.

The AP reports: Rookie Taj Gibson had 19 points and nine rebounds to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers 104-95 on Friday night in the preseason opener for both teams. Derrick Rose added 17 points, and Luol Deng and John Salmons had 15 each for the Bulls. Danny Granger led the Pacers with 27 points in 26 minutes. Luther Head scored 14 points, and Brandon Rush scored all 13 of his points in the second half for Indiana. Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas left the game in the third quarter because of a concussion.

The Indiana Pacers today announced that they have exercised the team option to extend Coach Jim O’Brien’s contract for one additional year.

Pursuant to team policy, terms of contracts were not disclosed.

“We are very happy to get the option done on Jim’s contract,” said Larry Bird, President of Pacers Basketball Operations. “When I interviewed Jim for this job, he was committed to everything we want to do. We both feel we’re moving in the right direction.”

“I appreciate (owner) Herb (Simon) and Larry’s confidence as we move toward getting this franchise back to where it belongs,” said O’Brien. “I love Indianapolis and all of the fans in Indiana, and I remain committed to bringing a championship to the Indiana Pacers.”

The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have signed free agent Luther Head to a contract. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Head, a 6-3, 185-pound guard from Illinois, has played four seasons in the NBA with Houston and Miami. He has a career scoring average of 8.6 points with a career-high of 10.9 in 2006-07 with the Rockets. That same season, Head shot .441 from 3-point range, which was fourth in the NBA that season and third best in Rockets’ history. He is a career 39 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

“Luther is a guy we have had our eye on,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “He can shoot, he has speed and quickness and he will fit in well in our up-tempo game. I think he’s going to be a good addition to our basketball team.”

The AP reports: A spokesman says billionaire shopping mall magnate and Indiana Pacers co-owner Mel Simon has died at age 82. Simon Property Group spokesman Les Morris says Simon died Friday. Simon spent nearly 40 years leading what is now Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, the nation’s largest shopping mall company.

“Mel Simon was an extraordinary person, a giant of a man who contributed so much to our community and to our state,” said Pacers Sports & Entertainment President Jim Morris. “His kindness, generosity, creativity, warmth and genuine goodness is almost immeasurable. He’s one of the major reasons Indianapolis is a major league city in many different ways. The success of the Simon family has touched the lives and benefitted every single Hoosier.”

“Melvin was a very dear friend and golfing buddy,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “He is a true legend to this city, not only for the visible things that everyone sees each day, but because he was a man who cared about people. He is one of this country’s greatest success stories, a man who is a true example of the American Dream. As an owner of the Pacers, he was a joy to work for and to work with. But he wasn’t only an owner, he was the biggest and best Pacers fan. I will miss him and the Pacers’ family will miss him.”

“My heart is very heavy today, Mel Simon was a great owner but more importantly a loving and giving friend,” said former Pacers player Reggie Miller. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the Simon family.”

NBA Commissioner David Stern issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Indiana Pacers and Fever Owner Melvin Simon:

“The NBA family has lost one of its most successful and respected owners. More importantly, we have lost a great friend. Mel and Herb Simon purchased the Indiana Pacers in 1983, and under their stewardship the organization became a model franchise and one of the league’s most successful teams. Mel’s impact on the community, however, extended well beyond basketball. His social activism throughout the years earned many well-earned accolades. His influence, on and off the court, will be felt for a very long time. We extend our deepest sympathies to Mel’s wife Bren, their four children, and the entire Simon family.”

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday they have signed their second round draft pick (52nd pick overall) A.J. Price to a multi-year contract.

Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Price, a 6-2, 181-pound guard from the University of Connecticut, was named to the All-Big East Second Team, USBWA All-District First Team and Big East All-Tournament Team as a senior.

For his career, he had 1,284 career points in three seasons, ranking 25th all-time at Connecticut. He also handed out 469 career assists (4.7 apg), which ranks 9th in school history.

The Golden State Warriors have hired 13-year NBA veteran Calbert Cheaney as a Special Assistant, the team announced today.

In this role, Cheaney will work closely with the team’s players to assist with their overall personal and professional development, while also assisting the entire basketball operations staff with various functions, including pro player evaluation.  He will report to General Manager Larry Riley.

“We’re really fortunate to have an individual the caliber of Calbert Cheaney return to our organization as a member of our basketball operations staff,” said Riley. “Throughout his NBA career, Calbert was regarded as a consummate professional and one of the classiest individuals in the game.  We look forward to his contributions and the positive impact he will have on our players and our organization overall.”

