August is always the quietest month for NBA teams. It’s never completely quiet, though, because there’s always something to do.

Recently, it’s been finalizing the preseason schedule (set by individual teams) and then looking over the assigned regular-season schedule. How about nine national TV appearances? Impressive. Before then, teams submit dates in which their arena is already booked. Hence why the Pacers are gone for much of March with the Big Ten taking over for several weeks.

By August, draft picks have almost always signed. The Pacers gave second-round pick Johnny Furphy a standard deal on July 6, just before summer league. And then at the end of the month, they signed Quenton Jackson and Tristen Newton to two-way contracts, as expected.

For the second straight year, teams may sign up to three players to two-way deals and the Pacers used their final one to complete the signing of their draft class. The Pacers liked what they saw from Enrique Freeman before the draft and at summer league. He popped right away and showed how he was a multi-dimensional player — and still had a ways to go. There was a chance Freeman was signed to a standard contract, but ultimately his pro career will begin on a two-way deal.

That squeezed Oscar Tshiebwe and left him without a contract. He’s a fantastic rebounder (and interview). We saw that at the University of Kentucky and then with the Mad Ants last season. But we also saw him get schemed out of the lineup in their only playoff game. So now Tshiebwe gets a fresh start in Utah on a two-way contract.

Teams may bring an additional three players to training camp, and one of those will be Cole Swider. He’s a 6-foot-8 forward and played 18 games for the Miami Heat last season. He’ll compete for a roster spot. And remember Kendall Brown. His contract is non-guaranteed so we all want/need to see more from him.

Now G League players are shoring up their contract situations. Just last week, Warsaw native Kyle Mangas and forward Cameron McGriff signed Exhibit 10 contracts to be with the Indiana Mad Ants next season.

And the same was true with Dakota Mathias, the former Purdue standout who was with them at summer league, on Monday. Congrats to them.

What I appreciated most about the announcements from the team was the language. We all hope for clarity and the Pacers provided that when they specified that those two signed Exhibit 10 contracts rather than “x player signed with the Pacers” only for said player to be waived a few days later. I don’t think it was clear for fans or fair to players.

This is a good development for all.

Haliburton’s Still Not Over Being Teammates With LeBron

Tyrese Haliburton is back from Paris and he didn’t stay away from basketball very long. He was courtside for their last few games, including an Aug. 16 win over the Phoenix Mercury. After games, he’s embracing with Caitlin Clark; Indiana basketball fans are spoiled with two of the game’s best-passing guards on their rosters.

Haliburton is still not over his Olympic experience. Can you blame him?

He grew up idolizing LeBron James so just imagine what it would be like not just playing with your idol, but winning a gold medal…

Haliburton did that.

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Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin and three other members of the All-Rookie First Team are spending time together this week in Denver at the NBA Finals.

Mathurin, along with Orlando's Paolo Banchero, Utah's Walker Kessler and OKC's Jalen Williams, are serving as what the NBA calls “media correspondents” during the finals. What they do will be produced for the NBA’s app and social media channels.

Mathurin arrived at media day in a gold pinstripe Jermaine O’Neal jersey and with his hair braided.

He later asked his friend Jamal Murray, a fellow Canadian, if he remembers playing 1-on-1 against him at Basketball Without Borders camp in 2019.

The highlight of this opportunity is Mathurin and the other rising stars all getting a taste of the finals — the ultimate goal. It’s one thing to watch it on television and aspire to be playing in it; it’s whole different thing to be there and soak it up.

Mathurin is already uber competitive, as driven of a rookie as I’ve come across, and this will be good for him. It also gives him something to do besides training.

Because going into the offseason, I asked him during exit interviews if he planned to at least take a few weeks off after the packed schedule he’s had since declaring for the draft one year ago.

“It will be really hard for me,” he acknowledged. “Most of my teammates have been saying ‘Yo, you got to take some time off.’ And I get it. You got to take some time off to get your head out of basketball. Playing 82 games is a long season.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I might just sit around on my couch and watch movies and play with my dog. I’m trying to think about what I’m about to do, I don’t know yet.”

Mathurin was one of nine Pacers at the facility earlier this month for a weeklong optional training.

Tyrese Haliburton always has to have the right outfit. Sometimes, it’s weeks in the making and other times, it just works out.

