The Pacers selected 22-year old point guard A.J. Price with the 52nd pick of the NBA Draft. Price’s addition likely means that the Pacers will attempt to trade T.J. Ford. Price would then back up Jarrett Jack at point guard. Price played in 99 games in three seasons at UConn and he averaged 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. This was a solid pick for the Pacers as Price has a decent future in the NBA.

The Indiana Pacers took the best player in college basketball with the 13th pick of the NBA Draft last night. 23-year old power forward Tyler Hansbrough does everything in his power to win basketball games and that’s likely what drew Larry Bird to draft him. Hansbrough played in 141 games in his four seasons at North Carolina and he averaged 20.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Look for Hansbrough to be given every chance to win a starting job for the Pacers in 2009-2010. The kid is a winner so expect him to help bring a new attitude to Indiana Pacers’ basketball.

The Pacers have seven free agents heading into this off-season. Guard Jarrett Jack is a restricted free agent but the Pacers should retain him as he played well for them. Jack played in 82 games (53 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 33.1 minutes, 13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Reserve power forward Josh McRoberts is also a restricted free agent. If he comes cheap the Pacers might retain him for next season. McRoberts played in 33 games (0 starts) last season for the Pacers and he averaged 8.5 minutes, 2.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Of the unrestricted free agents the Pacers have G/F Marquis Daniels is the most important to retain. The team has a option on him for next season and they need to pick it up. Daniels played in 54 games (43 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 31.5 minutes, 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Daniels has a very good upside so the Pacers should bring him back for this coming up season. G/F Stephen Graham was so-so last season off the bench for the Pacers. He played in 52 games (6 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 13.2 minutes, 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. The Pacers would only bring him back if he worked cheaply next season. Reserve guard Travis Diener will likely exercise his player option for the 2009-2010 season. He played in 55 games (0 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 13.1 minutes, 3.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Diener did shoot 39% from three point range last season so he could be a asset off the bench in the 2009-2010 season. With Roy Hibbert stepping up as a rookie last season the Pacers really don’t have much of a need to sign veteran center Rasho Nesterovic. Nesterovic played in 70 games (19 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Backup forward Maceo Baston always seems to wind up back with the Pacers. He played in 27 games (0 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 8.0 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Baston could be back if the price is right.

The Pacers are happy with Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert so far this season. They will likely increase there playing time as the season wears on. Rush has played in 13 games this season for the Pacers and he is averaging 21.0 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He could be starting by the end of the season for the Pacers. Center Roy Hibbert has played in 11 games this season and he is averaging 10.3 minutes, 3.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocked shots.

The Pacers acquired 7′2″, 278 pound center Roy Hibbert out of Georgetown in the big Jermaine O’Neal trade last night. Hibbert gives the Pacers a talented big man who will likely be the starting center of the future for them. Hibbert played in 136 games (121 starts) for Georgetown and he averaged 10.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. He has the skills to score more points as the Hoyas ran a big time slow down game on offense. He has a bright future.