Cheaney, 38, rejoins the Warriors after playing the final three seasons of his NBA career with the team (2003-04, 2004-05 & 2005-06), during which time he appeared in 176 games with Golden State.  Overall, the Evansville, IN, native played 13 seasons in the NBA, amassing career averages of 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 26.7 minutes in 825 regular-season games with Washington, Boston, Denver, Utah and Golden State. Prior to joining the NBA, Cheaney played four seasons at Indiana University, culminating in his being named College Player of the Year and winning both the Wooden and Naismith Awards following his senior season.  In 2003, he was inducted into the Indiana University Sports Hall of Fame.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to return to the Warriors’ organization, and look forward to contributing on many different levels,” said the 13-year NBA veteran. “My family and I had a great experience during my playing days in the Bay Area and we’re very excited about our return. I’ve always envisioned rejoining the NBA in some capacity following my playing career, and this is the perfect situation. The Warriors are a great organization with tremendous fan support, and an extremely talented young team.  I look forward to playing a role in our continued growth, both on and off the court.”

Since retiring from the NBA, Cheaney and his wife, Yvette, have resided in the Washington D.C. area with their two children, Julian and Sydney.

Read basketball fan comments and post your opinion in this forum topic.

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports: Jeff Foster put his college education on hold 10 years ago so he could focus on his NBA career after his senior season at Texas State University. Today in front of about 20 friends and family members, the Indiana Pacers center will receive a degree in applied arts and sciences at a ceremony in San Marcos, Texas. “I promised myself and I promised my family that I would get this finished,” said Foster, who was three classes shy of a degree when he left. “I dropped all my classes except one the final semester there because I had to get ready for the draft. Once we had kids, I really realized I needed to get this done.”

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has signed free agent center Primoz Brezec.

“We feel that Primoz will provide us with additional size and depth in the front court, but just as beneficial is the wealth of experience he brings to the team not only on the NBA level, but internationally as well,” Stefanski said.

Brezec (7-1, 255) has appeared in 321 games with 214 starts across seven NBA seasons with Indiana, Charlotte, Detroit and Toronto.  For his career, he has averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 19.0 minutes per game while shooting 50.0% from the floor and 70.6% from the line.

Last season, Brezec played for Lottomatica Virtus Roma of the Italian League.  He started the 2007-08 season with the Bobcats before being traded to the Pistons and then the Raptors.

Originally the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft by Indiana, Brezec played three seasons with the Pacers before being selected by Charlotte in the  2004 expansion draft.

Brezec’s best season came during the Bobcats inaugural campaign in 2004-05.  He averaged career highs of 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.2 and 0.76 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game while ranking 13th in the league with 3.1 offensive boards per game.

A member of the Slovenian National Team, Brezec has competed in the 2003 and 2005 FIBA European Championships and the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

InsideHoops.com editor says: The 76ers adding Primoz Brezec is like the Celtics adding Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, or Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. OK, but seriously, Brezec is a solid backup and he’s good enough to have stayed in the league this whole time, instead of going overseas like he did. He’s also a very good interview and is totally outspoken about just about anything.

Xinhua reports: Los Angeles Lakers star Ron Artest has donated his diamond watch to a high school student in Wuhan Wednesday to support his education. Zheng Fengyu, 15, is the captain of Wuhan NO.1 middle school’s basketball team. Ron played basketball with Zheng Wednesday afternoon, and gave the boy later his watch, which is worth 45,000 U.S. dollars (about 300,000 yuan), according to a report by local media.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Stories like this are awesome. The scene sounds like something from a movie. Wish we could have seen it happen.

Talented veteran Miami Heat big-man Jermaine O’Neal has been more known for injury than anything else these past few years. But he’s been working hard to change that. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports (via blog):

O’Neal, who has been a regular in the weight room and on the court at AmericanAirlines Arena the past two months, showing up about four times a week, is poised to take the next step, with eight weeks of work planned with noted Chicago trainer Tim Grover. Yes, the same Tim Grover who last summer so reinvigorated Dwyane Wade.

While appearances can be deceiving, O’Neal has impressed those in the weight room with his physique and appearance. Granted, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll ever be able to again explode off both knees.

It’s safe to say O’Neal will not ever return to being the player he once was, but there’s definite room for improvement over the level of his play the past few seasons, so good news that he’s working hard to make it happen.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed free agent guard Kevin Ollie to a contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced. We’ll post contract details later today, here.

“We are excited to welcome Kevin Ollie to Oklahoma City,” Presti said. “He brings experience, leadership and professionalism to our team as we continue to develop our roster on and off the floor.”

Ollie, 36, has appeared in 637 NBA games over 12 seasons, averaging 3.8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest with Dallas, Orlando, Sacramento, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Chicago, Indiana, Milwaukee, Seattle, Cleveland and Minnesota. Last season, the 6-2 guard, averaged 4.0 points 2.3 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 17.0 minutes in 50 games (21 starts) with the Timberwolves.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Ollie is inexpensive, veteran point guard depth. He can teach Russell Westbrook some tricks of the trade.