As the Pacers’ star went through his extensive collection of vintage t-shirts, he had just the one. It was from May 2000, back when the team was about to reach the NBA Finals.

And Haliburton was just three months old.

The t-shirt — he already had it in his possession thanks to a hookup after a find on Instagram — is from the 2000 playoffs and says “Zoom, Baby!”

On one side with the Pacers logo, it says “Greatest Team in Basketball.”

On the other side with the Indianapolis 500 logo (and Boomer between them), it says “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

And across the bottom it says, “Greatest Fans in The World.”

“Indianapolis, May, 2000”

Yeah, I’d say Haliburton nailed it. He paired it with navy team shorts and white Nike Air Forces 1 shoes.

This day was bigger than his outfit. He had the honor of riding in the 500 Festival Parade, an event held annually in downtown Indianapolis in front of an estimated 200,000 people.

This comes one day before the Indianapolis 500, which is expecting a crowd of 325,000.

And just as the parade route was about to begin, while seated in the back of a Chevrolet Camaro, Haliburton was informed by the team’s director of executive protection that this was one of the largest parades in the country.

“This place, Indiana, is really cool the more you learn,” Haliburton replied.

The midwest kid from Oshkosh likes calling Indy home. By actively participating in the community, attending the Indy 500 and riding in the parade, he is loving Indy back. And that’s just what they’ve needed, especially Pacers fans.

Haliburton’s day began at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where thousands of fans gathered to walk around the track, get autographs from Indy 500 drivers and attend the public drivers meeting. While there, Haliburton hosted kids from Young Men of Purpose — a mentoring program in Indy — for a special experience.

Then, like the drivers, he then rode over to the Central Library for the start of the parade, which has been held since 1957.

It’s also notable that Haliburton was scheduled to ride in the parade last year. I even wrote about it. Ultimately, he did not and former Pacer Duane Washington Jr. took his place.

Then in 2023, after having an All-Star year in his first full season with the Pacers, Haliburton isn’t just riding in it … he’s featured.

Because come Sunday, he’ll be pushing 150 mph as the pace car driver and leading the 33 drivers to green in front of a national audience on NBC.

As the face of the Pacers, Haliburton hopes this isn’t the only parade he ever rides in, that this provided him with just a taste. He’s just 23 years old and aspires to play in the NBA for a long time — for as long as he’s productive and just before the wheels fall off.

He’s a hooper and would love nothing more than hold the Larry O’Brien Trophy — which is currently in town for the race — after winning a championship, and then ride in a championship parade on these very streets in downtown Indy.

So perhaps today was just the beginning.

Before each Pacers home game this past season, the team invited someone special to Rev It Up just before tip-off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Come Sunday afternoon, in front of 325,000 fans at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and millions more watching at home, Tyrese Haliburton will rev it up and lead the 33-car field to the green flag.

The Pacers’ All-Star guard was selected to drive the Corvette Z06 pace car at the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500, set for Sunday afternoon on NBC.

“Basketball and racing are big in Indiana, and it’s such a cool experience to represent the Pacers at the biggest race in the world,” Haliburton said in the news release.

Haliburton becomes the second active Pacer to be given the keys for the greatest spectacle in racing. Victor Oladipo served as the pace car driver in 2018 and drove a 2019 Corvette ZR1.

Haliburton will be in the driver’s seat of a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, as seen below, with a V-8 engine that reaches 670 horsepower.

“One of our biggest challenges every year is who should drive the pace car,” IMS president Doug Boles told me in 2018. “You want somebody who makes a statement, somebody that people recognize…”

Haliburton both makes a statement and knows speed, leading the Pacers to a league-leading 18.1 fast break points per game.

The driver selection is a collaborative decision between IMS officials and Chevrolet, their pace car partner. A discussion on potential candidates typically begins at the NASCAR year-end banquet in early December.

Actor Adam Driver, an Indiana native, was chosen as the honorary starter to wave the green flag.

Haliburton, who will be tasked with making four left turns around the 2.5-mile oval, will have someone riding shotgun who is in constant communication with race control and telling him what speeds to go.

Haliburton, 23, just completed his third season in the NBA and his first full year as a member of the Pacers. He was voted to the All-Star game, led the Pacers to a better season than anticipated and then was referred to as a partner of the front office at the end of the season by team president Kevin Pritchard.

