Pacers Request Waivers on Wilkins

Pacersike · Post #1 » by **Pacersike** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 7:56 pm

Why request, why not just waive him?

Poor guy. One day you are starting for a NBA team, the next day you are removed from the team.

Life can be a bitch. Best of luck to him!

Wizop · Post #2 » by **Wizop** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 8:02 pm

Bet they told him before start that he'd be waived today so his contract wouldn't be guaranteed.

Sent from my phone.

winter_mute_13 · Post #3 » by **winter_mute_13** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 9:25 pm

Kind of expected. Was that last start a favor to him, I wonder? He did well enough though. I hope a short-handed contender picks him up, he looks like he can still play in spurts.

Funny enough, I'd consider Wilkins' tenure here a success, despite my initial skepticism. He contributed some positive minutes with GR3 out, and hopefully taught the young guys a thing or two. And his roster spot didn't end up preventing the Pacers from adding another young guy either, since they kept another spot free for most of Wilkins' time here. So no harm, no foul.

Wizop · Post #4 » by **Wizop** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 9:31 pm

winter_mute_13 wrote:Kind of expected. Was that last start a favor to him, I wonder? .

I think it was a favor as they could have kept second unit intact by starting Poythress.

Sent from my phone.

Post #5 » by **boomershadow** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:05 am

Pacersike wrote:Why request, why not just waive him?

I'm not sure I understand the question.

Wizop · Post #6 » by **Wizop** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:15 am

boomershadow wrote:
Pacersike wrote:Why request, why not just waive him?

I'm not sure I understand the question.

confusion over terminology. "requested "

Sent from my phone.

SmashMouthRod · Post #7 » by **SmashMouthRod** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:42 am

GR3 is close. I read some where that he practiced this weekend and is ahead of schedule. This would make sense if Robinson is on the mend.

Post #8 » by **Jake0890** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 1:31 am

yeah, this smells like a return from injury thing. Seemed like a lot of the guys in the locker room respected him.

At least we'll see GRIII return soon, presumably to the starting lineup?

Post #9 » by **Nuntius** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 4:59 am

We let him know before yesterday's game. In fact, Wilkins learned that he was getting waived before he even knew he was starting.

Here's the relevant Agness tweet:

Read on Twitter

And here's one more:

Read on Twitter

Basically, we wanted to maintain cap and roster flexibility and we didn't want Damien's contract to become guaranteed.

Personally, I like Wilkins a lot (appreciated his contributions a lot when he played) so I feel kinda sad but I understand this move. Best of luck for the rest of your career, Damien. It would be awesome if we found a way to keep him around as a coaching/training staff member when he decides to retire. The team seems to like him.

Also, to the people wondering about GR3:

Read on Twitter

Ahead of schedule but not close to returning yet accroding to Nate.

We'll probably start testing players on 10-day contracts unless we have a move lined up.

HurricaneDij25 · Post #10 » by **HurricaneDij25** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 6:52 am

Might as well retire...He went out with a bang with this 39-point victory.

Tom White · Post #11 » by **Tom White** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 2:27 pm

Really sad to see this. I thought he performed as expected when given the opportunity. Then again, maybe he would welcome the chance to join a team where he might get more playing time, and have a chance to contribute on a more regular basis.

Whatever the case, I wish him well. He is deserving of another shot.