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Trail Blazers sign Travis Diener

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent guard Travis Diener, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

“We’re very happy to have Travis on our roster,” said Pritchard. “He is a veteran point guard who will be a good complement to our existing backcourt.”

Diener (6-1, 175) holds career averages of 4.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 15.1 minutes in 174 games (21 starts) during his five NBA seasons with Orlando and Indiana.

The 28-year-old Diener played in four games for Indiana during the 2009-10 season, averaging 0.8 points, 0.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 6.3 minutes. He underwent surgery to repair an injury to his left big toe on Nov. 20.

After playing his first two NBA seasons in Orlando, Diener posted career highs of 6.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 20.5 minutes in 2007-08, his first of three seasons with Indiana.

A three-time All-Conference USA selection at Marquette University, Diener was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 38th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Diener becomes the 15th player on Portland’s roster and will wear No. 27.

Report: Blazers to sign Travis Diener

On Monday, the Indiana Pacers waived guard Travis Diener, who has been unhealthy most of the season. He played just four games, registering statistics too small to be worth posting.

But despite his lack of productivity, according to a report from Yahoo, the Portland Trail Blazers will sign Diener when he clears waiver.

The 6-1, 175-pound Diener has an NBA career average of 4.9 points and 2.5 assists per game, playing for the Pacers and Orlando Magic.

Pacers waive Travis Diener

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have waived guard Travis Diener.

The 6-1 Diener had played in just four games this season, largely due to an injury to the big toe on his left foot that required surgery. In his previous two seasons with the Pacers, Diener played in 121 games and averaged 5.4 points and 3.0 assists. He was signed as a free agent in 2007 after playing two years in Orlando.

“We want to thank Travis for his time with us,” said Pacers President of Basketball Larry Bird. “Unfortunately, he struggled with injuries while with us and that held him back. He’s a tough player who I’m sure will contribute somewhere in the NBA. We wish him the best.”

Pacers almost traded TJ Ford, Brandon Rush to Bobcats

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

T.J. Ford didn’t expect there was a possibility that he would be traded. Brandon Rush said he was “shocked” four times during a 40-second interview.

The two Indiana Pacers were caught off guard when they heard the team was working on a deal to send them to the Charlotte Bobcats for Gerald Henderson, Nazr Mohammed and D.J. Augustin on Thursday.
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The deal fell through when the Bobcats pulled out about 10 minutes before the trade deadline.

“I was definitely more shocked than anything,” Rush said. “I didn’t see it coming. Nobody told me anything about being on the trade block. It was more of a shock.”

Larry Bird wants Pacers fans to be patient

The AP reports:

Pacers president Larry Bird is urging fans to remain patient through the team’s struggles.

Indiana enters the All-Star break with an 18-34 record, well out of the playoff race after missing the postseason for the past three seasons. Last month, some players were openly wondering if their “weak-minded” defense could be righted and attendance woes have been a problem now for years, along with assorted off-the-court issues.

Yet Bird says the rebuilding phase that began when the Pacers traded Ron Artest in 2006 is on target, and will move into high gear after next season when the team gets salary cap space.

“We knew that we had to clean it out and rebuild it, and we knew we were going to go through some tough times,” Bird told The Associated Press this week. “Nobody likes to lose, and everybody wants to be a part of a winner. We think we’re on the right track to get there.”

Jeff Foster to have season-ending back surgery

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday that veteran forward/center Jeff Foster will undergo surgery after the All-Star break for continued lower back pain. He is expected to miss the remainder of the season, but is also expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp this fall.

The 6-11 Foster has played in 16 games this season, starting three, and averaged 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 points per game. The 10-year veteran is fourth in Pacers’ history in games-played for the franchise with 697.

T.J. Ford benched in Indiana

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

T.J. Ford’s contributions now are limited to competing hard in practice and supporting teammates during the game because O’Brien has no intention of playing him anytime soon. Ford hasn’t played in the past three games, including the 43-point loss at New York on Sunday.

“I’ve come to grips with it,” Ford said. “Initially, first hearing the news on game day (Saturday) was definitely tough. It was shocking. It’s a business.

“I’ve been dealing with a lot of adversity throughout my professional career, so you just use this as an experience.”

O’Brien is starting veteran Earl Watson because he is “as strong of a leader” as the Pacers have. Rookie A.J. Price is the backup. Price is effective at running the pick-and-roll. The Pacers also want to determine whether he fits into their plans because Watson and Travis Diener are free agents at the end of the season.

Roy Hibbert has great game in win over Magic

The AP reports:

Roy Hibbert has no problem displaying the lighter side of his personality off the court. However, he was all business against one of the NBA’s premier centers.

The 7-foot-2-inch Hibbert had a career-high 26 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 97-90 victory over the Orlando Magic and All-Star Dwight Howard last night in Indianapolis.

Hibbert added 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 assists for the Pacers (11-23), who have won two of three after losing eight straight. Howard played with foul trouble most of the night and finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Hibbert was able to use Howard’s two early fouls to his advantage.

He scored 12 of the Pacers’ 24 points in the first quarter and added six more in the second quarter when they led by as many as 10.

Things were going so well for Hibbert, he made two jumpers as the shot clock expired and the Magic threw several double-teams at him in the post.

Hibbert outscored Howard, Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter, who combined for 21. Howard finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out in 28 minutes.

T.J. Ford coming off bench

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

This was supposed to be the year Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. Ford didn’t need to worry about losing his starting job. Ford was supposed to be the playmaker who could get into the teeth of the defense to either get a layup or pass to an open teammate on the perimeter.

Instead, Ford is back to where he ended last season: on the bench serving as the backup.
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Ford will continue to back up starter Earl Watson for the foreseeable future.

“It’s tough,” Ford said. “The season definitely hasn’t gone the way I thought it would.”

Ford is on pace to average a career low in assists this season.

Jonathan Bender owes comeback to high-jumper

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

When recently signed Jonathan Bender finally makes his season debut for the Knicks, he’ll owe a lot to a former Olympic gold-medalist.

The 7-foot Bender, in his unorthodox comeback attempt, has used 1996 Olympic gold medalist Carl Austin as his coach. Austin also had wrecked his knee and returned to win the gold in Atlanta in the high jump.

Bender, 28, signed with the Knicks on Sunday but did not dress last night here. Mike D’Antoni backpedaled and said he probably won’t suit up until after Friday’s game vs. the Clippers.

Bender worked out with Austin for the last year in San Marco, Texas. Austin will come to New York to continue working with Bender, who played his last NBA game in November of 2005 before a chronic injury left him with no cartilage in his knee.