And then, just last week, he represented the franchise on stage at the NBA Draft Lottery — where they learned they’ll have picks 7, 26, 29, 32 and 50.

See Also: Behind the scenes at another draft lottery

Haliburton is a midwest kid from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. And when he was acquired by the team in Feb. 2022, during his first interview with local reporters he said: “one of my best traits is I’m somebody that just loves hard. I want to be here, I want to be a part of it.”

And since then, he has deliver. He has absolutely been all-in. He’s a stakeholder and has proudly become the face of the franchise.

Pritchard & the front office have to be smiling wide seeing this announcement.

Although the Pacers did not make the playoffs for the third straight year, there will be racers and Pacers in May after all thanks to Haliburton.

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Last Five Pace Car Drivers:

• 2022: Sarah Fisher

• 2021: Danica Patrick

• 2020: Mark Reuss

• 2019: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

• 2018: Victor Oladipo

(Click here for the full list)

The Big Ten’s all-time leading scorer is going home.

Calbert Cheaney, an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers since Nov. 2020, is returning to Bloomington to join head coach Mike Woodson’s staff with the Indiana University men’s basketball team.

Woodson is adding Cheaney — an Evansville, Ind. native who starred at IU from 1989-93 — in a non-recruiting coaching role as the director of player development, the school announced on Tuesday.

“I'm extremely grateful that Mike Woodson thought enough of me to be a part of the program that played such an important role in shaping me into the man I am,” Cheaney said in a statement.

“I've known Coach for a long time and I hold him in the highest regard. I have nothing but love and passion for this program and I can't wait to return and start working with our players and staff. Helping them get the most out of themselves is something that I enjoy and brings me great satisfaction when they see their work pay off on the court.  My family and I are thrilled about this next chapter in our lives.”

Wherever Cheaney has worked, he still followed the program closely and discussed it often, including with me. He loves IU and this will be his second stint on staff as his alma mater. He worked for Tom Crean from 2011-13.

With the Pacers, Cheaney was one of three player development assistants — along with Jannero Pargo and Mo Baker. He joined the Pacers coaching staff during the pandemic and worked for first-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren.

And when Bill Bayno resigned one month into the season, Cheaney and Tyler Marsh took turns replacing Bayno at the front of the bench.

Then, following another coaching change after just eight months, Cheaney remained on Rick Carlisle’s staff for the past two seasons.

“I want to congratulate Calbert Cheaney on returning to his alma mater and joining Head Coach Mike Woodson’s staff at Indiana University,” Carlisle said in a statement. “We’re incredibly appreciative of Calbert’s innumerable contributions to our team during his time here, and after spending the last two seasons working with him, I can see why he’ll be such a great asset to the Hoosiers’ basketball program. I wish him all the best as he embarks on this new chapter in his career.”

Cheaney turns 52 years old this summer and both his son (Julian) and daughter (Sydney) have graduated from college.

See Also: Watch Cheaney work with players on shooting after practice

Cheaney has been instrumental with the on-court development of many Pacers players. Most of what he does is not seen by those not employed by the team because it happens before practice, after games, on off days, and especially in the offseason. He was an active participant in pre-draft workouts.

For Woodson, it marks the return of another former player to the program. Last offseason, it was sharpshooter Jordan Hulls.

Cheaney can lean on his experience as a player, his decades spent in the NBA and the plethora of contacts he has — from Damian Lillard (seen in the top photo) to LeBron James, who was sure to dap up with Cheaney in February before pre-game warmups in Indy (see below.)

IU coach Mike Woodson:

“I could not think of anyone better suited to be part of this program than Calbert Cheaney. Every team or program he has been a part of after his playing career, he has had an immense impact on.  As a player in college and as a pro, his experiences are as good as it gets.  Our players can ask him, how do you become successful when you get to college?  What can I do to help my team win championships? What do I need to do to be an All-American or National Player of the Year?  How did you become a first round draft pick who played 13 years in the NBA?

“I think he can share his experiences of how teams expect their players to work every day and get the most out of their ability," added Woodson.  "He's done it, he's lived it and I don't think you will find anyone who has a bad thing to say about him. He is a high-character individual who loves this program.”

Other Changes:

• Isaac Yacob has been promoted from head video coordinator to player development coach, immediately filling the void left by Cheaney’s departure. Yacob is extremely tight with Tyrese Halibuton and just completed his first year with the team after the Los Angeles native came over from the Sacramento Kings.

