Veteran no shoo-in to earn spot

[greenway84]

Veteran no shoo-in to earn spot
Croshere must outplay 1, maybe 2 players to make roster
By Mike Wells

A The Indiana Pacers and Austin Croshere were blunt with each other.

The Pacers let Croshere know he faced an uphill battle to return to the team that drafted him 11 years ago. Croshere told Pacers officials he didn't want to "waste" his time if he didn't have a shot to win a roster spot.


"I'm looking forward to the challenge," Croshere said Monday. "It's a team that fits my style of play. I think there's a need and obviously there's some management issues with some contracts that will have to play themselves out that I don't have a lot of control over. Hopefully if I prove I can help the team enough they'll be willing to do it."

The Pacers have 16 players under contract -- one more than the NBA allows.

They will have to release a player if they can't trade point guard Jamaal Tinsley by the time rosters have to be set Oct. 27. If the Pacers keep Tinsley, Croshere will have to beat two players to earn a spot.

Full article here:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/SPORTS04/809300384/1088/SPORTS04

[khensley308]

I'm excited to see how this will turn out. Hopefully Croshere can make the squad so we can get one of the "bad eggs" off the roster. He has a great locker room attitude and could really help Hibbert develop even though he is more of a perimeter player. I always thought that Croshere didn't get enough playing time under RC and when he did get pt he would play hard and usually do something positive. I think he would be a great veteran to add to a young team.

[Scoot McGroot]

I'm kind of at the point where I'd rather waive Daniels and keep an extra big body since I'm just kind of assuming that IF we can trade Tinsley, we're most likely going to get an overpaid PG/SG in return like a Mike James or Marcus Banks, thus filling out the PG rotation and probably allowing us to play Jack at the SG a bit more and thus filling out the SG/SF rotation with Dunleavy, Granger, Jack, Rush, and Williams.


I just don't see a ton of minutes for Daniels at all. I'd rather see Austin Croshere than Josh McRoberts (in theory, I don't really know if Cro has much gas left in the tank) simply because Cro has proven that he should be here, while McRoberts has an awful lot to prove in the NBA.

[coolweed]

Scoot,

Couldn't Golden State work out some sign and trade of Austin + for Tinsley+ ? I am guessing since his last contract was with them, it could be possible, but then wonder if the BYC would come into play? If so, maybe a trade for someone other than Tins. Say maybe McRoberts, Baston or Williams (not knowing the vet min).

If BYC does not come into play, then GS could sign to the VET min of $1,262,275 and trade for McRoberts and Graham.

Figured you of all people would know.

[Scoot McGroot]

Nope. His last contract is now with us. He's technically currently signed with us, but has to make the roster to guarantee his contract. There's nothing GS could do, especially since he was only signed to the veterans minimum contract and they have no more cap space, nor would they have Bird Rights to spend over the cap to S&T Croshere for Tinsley.