Indiana Pacers Blog – Page 55 – NBA Blog

Pacers sign second-round rookie Lance Stephenson

The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have signed second-round draft pick Lance Stephenson to a multi-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Stephenson, a 6-5, 210-pound guard, was the 40th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft.

The 2010 Big East Rookie of the Year from Cincinnati recently played for the Pacers’ summer league team in Orlando where in four games he was the Pacers’ second-leading scorer at 14.8 ppg.

He also led the eight-team Orlando summer league in field goal percentage at .733 (22-of-30) of those players with 10 or more field goal attempts, earning all-league honorable mention honors.

Pacers getting $33.5 million to stay in Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Star reports:

The Indiana Pacers are staying in Indianapolis, but it will cost taxpayers at least $33.5 million over the next three years.

The city and the Pacers are expected today to announce an agreement hailed by some as an important step in protecting the financial state of the city but criticized by others as a multimillion-dollar bailout of a professional sports team and its billionaire owner…

Under the terms, control of Conseco Fieldhouse — and revenues from all events there — will remain with the team, but unlike the current contract, the city will chip in $10 million per year for fieldhouse operations for the next three years. The city also will pay at least $3.5 million for capital improvements at the fieldhouse, an amount that has the potential to increase by up to $4.7 million.

In exchange, the Pacers must stay in Indianapolis through the 2012-13 basketball season or pay back the entire $30 million. The team also would be on the hook for a portion of that $30 million if it left before its contract expired in 2019.

Pacers still unsettled at Conseco

The AP reports:

The Indiana Pacers still are renegotiating the team’s lease of Conseco Fieldhouse with a Wednesday deadline approaching…

The CIB owns Conseco Fieldhouse, where the Pacers play home games and have been paying $15 million per year in operating costs. The team is approaching an option period in the lease, and the CIB has said the team could move, be sold or shut down if a resolution isn’t reached…

Team president of basketball operations Larry Bird has said he has received calls from people who want to move the team, though team owner Herb Simon has maintained that he wants the team to remain in Indiana.

Grizzlies statement on Zach Randolph involvement in drug investigation

The Memphis Grizzlies released the following statement today from Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Chris Wallace, regarding media reports about forward Zach Randolph being implicated in an Indianapolis drug investigation.

“Since Zach Randolph joined this organization, he has been an active member of the Memphis community and embraced our core values of hard work and leadership. These qualities helped him develop into an NBA All-Star this season and guided one of the NBA’s youngest teams to a 16-game improvement.

“Zach’s continued commitment to the team has been evident the last couple of weeks as he’s been working out with members of our staff on the West Coast.

“Due to the ongoing police investigation, we do not feel it would be appropriate to comment further. Unless some other information surfaces, Zach remains a valued member of the Grizzlies family and Memphis community.”

Zach Randolph implicated in Indiana drug bust

My Fox Memphis reports:

Memphis Grizzlies standout Zach Randolph has been implicated in an Indianapolis drug investigation. A probable cause affidavit has a police informant indentifying Randolph as a major marijuana supplier in Indianapolis.

A stake out on a suspected drug house 2 weeks ago led to 32 year old Arthur Boyd being pulled over in a Cadillac Escalade. The vehicle had marijuana and ammunition inside, and was registered to Randolph.

A.J. Price injures knee in charity game

Indiana Pacers guard A.J. Price injured his left knee in a charity basketball game Saturday night in New York.

The extent of the injury has not been determined and Price will be examined by Pacers team doctors Monday afternoon in Indianapolis.

The Pacers finished the 2009-10 regular season with a 32-50 record, which was 10th best in the Eastern conference.

For the season, Price played 15.4 minutes per game, averaging 7.3 points and 1.9 assists.

Wizards win first pick in 2010 NBA Draft Lottery

The National Basketball Association announced tonight that the Washington Wizards received the first overall pick in the 2010 Draft during tonight’s Draft Lottery in Secaucus, NJ.

“This is a great night for our franchise and particularly for our fans,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “They have shown great support and passion during what has been a difficult stretch over the last two seasons, but they can celebrate tonight knowing that we’ve taken a big step towards building the team that they deserve.”

The Wizards, who had a 10.3% chance of landing the first pick in tonight’s Draft Lottery, have held the number one overall pick twice before in franchise history. They chose Walt Bellamy number one in 1961 and Kwame Brown with the top pick in 2001.

In addition to the number one pick, the Wizards own Cleveland’s first round selection (30th overall) as a result of a three-team deal on Feb. 17 and hold their own second round pick (35th overall).

Washington is totally rebuilding, and chances are they’ll go make John Wall the first overall selection.

The Philadelphia 76ers are likely to take Evan Turner second, playing him alongside Andre Iguodala.

At third, the Nets will probably go for a power forward. There are several good candidates worthy of going that high up.

Complete 2010 NBA Draft Lottery results are here.

Mark Jackson will not be next 76ers coach

Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

Mark Jackson, who seemed to be in the final stages of scheduling an interview with the 76ers for their coaching vacancy, has removed his name from consideration, according to his agent, Steve Kauffman.

Kauffman said Jackson “doesn’t feel it’s the right opportunity for him at this time.”

In the last week, Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski met with two candidates, Doug Collins and Avery Johnson, but has yet to formally meet with a third.

Before stepping out of the race, Jackson seemed poised to become Stefanski’s next official interview. According to an NBA source, Stefanski will formally meet with Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams on Monday.

Pacers fire Sam Perkins

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports (via blog):

The Pacers showed that the roster isn’t the only thing they want to change this offseason when they fired Sam Perkins as their vice president of player relations after two years on Friday.

General manager David Morway didn’t divulge why Perkins was fired, but he thanked him for his services.

Ron Artest still learning triangle offense

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports:

Ron Artest is still trying to pick up an offense that took Scottie Pippen a year and a half to learn in Chicago. How intricate is the triangle? Tex Winter once wrote a 320-page book about it.

Artest has been a problem spot in the Lakers’ offense, making only three of 19 from three-point range heading into Game 4.

On Saturday, he had five points and made two of nine shots in the Lakers’ 110-89 loss. He was 0 for 4 from three-point range.

Phil Jackson told Artest beforehand to pass more often, but the Lakers’ coach isn’t frustrated with himyet.

“He’s a naïve, innocent lamb,” Jackson said. “I think he’s mistaken in a lot of ways, put in the same category as Dennis Rodman. There couldn’t be a bigger disparity between people.”