• Yacob’s role has been filled by Martin Tombe, who was with the team last season as a seasonal assistant. The 6-foot-6 forward played at UC San Diego and aspires to be a GM in the NBA.

• Larry Bird is back in the fold. He attended their first pre-draft workout.

• Shawn Windle, the director of sports performance, was not brought back after 18 seasons with the team. That’s in addition to two other staffing changes made right away.

• Sarah Kessler, a performance data analyst for the past two years, is now the head performance coach of the Indiana Fever.

You may first think of Olympic ‘Melo, Hoodie ‘Melo, his Hall of Fame career, being on the Banana Boat Crew or that 3-point celebration with three fingers to the right side of his head.

As for me?

It’s FIJI water.

Because that was a staple for Carmelo Anthony throughout his career. No matter which team he wa…

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Indianapolis is just 272 days out from hosting NBA All-Star Weekend for the first time since 1985. It was supposed to be held in 2021 — but the pandemic forced Indy’s time to shine back there years.

On Saturday morning, two representatives from the local host committee were at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and served as honorary starters at 11 a.m. to mark the beginning of a very important day for drivers and their teams: Indy 500 qualifications.

It was Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, a co-chair of the board, and Mel Raines, the president of the host committee (and also the president/COO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment).

“It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done for sure,” said Raines, who joined the Pacers in 2015, said of getting to wave the green flag “As a native Hoosier, you always know about 500, I’ve been many times, but I never thought I would be climbing this ladder and waving the flag with a dear friend too, which makes it even more fun.”

Added Catchings: “I think it means a lot more, too, because we’ve been waiting for the NBA All-Star game for a long time and it’s right around the corner. So this is a big step in being able to announce it and what a fun way to do it. Cool to be here.”

Before the two climbed up to wave the green flag together, they provided updates on the host committee (which includes over 400 individuals).

“We’re starting to get into the details, the nitty gritty, the hard work of it,” Raines said. “The league has been out a few times over the last few weeks to look at venues and to watch perimeters. I anticipate, between now and the Fourth of July, we’ll have some exciting things to announce what we’re working on.

“Our goal continues to be how do we make this the most community-focused event that we can so our community gets to be a part of it and that this international basketball community, the eyes of the world, will be on us.”

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There continues to be even more of Tyrese Haliburton.

He’s the face of the Pacers, has frequently been at the team facility for offseason work with coaches, represented the team at the NBA Draft Lottery, will be hosting a youth basketball camp in July and has multiple AAU teams.

Haliburton’s two favorite hobbies, however, outside of basketball are fashion and gaming. (He even has his own channel on Twitch.) He’s also into NFTs. As much as he’s obsessed with basketball, it’s good that he has other passions and good outlets to spend his free time.

So what better way for him to mix it all together than to be one of the headliners at something new the NBA is trying?

It’s NBA Con, coming the first week at Las Vegas Summer League. It will debut at debut at Mandalay Bay July 7-9 and one-day general admission tickets are $60.

It’s more than Haliburton. The league already has 2023 NBA Draft picks Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson committed as well.

Details from the NBA:

NBA Con will bring together the fashion, music, cuisine, art and technology that make the NBA a cultural phenomenon into a three-day event, highlighted by the game’s brightest stars and biggest personalities. Appearances will include legends and current NBA stars like six-time NBA champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Mike Conley, Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, New Orleans Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young, and 2023 NBA Draft prospects Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson, among many other names to be announced.

NBA Con tips off the opening weekend of NBA 2K24 Summer League which begins 10 days of NBA action on Friday, July 7. NBA 2K24 Summer League will showcase the league’s top young players, many of whom are taking the floor for the first time in an NBA uniform.  The event features a footprint at Mandalay Bay that is nearly 400,000 square feet and is twice the size of the NBA Crossover fan event held during NBA All-Star 2023 that welcomed more than 50,000 fans.

“NBA Con is for every fan,” said Joey Graziano, Head of Event Strategy and Development, NBA. “It combines our players’ and fans’ passion for the game with their authentic off-court interests to create unique experiences that could only come to life through NBA fandom.”

At NBA Con, fans will be able to transcend the boundaries of the court with a variety of exclusive live experiences that align with their own personal interests, including through:

• The latest trends in NBA fashion and sneakers, with NBA players showcasing their own unique styles, alongside exclusive drops of limited-edition apparel and accessories.

