23-year old point guard A.J. Price will miss the next 4-6 months after he needed surgery to repair a fractured kneecap which he injured in a charity game. He does not have a fully guaranteed contract for the 2010-11 season but I don’t expect them to consider letting him go. He played in 56 games (2 starts) as a rookie last season for the Pacers and he averaged 15.4 minutes, 7.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The Pacers are hoping that he will be ready to start the 2010-11 season.

The Pacers will be without center Jeff Foster for the rest of the year because he needs back surgery. Foster played in 16 games (3 starts) for the Pacers this season and he averaged 15.9 minutes, 3.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. The Pacers were trying to trade Foster to teams needing help in the paint but that all ends just like Foster’s season. The Pacers won’t miss Foster too much the rest of the way as they weren’t playing him much anyway.

The Pacers will be without starting shooting guard Danny Granger for the next 4-6 weeks due to a torn plantar fascia in his right foot. Granger has played in 17 games (all starts) this season for the Pacers and he is averaging 36.6 minutes, 24.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He is impossible to replace but Dahntay Jones and Brandon Rush will likely get more minutes with Granger out and they need them both to play well. Jones has played in 18 games (12 starts) this season for the Pacers and he is averaging 32.8 minutes, 15.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Jones will probably be the starter while Granger is out at shooting guard and he will likely do a decent job. Brandon Rush has played in 18 games (15 starts) this season for the Pacers and he is averaging 26.8 minutes, 7.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The Pacers expect more out of Rush so maybe he will step up soon.

The Pacers will be without 27-year old point guard Travis Diener for the next 4-6 weeks due to surgery on his left big toe. Diener has not played this season yet due to the toe. He played in 55 games (0 starts) last season for the Pacers and he averaged 3.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. The Pacers won’t miss Diener too much while he’s out but they will be a better team when he comes back.

The Pacers will be without back up center Jeff Foster for a couple of weeks due to a high ankle sprain. Foster has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Pacers so far this season and he has averaged 9.5 minutes, 1.0 point, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He will be replaced by Solomon Jones who has played pretty well so far this season for the Pacers. He has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Pacers this season and he has averaged 24.5 minutes, 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 blocked shots. Jones should do a good job while Foster is out of action.