Eddie Jones not coming to Indiana

[Dunthreevy]

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5800011948

"Eddie has had a terrific career and has been a great professional and we appreciate him working with us on this agreement," said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. "This will allow us to go out and sign another player if we want to."

Apparently it's official now. Bird worked out some financial dealings with Jones' agent and Eddie will not be coming to Indiana as most already assumed. The Ps will have some room financially to sign someone to a veteran's minimum contract though. I'm assuming they'll sign Croshere, even though he's looked like absolute garbage in the preseason. He needs to pack it up and call it a career, but I'll leave that alone.

[PR07]

Good for Eddie. A really class guy and player.

Bird said we might look to use the veteran's minimum available from Eddie to go after a 3rd PG to backup Ford and Jack since Diener is still battling a sore foot. I wouldn't be opposed to a Darrell Armstrong return.

However, I think the best case scenario would be to get the trade done with Denver and use Chucky Atkins in this role.

[greenway84]

Good for Eddie. A really class guy and player.

Bird said we might look to use the veteran's minimum available from Eddie to go after a 3rd PG to backup Ford and Jack since Diener is still battling a sore foot. I wouldn't be opposed to a Darrell Armstrong return.

However, I think the best case scenario would be to get the trade done with Denver and use Chucky Atkins in this role.

Well Denvers sticking point was money. So this move would give Bird the 3rd point gaurd he's looking for. I have a feeling the Williams trade was to set up a Tinsley trade. I would expect to see a Tinsley, Cash for Atkins, Hunter, 2nd.

[realfung]

good for him.

[Scoot McGroot]

Hey, not a bad deal if he accepted a buyout for less money.


After the deal, we were already almost $1.5 million under the luxury tax, enough for a veteran minimum type guy.

If we cleared around $700,000 in this buyout, then we could then possibly use the bi-annual exception which is around $2.2 million, I believe. That's what Toronto used to sign Maceo Baston before last season. We also have all of our MLE left, but likely would only spend up to the luxury tax limit.

[mizzoupacers]

Do we really need another point guard? I thought Diener was not supposed to be out all that long.

The Pacers are already tight on roster spots...instead of a pg I don't really think we need, I'd rather see us find a way to keep McRoberts. McRoberts is dirt cheap and could be a pretty acceptable backup power forward for us over the next few seasons.