• Live entertainment performances by chart-topping artists, with a focus on those who share a love of basketball.

• Exclusive shoppable NBA Con and NBA product drops, from limited-edition apparel to rare collectibles and everything in between.

• Interactive brand experiences that unite the worlds of basketball and technology, including augmented and virtual reality games, and more.

• Appearances and meet-and-greets, giving fans the chance to get up close and personal with NBA players and personalities.

• Live podcasts, conversations, and creator studios featuring athletes, creators, artists and media personalities sharing a stage to discuss a range of topics related to NBA culture and to break news that fans at NBA Con will hear first.

• The Park, a basketball-centric exhibition with various courts where fans can shoot around, watch open practices, or participate in open runs.

As usual, I will be in Las Vegas for summer league and look forward to checking this out. Already, summer league is essentially a giant NBA convention. This idea only adds to that belief.

For the second consecutive season, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton is hosting a youth basketball camp in central Indiana.

Who: For boys and girls in grades 1-8
When: July 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: The Factory D1 Indy
Cost: $199 — and save 10% at sign-up with my promo code “SCOTT”

I can tell you from attending last August at the Pacers Athletic Center, Haliburton is very involved. He bounced around from group to group and mixed in a combination of instruction, playing against campers and fun.

And several Pacers coaches and teammates stopped by to see the camp and support Haliburton.

Full details from ProCamps:

The Simple Truth Tyrese Haliburton Youth Basketball ProCamp is open to boys and girls in grades 1-8 who want to learn the fundamentals of basketball, and receive tips and hands-on instruction from one of the best in the game. The camp will take place at The Factory D1 in Indianapolis, IN on July 15-16, 2023. Participants will have the opportunity to work directly with Haliburton and other local coaches to learn new techniques, and improve their overall performance.

In addition to drills and scrimmages, each participant will receive a team photo, limited-edition camp t-shirt, and a souvenir autograph. They will have the opportunity to meet and learn from Tyrese, ask questions, and receive feedback on their performance - ensuring that participants leave with new knowledge and memories to last a lifetime.

Registration for the Tyrese Haliburton Youth Basketball ProCamp is now open, and early bird pricing is available until spots become limited. Interested participants are encouraged to sign up early to secure their spot. Scholarship opportunities are also available for families in need. Visit TyreseHaliburtonCamp.com for more information.

Myles Turner has hosted a free youth camp back home in Dallas for many years, but for the first time, he plans to host one in Indy in August. Details to come.

The Pacers have made another offseason change with a key staff member.

Shawn Windle will not return as the director of sports performance after 18 seasons with the franchise. This was not his decision and it came as a surprise to those around the team.

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So much for a quiet week leading into NBA Draft Combine Week. There was news on all fronts.

It started with the Pacers announcing their plans for the Mad Ants to officially move to Indy and play home games at a new arena in Noblesville, Ind. It continued with Hall of Famer Larry Bird, who I had not seen at an event post-pandemic, being back at the team facility and attending the first pre-draft workout.

And then Aaron Nesmith took a two-seater ride and was shown around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Pato O’Ward on Saturday prior to the Grand Prix.

On top of all that, the Pacers held their first of two optional development weeks with the young guys. The second one is scheduled for the week of June 12.

By my count, based on photos on the Pacers’ Instagram, there were nine players involved: Haliburton, Mathurin, Nembhard, Duarte, Nwora, Smith, Jackson, Brown … and Daniel Theis.

So of the 13 players under contract for next season, only Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, T.J. McConnell and Nesmith were not present (at least, according to photos).

Minus Nesmith, those are the vets and they have a well-established offseason routine by now. (And, as you read above, Nesmith was in town so perhaps he was there.)

Meanwhile, Theis is ramping up training ahead of playing in the World Cup with Germany.

So… all of that was just news with the Pacers.

The NBA Playoffs have been narrowed down to the final four and, notably, it’s the same four as 2020 in the Orlando bubble. Celtics vs Heat and Nuggets vs Lakers.

Looking ahead, it’s a big week for teams in the lottery as they will receive clarification on where they’ll be drafting on Tuesday evening in Chicago, home of the draft lottery. I will be there to provide you with on-the-ground reporting and I look forward to seeing how this plays out. Especially at the top with everyone enamored with French sensation Victor Wembanyama.

