HoopsHype.com Rumors

Indiana Pacers

Visit the HoopsHype Forums to discuss the latest news and rumors in the NBA.

» Tuesday, May 21 2013

Among the immediate concerns for the Indiana Pacers heading into the Eastern Conference finals against Miami is the state of David West's right calf. One of the longer-term worries, though, is West's forthcoming free agency. The Pacers' veteran leader openly loves his situation in Indiana, which certainly gives Indy justified cause for optimism when it comes to re-signing the 32-year-old this summer. Yet the whispers are already swirling that Chris Paul's Los Angeles Clippers, in particular, are going to make a hard run at West in the offseason. ESPN.com

Indy will certainly have the ability to pay West more to convince its locker-room sage to stay, given that the Clips would presumably have to structure an offer with the $5.15 million midlevel exception available to non-tax teams. But you have to figure that the former Hornet -- who rose to All-Star prominence playing alongside CP3 -- is going to want to hear the details of a proposal pitching a reunion with his old point guard ... as long as Paul himself, of course, has decided to stay. If Paul re-signs with the Clips as most league insiders continue to expect, L.A. will then be seeking to add the final piece or two to cement itself as a contender with some staying power. ESPN.com

 

» Monday, May 20 2013

And some sources are quick to suggest it’s not just a matter of finalizing a contract with the 43-year-old Ujiri, whose contract with the Nuggets expires this year. New MLSE chief executive officer Tim Leiweke, who will make the final decision on Colangelo’s replacement, may be looking to make an even bigger splash with his first hire on the job. However, the list of potential candidates doesn’t suggest there’s going to be much of a “wow” factor to the new front office addition. The only other outside names that have been mentioned privately in NBA circles are Indiana GM Kevin Pritchard and Troy Weaver of the Oklahoma City Thunder, both solid front office personnel but hardly the kind of ‘rock star’ hire many expected Leiweke would be able to pull off. Toronto Star

Frank Vogel said Monday that he has great respect for LeBron James and the Miami Heat, but as for James' perception that the Indiana Pacers coach considers Miami "just another team," he said the Heat superstar is mistaken. "Sorry, sports world, the words 'just another team' never came out of my mouth. Great respect for LBJ and the champs. Looking forward to [a] great series," Vogel said Monday, according to NBA.com. ESPN.com

ABC is really hurting without the benefit of the Miami Heat on their airwaves. This past weekend, ratings for the Spurs-Warriors and Knicks-Pacers games suffered sharp declines. Sunday's San Antonio-Golden State matchup drew a 3.4 rating and 5.3 million viewers, down 29% in ratings and 30% in viewers from last year's Heat-Pacers game and 36% and 40% from 2011's Lakers-Mavericks matchup. The Knicks and Pacers didn't fare any better on Saturday evening, drawing similar marks of a 3.5 rating and 5.3 million viewers, down 29% and 35% from Heat-Celtcs in 2011 (with no comparable game last year). Awful Announcing

 

» Sunday, May 19 2013

"We're very confident," James said. "We'll be ready for them. We don't need bulletin board material. We've heard everything, we've seen everything. But I would say we're not just another team, though." ESPN.com

Following the Pacers' 106-99 victory Saturday night over the New York Knicks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse that pushed them into this best-of-seven series, Vogel, with his daughters by his side, seemingly offered an innocuous comment about this next step. "Oh, it's exciting," he said. "But this is not about getting back at Miami. You're in the final four, you're competing for a championship, you're competing for a championship. And they're just the next team that's in our way. And that's how we're approaching it." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Two days ago he was a non-factor, hitting just 1-of-7 shots in a loss at Madison Square Garden that threatened to shift the momentum of the series. But here was Lance Stephenson, all 22 years of him, dominating one of the most important – and best – games ever played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Here was Lance Stephenson, becoming the fifth starter to lead the team in scoring in this series with a career-high 25 points, and adding 10 rebounds and zero turnovers in his 34 minutes. Here was Lance Stephenson, playing an essential and fearless role as the Pacers advanced past New York to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004, back when he was a 13-year-old kid on the playgrounds of Brooklyn and merely dreaming of playing in the NBA. Here was Lance Stephenson, screaming at the top of his lungs and pointing at the fans who were screaming at the top of their lungs as the final seconds wound down on his Broadway-worthy performance. “This is the best game of my life,” he said in an interview before leaving the court. NBA.com

 

Any rumor missing? E-mail us at   hoopshype@hoopshype.com.