HoopsHype.com Rumors

Indiana Pacers small forward Danny Granger took a significant step toward returning to the lineup Monday. Granger didn’t report any significant problems from his first fullcourt contact practice on Sunday. “He said he felt really good,” Paces coach Frank Vogel said. “Couple of movements he felt like he was still getting his confidence back to explode. No pain or anything. Just normal recovering type of stuff in your first live action.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

The Pacers must decide if it's important for Granger to play before the All-Star break next weekend or wait until Feb. 20 against the New York Knicks. Granger is staying in Indianapolis over the break to continue working out. "I thought he looked great," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said about Granger's first extensive practice. "We have to see how his body responds, obviously. Have him go through another practice Tuesday and see where we're at. I think it could be helpful to get his feet wet on Wednesday, but we have to make sure he feels good." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

Maybe there is enough time before this month's trade deadline for Indiana to find a trade partner willing to gamble on Danny Granger. This much we do know, though: It's not going to be Houston. One source with knowledge of Houston's thinking left little doubt that recent reports portraying the Rockets as a potential suitor for Granger, as they were in the past long before James Harden showed up, were inaccurate. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Trade, Danny Granger 

Count the Houston Rockets among the teams who would happily help the Pacers move on from Granger, as one executive close to the situation in Indiana recently told HOOPSWORLD he thought Rockets GM Daryl Morey had it on his daily to-do list to call and ask the Pacers if they were ready to part with Granger yet. HoopsWorld

Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Trade, Danny Granger 

Internally, the Pacers have some doubts about the condition of Granger’s knee, and whether or not he will ever be able to sustain a high level of play for 82 games plus the playoffs. That, together with George’s phenomenal play, have them pondering whether it might not be best to cash Granger in now and turn the team over to George. With George coming off of the best two months of his career and steadily improving, that would seem to make a great deal of sense. HoopsWorld

Indiana Pacers, Trade, Danny Granger 

Houston is one team reported to have a keen eye on Indiana forward Danny Granger. The Pacers aren’t totally against keeping the 29-year-old forward, who has missed all of the season with a knee injury. But following the emergence of All-Star Paul George, they are taking and making exploratory calls. FOXSports Ohio

Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Trade, Danny Granger 

Pacers coach Frank Vogel says Danny Granger could be back on the court before the All-Star break in mid-February. Granger has been out all season with a patellar tendinosis in his left knee, but was cleared to participate in full contact practice for the first time Thursday. Vogel says he worked for 20 minutes in half-court sets. In early November, the Pacers said Granger could miss up to three months after getting an injection in his injured knee. Granger has been mostly quiet since the announcement. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

As for Granger, he's getting assurances that the team has no intention of trading him. But if the right scenario comes along that lands the Pacers a young talented power forward or point guard, I think there's a good chance he's gone by the deadline. ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Trade, Danny Granger 

Interesting comments recently from Indy's Paul George about how past Pacers teams all "had an ego to them" but how this one is "putting the team first." Hard to imagine that the Pacers could find a trade taker for Danny Granger in the next 24 days before the deadline, given that Granger (knee) has missed the entire season so far, but it seems safe to suggest the end of the Granger era in Indy is drawing closer and closer. ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Trade, Paul George, Danny Granger 

Steve Kyler: A couple of pre-game notes: Indiana Pacers looking forward to Danny Granger's return, will add more punch... Danny said he's getting close. Twitter @stevekylerNBA

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

Diabetes – and a sensible intake of fast food – were on Iguodala’s mind Monday in his role as an NBA ambassador for “Dribble to Stop Diabetes.” Along with Indiana’s Danny Granger and WNBA star Tamika Catchings, Iguodala is working with the American Diabetes Association and pharmaceutical company Sanofi US on an awareness campaign. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger 

Chad Ford: I fully expect that by the start of next season Granger will be wearing a different jersey. The challenge right now is how to bring him back, prove to teams he's still a pseudo-All-Star so that his trade value is high, and not disrupt what's happening in Indy. George is the future of the franchise and Granger's absence has given him the opportunity to emerge. They can't mess with that. But they don't want to sell Granger for pennies on the dollar. Lots of veteran teams would be interested in him if they are comfortable that he can stay healthy. Look for Golden State, Toronto, Houston, Dallas to all pursue. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Danny Granger 

How is your knee? Granger: It’s coming along. I’m feeling better, starting to do more things. I’m just listening to the medical staff and rehabbing at their direction. What has been the hardest part of the injury? Granger: Patience. You want in the worst way to speed things up and get back out there, but you can’t risk any setbacks. I miss the games, the competition, helping the team. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

Pacers forward Danny Granger hasn’t seen the floor for a regular season game this season, but he has increased his rehabilitation activity with treatment to strengthen his left knee. Coach Frank Vogel said Granger has done little on the court, except occasionally shooting on his own, which we have seen at the end of a few recent practices. The practice court has been a popular spot before home games. Paul George started it last month with his new pregame routine that includes a couple hundred shots and George Hill now follows George before they take the main court for warmups. In the above picture, Granger is shooting with a ball boy prior to the Pacers game Wednesday against the Wizards. At the other end, Hill was playing one-on-one against fellow point guard Ben Hansbrough. Pacers.com

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

They desperately want Paul George to show he can be their go-to guy so they can move Danny Granger, but George only shows it in fits and starts. He has the talent but maybe not the temperament. I see a leadership void with the Pacers. They are very up and down in their effort. CSNBayArea.com

Indiana Pacers, Trade, Paul George, Danny Granger 

"The contract? I really haven't thought about it," Hibbert said. "My life really hasn't changed that much since the contract happened." What has changed on the court for Hibbert is the way teams are guarding him. Every game, Pacers coach Frank Vogel calls an offensive play for Hibbert early in an attempt to get him going. Vogel said Hibbert is a target now because he was an All-Star last season. Also, the absence of Pacers forward Danny Granger (knee injury) allows defenses to double-team Hibbert easier in the post. Hibbert says the inconsistent Pacers (10-10) are also "getting every team's best" after advancing to the Eastern semifinals last season for the first time since 2005. "He's playing with physicality," Vogel said. "His shots are going in and out. We believe they are going to come." Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Frank Vogel 

Danny Granger’s injured knee must be feeling better. He attended the Indiana Pacers’ practice today without using crutches to walk. Granger did not speak to the media as the team prepared to depart for Los Angeles ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Lakers, but Pacers coach Frank Vogel stressed not getting to excited about his star forward’s apparent progress. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

Granger received an injection nearly a month ago to address patellar tendinosis. His return likely won’t be until early February. “He’s still a long ways away,” Vogel said of what has been described as a three-month recovery. “It doesn’t really change how I think.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

Yet a funny thing happened on his way to stardom. Danny Granger got hurt. All of a sudden there was this weight of expectations that never existed previously. Before Granger's injury, George was just a talented kid on a deep, veteran team. Now, he was supposed to be the man. At least that's what he thought. "I did," George acknowledged. "I really took it upon myself that I had to play well every night. I think that's something that kind of messed me up in the head a little bit because when I had moments to score I was kind of speeding myself up, just the anxiety that I had to knock that shot down. Nights like this when I can just be comfortable and let the game come to me is more my style of playing." SB Nation

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Danny Granger 

Walsh knows the Pacers can't replace Granger's points without a significant trade, and they're not in the position to make a move like that. "The guys people are talking about at the level of a Danny Granger, that's a major trade," Walsh said. "How are you going to get those players?" Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Trade, Danny Granger, Donnie Walsh