One franchise is going to be very, very fortunate.

The Pacers have FIVE selections on June 22, but two are unknown until Tuesday evening: Their lottery pick and one second-round pick — with quite a bit of difference.

It’s either 32 (via Houston) or 50 (via Miami).

Once those are known, we can truly dive into which players and trades make sense. Before then, it’s just a bunch of words.

Other Thoughts

• Congratulations to T.J. McConnell’s dad, Tim, on his decision to resign from coaching after 29 seasons. The McConnell family is full of coaches and he’s had a storied career in the Pittsburgh area.

• Tim, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “I think I’ve just realized it’s time to step away to see my daughter play more and see T.J. more. In eight years that T.J. has been in the NBA, I’ve only seen him play live only 20-some times. I’ve missed a lot because of coaching. I want to be around them the next two years.”

• Tim also shared that T.J. and his wife, Valerie, are expecting their second child in September.

• I was not surprised to read that Daniel Theis attended Game 7 in Boston. He started his NBA career there, spent about five years in all, and still has many close friends.

• The 76ers’ showing in that critical game, with a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals on the line, reiterated why I’ve never been a believer in this team despite their regular-season success. They have too many flaws and have never put it together when it matters most. Since the start of #TheProcess, they’ve yet to reach the conference finals. Consider that…

• Also, what was Flamingo Guy Matt Asen doing at the game? That was … odd.

• I was disappointed to see new Suns owner Mat Ishbia make a rash decision a few days after they were beat by the Nuggets. Fire Monty Williams, one of the top head coaches? He was the Coach of the Year in 2022, should’ve won in 2021 and they more games than any team over the last three years. Although they just traded depth and future draft picks, they got Kevin Durant. There’s several things that need to be organized and sorted out, but that group barely spent much time together. They were down Chris Paul for most of the series and not only did Deandre Ayton miss the final game, he was a limited contributor in the series.

• My first thought after a head coach is fired always goes to those who reported to him. Assistants, video guys, behind-the-scenes folks, etc. They don’t make millions of dollars and there’s fierce competition for jobs. It's a cruel business.

• Another team is going to be very fortunate to land Williams, by the way. One of the ultimate good guys in the NBA.

• The four openings are good ones: Phoenix, Milwaukee, Toronto and Detroit. (Is Philadelphia next?)

• Ja Morant needs a long period of self-reflection after being seeing on a second Instagram Live with a gun in his hand. It starts internally — and he’s just 23 — but he must consider his priorities and then who he surrounds himself with… Do they have his best interest? He’s bound to be suspended for the first month or two of next season, costing him millions. But he could cost himself much more, both personally and with endorsement deals (Nike, Powerade, etc.)

• The Grizzlies suspending him “from all team activities pending League review” is um, interesting, considering there are no official team activities until August. But what this really does is get out in front about this, and then wait for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to act. Because he must. The league is watching.

• I’m interested to see how much Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski is involved, and how he contributes to the NBA, after being hired as a special adviser.

• I had a good time doing radio last Wednesday and Thursday, co-hosting the mid-day show on 93.5/107.5 The Fan. I hope you were able to catch parts of it. I continue to do more at the station, including track updates at IMS on Tuesday.

• Congrats to the Pacers’ TV crew for receiving seven Emmy nominations. There’s a lot of very good people involved who provide you with the sights + sounds.

• I watched “Air” on Prime Video and really enjoyed it. Matt Damon was phenomenal as Sonny Vaccaro. Michael Jordan’s mother was portrayed very well, as the leader and protector of the family, whereas agent David Falk won’t want to watch it. They were … harsh.

• Lastly, I’m disappointed in Elon and Twitter right now. They are not playing ball with Substack and not allowing tweets to be embedding on here. I don’t know how this is good/smart business, but I hope he comes to his senses. He wants to be for content creators, but this only hurts us and our readers. So, for now, I can only link to outside content not embed.

Aaron Nesmith found himself in the arena of another sport Saturday morning. It is the offseason for the Pacers wing, but he suited up and strapped in to ride around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a two-seater car.

The green flag will drop on the IndyCar GMR Grand Prix at 3:45 p.m. ET Saturday (airing NBC), but before then, IndyCar teams provided memorable rides around to sponsors and VIP guests.