Read basketball fan discussion and share your own opinion in this forum topic.

The Indianapolis Star (Jeff Rabjohns) reports: Indiana Pacers first-round draft pick Tyler Hansbrough will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks due to a lingering shin injury from college, team officials said this morning. The 6-9, 250-pound forward won’t miss anything other than offseason conditioning and some individual drills. Training camp isn’t scheduled to start until late September. The Pacers said the shin injury occurred Hansbrough’s senior year at North Carolina when he led the Tar Heels to the NCAA title.

Read basketball fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have signed free agent forward Solomon Jones to a multi-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not released. We’ll post details about the deal later today.

Jones is a 6-10, 245-pound forward/center who played his first three seasons in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks. Jones was drafted out of South Florida by Atlanta in the second round (33rd pick overall) of the 2006 NBA draft. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds with the Hawks last season in just under 11 minutes a game.

“He’s a young, athletic player who has improved each year he has been in the league,” said Pacers President of Basketball Larry Bird. “He definitely can help hold down our interior defense and we believe he can be part of what we’re trying to do here.”

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have signed free-agent centre Rasho Nesterovic (for those of you who like to talk, it’s pronounced RAH-show Neh-STARE-oh-vitch). Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed. We’ll post contract info later today.

“Rasho brings us back a great veteran presence who has a familiarity with our coaching staff and several players. His leadership and personality will be great assets for this team,” said Bryan Colangelo, Raptors President and General Manager.

Nesterovic, 7-foot, 255 pounds, rejoins the Raptors following one campaign in Indiana with the Pacers. The 11-year NBA veteran played two seasons with Toronto (2006-08) averaging 6.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 20.9 minutes in 151 games. He appeared in 10 postseason contests with the Raptors averaging 4.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 14.8 minutes. He was originally acquired from San Antonio on June 21, 2006.

Nesterovic was a first-round selection (17th overall) by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1998. He signed with San Antonio as a free agent in the 2003 offseason. He has posted career averages of 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 22.8 minutes in 769 career games, 587 of them as a starter. In 64 postseason contests, he has averaged 4.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 17.2 minutes. He was a member of the Spurs’ 2005 NBA Championship team.

Nesterovic joined the Timberwolves on May 4, 1999 after he had finished his season with Virtus Kinder Bologna of the Italian League. He averaged 13.5 points, shooting .653 from the field, 6.2 rebounds and 1.42 blocks for Kinder Bologna.

InsideHoops.com editor says: He’s big and can bump into people.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

The Indianapolis Star (Mike Wells) reports: The Indiana Pacers shooting guard isn’t ready to pinpoint a date for his return from right knee surgery, but he has a “gut feeling” that he’ll be back sooner than the January date coach Jim O’Brien targeted last season. “We still have a ways to go and we don’t know how this thing is going to shake out, but I’m optimistic,” Dunleavy said. “January is a nice cushion for me. It takes all the pressure off, but I’m certainly working my tail off to get back a lot sooner than that.” Dunleavy, an iron man through his first six seasons, appeared in 18 games last season. He had surgery to remove a bone spur from his right patellar tendon and then had the tendon repaired in Colorado in March. Dunleavy also underwent a “minor” arthroscopic procedure on his left hip last month to clean up a “long-standing injury.”

The Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday they have signed veteran point guard Earl Watson to a multi-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not released. We’ll post contract info later today.

The 6-1 Watson is an eight-year veteran who played last season with Oklahoma City. He averaged 6.6 points and 5.8 assists per game for the Thunder and in his career averages 7.3 points and 4.6 assists per game. Watson attended UCLA and was a second-round pick (40th overall) of Seattle in the 2001 NBA Draft. He has also played with Memphis and Denver in addition to the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise.

“We’re very glad to have Earl as part of our team,” said Pacers President of Basketball Larry Bird. “I’ve been watching him for years. He’s a solid point guard that we know can help us on the defensive end.”

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday that a resolution has been reached between the team and guard Jamaal Tinsley, and as a result the grievance arbitration scheduled for next week has been canceled.

Tinsley will be waived by the Pacers Wednesday, and if he clears waivers, he will become a free agent. “This ends a very difficult period for all parties involved,” said Larry Bird, President of Basketball. “We are pleased to have this resolved.”

Pursuant to team policy, details of the resolution will not be disclosed. The team will have no further comment.

“Jamaal and I would like to thank the Pacers for working on a resolution to this and Jamaal and I are sorry things didn’t work out,” said Tinsley’s agent, Raymond Brothers. “We both wish the Pacers the best of luck in the future.”