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I was just poking around on NBA.com and found their post-game "notebooks." I noticed this quote in their coverage of the win over the Twolves.

NOTABLE: Pacers guard Brandon Rush, who had several productive stretches early in the season under O'Brien, is off the injury report after missing two weeks with a sprained right ankle. Vogel said while Rush is healthy the rotation likely won't change unless something changes to give him reason to alter the lineup. . . .

I had assumed that Rush was still nursing his injury a bit and just wasn't ready, but maybe not. I hadn't seen anything else about his readiness. Dahntay Jones has been surprisingly effective while Rush was out (arguably winning this Twolves game for us). Still, I view Rush as more effective than Jones on both ends of the floor. He's not as aggressive offensively, but he's a far better shooter. Rush's lack of focus can be frustrating, but is he really out of the rotation entirely? Maybe Vogel is doing some motivating of his own, or maybe this is Bird's guidance on how to handle Rush since Bird said similar things during the preseason and even went so far as to take his time picking up Rush's option.

I think we'll see him in there again. It's just tough. Who do you remove from the rotation? Dahntay? Dunleavy? George? I think ultimately, it'll be Dunleavy sitting, but only if Rush can prove he can pick up the rebounding slack. Dunleavy is one of the biggest reasons we continue to dominate the glass.

There's an indystar article on this too (sorry, I'm not in Indy so I miss this stuff).

Rush said Vogel was direct about his current role.

"He told me to be patient and whoever is not playing well, he won't have a problem subbing me in for them," Rush said. "My time will come again. I'm not worried about it."

Dammit, Brandon, worry about it. That's your biggest problem.

I think it's confidence, not complacency. He understands what he needs to do. He has been a boost to this team when he's played, and he hasn't shown any complacency pre-injury.

it's hard to see both Rush and Dunleavy on the squad next year. Obie wanted to resign Mike but Obie's gone so who knows what Vogel or whoever follows Vogel will want. if there is a trade to be made this week, it's easy to see Rush in it.

I'm getting less and less excited as time goes on, but he seems to go hot and cold. Keep it cheap and he'll be good for a few years, even just as a perimeter defender and spot up shooter, and we know he has more than that.

Miller4ever wrote:I think it's confidence, not complacency. He understands what he needs to do. He has been a boost to this team when he's played, and he hasn't shown any complacency pre-injury.

Yeah. I think he's saying "I'll get my chance to prove I deserve to be out there" not "I'll get my chance to do cartwheels all day" or anything like that.

Nobody doubts Rush's ability, there are times he flatout plays like a phenom, and there are times he just seems to be going through the motions.

His stellar play to begin the season led to our decent start. When he crashed, we crashed. Now that Paul George has started to contribute, we should definitely see if Brandon has any trade value.

I'm pretty down on Rush at the moment. I like what he brings, especially the perimeter defense, but his play before he went out was a big reason Indy had such a bad run prior to JOB leaving. I wouldn't be surprised, or even disappointed, if he is included in a trade in a week or so.

I think if we are going to lose a wing I'd rather lose Dun.
His value may be higher and his contribution will more (and likely not less) be replaced by PG.

I think we hold Rush until his value increases, or we see that Lance can well cover an 6'5"- 6'8" aggressive scorer. There are a lot of those and they scan kill you.

I continue to be hopeful with Rush. He's had some good games this season and he has shown more assertiveness. His last good game was Dallas, and then there were a string of ineffectual ones, but he did shoot great percentages from deep. He is currently leading the team in 3P%.

jarryd3107 wrote:I'm pretty down on Rush at the moment. I like what he brings, especially the perimeter defense, but his play before he went out was a big reason Indy had such a bad run prior to JOB leaving. I wouldn't be surprised, or even disappointed, if he is included in a trade in a week or so.

That's how I feel. I think he's a good piece on a good basketball team. I think he's a good role player, but he'll never be a guy who can just take over a game for us to win. He's a shooter and when his shots are not sinking, his worth is very little to a team, essp. a bad team like ours who needs help from every position possible. Prior to his injury, his defense was also struggling, which made it hard to watch him play. I want to see him play under Vogel, but at the same time, as Jarryd said, i wouldn't mind if he was including in some kind of package either now or at the draft.

were I Bird, I'd try to move Mike now to open PT for Rush and George. might cost us some games and even the playoff spot but I think it would be better in the long run.

Wizop wrote:were I Bird, I'd try to move Mike now to open PT for Rush and George. might cost us some games and even the playoff spot but I think it would be better in the long run.

Agreed. I'd also look at something where we move Foster to some other playoff contender for a young PF/C type player that's a borderline prospect, such as Omer Asik, Hasheem Thabeet, DJ White, BJ Mullens, Mareese Speights, Robin Lopez, Jason Thompson, or hell....even Yi.

I think we just need to see what else is out there to long-term be another one of those bodies in the front court with Hibbert and hopefully Hans/McRoberts.

would you trade Rush and Solo for Thabeet? it's legal. I just posted a message on the trade board pondering that very issue. I can see Thabeet and Roy splitting time. I know Roy would cheer Thabeet on. would it work the other way too?

Is there a team with a young backup big who might look to save money next season? Because if there is, you might have found where a Foster trade could work for us.

Foster and Solo for Speights and Kapono(waived) could work.

I'd trade Dunleavy for anything that doesn't cost us money next season.

Indy2thaWindy wrote:Is there a team with a young backup big who might look to save money next season? Because if there is, you might have found where a Foster trade could work for us.

Washington's McGee balances with just Solo. I'd personally rather keep Jeff and move TJ or Dunleavy. they're all in similar salary range so most trades that work with one of them should work with another.

Wizop wrote:

Indy2thaWindy wrote:Is there a team with a young backup big who might look to save money next season? Because if there is, you might have found where a Foster trade could work for us.

Washington's McGee balances with just Solo. I'd personally rather keep Jeff and move TJ or Dunleavy. they're all in similar salary range so most trades that work with one of them should work with another.

I doubt Washington is looking to move him. I'm sure they want to trade Blatche, but I want nothing to do with that.

I'd bring in Speights over Blatche.

Depending on the market, Blatche might be an option, I think I saw where he'll make 5.6 next year. That is reasonable for what he brings to the table, he is paid about right. If McRoberts receives 3.5-4 mill/per, I think I'd rather pay the extra 1.5-2 mill per for Blatche.

Boneman2 wrote:I'd bring in Speights over Blatche.

Depending on the market, Blatche might be an option, I think I saw where he'll make 5.6 next year. That is reasonable for what he brings to the table, he is paid about right. If McRoberts receives 3.5-4 mill/per, I think I'd rather pay the extra 1.5-2 mill per for Blatche.

I wouldn't trade for Blatche ever. He's not good enough to deal with all the headaches he brings.