Around 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, before the track was open to drivers for a practice session, Nesmith was welcomed to the track by driver Pato O’Ward and the Arrow McLaren team, which is based in Indianapolis.

The two got connected through the premium hydration beverage Electrolit.

Nesmith met up with O’Ward at Big Woods in Speedway, then got in a McLaren GT and rode around the surrounding area before entering track.

Once out of the car and on the asphalt, Nesmith was instructed about the experience, put on a black helmet and then buckled in behind the driver.

The 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 is two weeks away — scheduled for Sunday, May 28 — and those IndyCars will turn laps at over 230 mph. These special two-seater cars will go up to about 180 mph around the oval, but this two-seater ride was around the 14-turn, 2.439-mile track used for the Grand Prix.

Then after the ride, Nesmith took off his race suit, walked around the garages, got a tour from O’Ward and exchanged jerseys.

Nesmith got the full IMS experience.

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Nesmith, 23, just completed his third season in the NBA and his first with the Pacers. He was acquired via trade with the Boston Celtics last July in a multi-player deal centered around the Celtics acquiring Malcolm Brogdon. He’s a native of Charleston and enjoys golfing in the offseason.

Nesmith started in 60 of 73 game played and averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

“I think Aaron took a big step,” veteran Buddy Hield said last month. “Being in Boston and not being able to play as much and then coming here into a starting role, just working his way up and proving himself. It’s hard being ahead of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in Boston. They’re elite guys and he had to wait his turn.”

Watch highlights from Nesmith’s experience below:

Lance Stephenson departed Puerto Rico and returned home after one week playing for Leones de Ponce in a Puerto Rican basketball league, a source told Fieldhouse Files.

The Baloncesto Superior National League has another month left in its season, but Stephenson left du…

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After being shut out of the core seven NBA awards, the Pacers do have representation on the All-Rookie teams.

But not two, as expected.

Just one: Bennedict Mathurin.

The Pacers’ selection at No. 6 in the 2022 NBA Draft was one of the top five rookies all season so this was likely outcome. For most of the season, he was second only to Orlando’s Paolo Banchero.

(And Andrew Nembhard just missed out. More on that below.)

Mathurin, who’s just 20 years old, played in 78 of 82 games, second on the Pacers only to veteran Buddy Hield. And he started in the final weeks of the season after he was strategically played (and featured) off the bench for the majority of the season.

Mathurin averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and a team-high 5.8 free throw attempts per game. He was second on the team in total points scored and free throws made, third in field goals made despite being sixth in total minutes played.

“I’ve been able to learn a lot in my rookie season,” he said during exit interviews. “Playing 82 games, a season, there’s so much ups and downs. I feel like the biggest thing for me to learn was to be able to play through ups and downs and challenges.

“I’ve always been hard on myself and I feel like I didn’t really accomplish what I wanted to do. I feel like that’s the really good thing about it, to have that chip on my shoulder going into the summer and wanting to work twice as hard as I did last summer and become a better player in general.”

The thing he didn’t like about his first season was not going all-out, 100% every single play. There were times when he admittedly took plays off or didn’t do what he was instructed to do. And so head coach Rick Carlisle pulled him out as a result.

The next thing for Mathurin is becoming more well-rounded offensively and taking more pride on the defensive end. That was Carlisle’s message to him.

“It’s really a blessing to have a coach who is really hard on you and it just proves that he wants the best for you,” he said. “… It’s always a learning session with him so it was obviously a great thing to have him by my side the whole season. Him being strict on me and really hard on me has helped me go through my first season and I’m looking forward to having many more seasons with him as my head coach.”

Mathurin loves basketball. He doesn’t have a ton of hobbies off the court. He was going to try to take a few weeks off after completing a very busy, stressful year — ranging from draft prep to the draft combine, pre-draft workouts and going right into summer league before getting a little time off before training camp.

“It’ll be really hard for me,” Mathurin said of the time off. “Most of my teammates have been saying ‘Yo, you got to take some time off’ — and I get it. You got to take some time off to get your head out of basketball. Playing 82 games is a long season. I don’t know what I’m gonna do yet. I might just sit around my couch and watch movies and play with my dog. I don’t know.”

Mathurin became the 14th Pacer to be voted to an All-Rookie Team, but just the first player earn First Team honors since Rik Smits in 1989. That was also the last time the Pacers selected inside the top 10.

