March 2004 Indiana Pacers Wiretap

Knicks Sign Jamison Brewer

Aug 27, 2004 3:07 PM

New York Knicks president Isiah Thomas announced today that free-agent guard Jamison Brewer has been signed to a contract.

Brewer, 6-4, 180-pounds, played in 13 games last season for the Indiana Pacers, averaging 2.5 points and 1.3 assists in 12.3 minutes.

He is a three-year player who has averaged 1.6 points, 1.2 assists and 7.9 minutes over 36 career games.

?The addition of Jamison to our roster helps solidify our backcourt,? Thomas said.  ?He is a great passer and defender with outstanding speed and quickness.?

http://knicks.realgm.com

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Jones Looking For the Go-Ahead

Aug 15, 2004 5:10 PM

Former Oregon Duck swingman Freddie Jones is ready to play again five weeks after major undergoing surgery to repair his left shoulder.  

"They (the doctors) said everything looked cool after the surgery," Jones said on Thursday.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, is excited for Jones return and very pleased with how Jones has been able to maintain his conditioning despite his circumstances.

"He's actually nine pounds lighter than he was at the end of the season, which is a great indication that he's taking care of himself," Carlisle said. "Make no mistake, Fred Jones is an important guy for our team. He was real steady for us last year. He was excellent defensively and offensively he made a lot of good things happen.

The Indystar

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Artest Wants to Stay

Aug 15, 2004 10:17 AM

The talk of Ron Artest going to Sacramento for forward Peja Stojakovic is now a widespread rumor.

But Artest does not want to entertain the idea.

"I was told the rumors about me being traded weren't true, but I haven't spoken to (Pacers president Larry) Bird," Artest said. "I know a lot of Indiana fans don't like it; they don't want me to go. Obviously, it's a business. But everywhere I go, people tell me they are not feeling it."

Stojakovic's recent demand for a trade led to the speculation on a swap of all-stars.

Stojakovic will earn $6.875 million next season, while Artest receives $6.2 million.

Indianapolis Star

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Stojakovic for Artest 'just talk,' Bird says

Aug 15, 2004 7:42 AM

Larry Bird and the Pacers are putting their best efforts forward to squash rumors surrounding defensive specialist Ron Artest being involved in trade talk for unhappy King Peja Stojakovic.

Stojakovic has made it no secret that he is upset that Sacramento let longtime friend Vlade Divac leave town and has gone public stating he wants out.  Rumors have since been running rampant that Indiana is one of the teams pushing the hardest for the sharp shooting Euro, offering the Defensive Player of the Year as bait.

"It's all speculation," Bird said. "Peja wanting to be traded has nothing to do with Ronnie. It's all just talk."

"I don't know why people are so quick to assume we'd even be interested in thinking about trading Ronnie," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "The fact is, there are going to be rumors about this and that. If one guy asks to be traded, everybody looks around. Those things just happen."

Artest's name was mentioned as a possibility after Stojakovic's agent, David Bauman, said that Bird had inquired about such a deal in June.

Bird said he had an informal conversation with Kings director of player personnel Jerry Reynolds before the Pacers traded for Altanta's Stephen Jackson.

Indianapolis Star

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Stojakovic for Artest Is Just Hearsay

Aug 13, 2004 6:10 AM

Larry Bird has quashed the rumors swirling around a proposed trade which would land Peja Stojakovic in Indiana and Ron Artest in Sacramento just as quickly as they started.

"It's all speculation," Bird said. "Peja wanting to be traded has nothing to do with Ronnie. It's all just talk."

The deal would match almost perfectly salary-wise as Artest will receive $6.2-million next season with Stojakovic receiving $6.875.  

"I don't know why people are so quick to assume we'd even be interested in thinking about trading Ronnie," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "The fact is, there are going to be rumors about this and that. If one guy asks to be traded, everybody looks around. Those things just happen."

The Indystar

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Jermaine: Please Get Dampier

Aug 10, 2004 11:18 PM

Jermaine O'Neal would like some big help in the frontcourt.  Erick Dampier seems to fit the bill.

"We've talked an awful lot this summer," O'Neal said of Dampier. "I told him he should do a one-year deal.  The only option out there for him is Atlanta. It's his judgment call. He understands we'd love to have him."

Dampier has a six-year, $50 million offer to play with the Atlanta Hawks, but the 30-year-old wants to go to a winner after eight bad seasons in Golden State.

Dampier was drafted 10th overall by Indiana in 1996.  A sign-and-trade deal that would send him to New York appears to have slim hopes.  

Now the Knicks seem to have given away most of their mid-level salary cap exception to Vin Baker, leaving too little for Dampier in New York.

"I'd love to play weak side and go get a couple of offensive rebounds and do stuff like that rather than coming down and having to bang against everybody and try to get the ball in there and score," O'Neal said. "That's hard on you.  I've been begging (Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh) and those guys, 'Please get a big guy. Please get a big guy.' My back won't be hurting as much, my legs won't be hurting. I love Jeff Foster ... but we also have to have another big guy."

ESPN

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O'Neal Tunes Up

Aug 9, 2004 7:57 AM

Jermaine O'Neal is recovering from an injury and will miss the Olympics.  And O'Neal's good friend Al Harrington has been dealt to the Atlanta Hawks.

But O'Neal is still a happy Pacer.  He would be even happier if the Pacers could find a way to add another big body to take the pressure of him in the frontcourt.  
O'Neal is in Portland while his home in Indiana is renovated.  He'll go to Los Angeles to begin preparations for training camp in October.  

O'Neal wants to get stronger and add range to his jump shot this off-season.  He expects his knee to be close to perfect by training camp.

Indianapolis Star

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