He received 71 first-team votes and 28 second-team votes. So one voter left him off.

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What about Andrew Nembhard?

The votes were cast by 100 media members and guard Andrew Nembhard was not on more than half of them.

Nembhard, 23, received 46 second-place votes. He finished in 11th with 46 points, one point behind Houston’s Tari Eason, who received 47 points.

I do want to note, too, that the Indy market no longer has a vote. I did until 2020, when my position at The Athletic was eliminated. I think it’s important for each market to have at least one vote.

Nembhard, the first pick in the second round, wowed the team in camp. He then started in 63 of 75 games played and didn’t look like a first-year player. He was composed, took on their biggest defensive assignment each game and ran the offense when called upon to do so.

If you’re talking about impact by a rookie last season, Nembhard is absolutely part of that conversation. And he was included in the Rising Stars competition at All-Star weekend.

In addition to being the team’s best perimeter defender, Nembhard averaged 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while playing almost 28 minutes per game. As a rookie.

“I’ve really gotten the feel of how it is to play in the league compared to playing in college,” Nembhard said during exit interviews. “I think that will propel my game, understanding what I need to work on and what the team is asking from me.”

How Nembhard’s totals stacked up against fellow rookies:

• Second in assists

• Third in steals

• Seventh in 3-point field goals

• Ninth in points

• 14th in rebounds

“He hit the ground running for us,” said guard T.J. McConnell. “I’ve tried to sing his praises all year about how good he is. He hasn’t played like a rookie at all. His ability to defend the best player on the other team and then run a unit when asked, be a shooting guard and be our Swiss Army knife. He’s done it the entire year at an incredibly high level and players like him are very rare. We’re very lucky to have him.”

And many times throughout the season, Carlisle referenced how when this 2022 class is re-drafted — a popular task in the offseason for front offices and writers alike for review — Nembhard will be a top 10 player or better. And ultimately, that’s all that matters.

As I learned years ago from longtime executive Donnie Walsh, you need to see these young players for at least three seasons before truly evaluating them. Even more time for bigs.

The early returns for these young Pacers, however, are really strong.

The 54th Annual Central Great Lakes Regional Emmys published its list of nominees and the Pacers’ TV crew was well-represented. Bally Sports Indiana, the longtime television home of the Indiana Pacers, received seven Emmy nominations for coverage from 2022.

Each year, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) hands out hardware to winners in what they call “the most prestigious, peer-judged honor in television for outstanding creative achievement.”

BSI received four nominations — no winners — in 2021.

The network’s Emmy nominations are as follows:

1. Sports Program — Live: Pacers Live Pregame From Opening Night

   1. Contributors: Ken Sothman, Jamie Berns, Jeremiah Johnson, Eddie Gill, Larry Mago, Bill Cochran

2. *WINNER* Sports — One-Time Special: 2022 Pacers Preview Show

   1. Contributors: Colleen Lotz, Chris Felt, Larry Mago, Bill Cochran

3. Live Sporting Event/Game — Pacers v Wizards with Tyrese Haliburton Mic’d Up

   1. Contributors: Brian Woodrum, Jamie Berns, Larry Mago, Bill Cochran

4. Talent: Sports Analyst/Play-By-Play: Chris Denari, play-by-play

5. Talent: Sports Analyst/Play-By-Play: Quinn Buckner, analyst

6. Talent: Reporter — Sports: Jeremiah Johnson, sideline reporter

7. *WINNER* Director — Live or Recorded Live: Jamie Berns, director

Click here for a complete list of the Lower Great Lakes Emmy nominations. The 54th annual awards will be held on Saturday, June 17th in Westlake, Ohio.

For me, I was quieter than normal on here because I was summoned for jury duty for the first time. And, as a reporter, I was both excited and fascinated to participate.

I received the bright yellow letter in the mail twice before, but both times I wasn’t needed. And thankfully, this one requested my presence two weeks after the Pacers’ season was finished.

In Marion County, it no longer goes down inside the City-County building, which is just a few blocks north of The Fieldhouse. Now, there’s a year-old building about 10 minutes east of downtown Indianapolis. And I wanted to give the process its proper respect, so I showed up in a suit and tie. Oops. Among maybe 300 others summoned (for multiple cases), I was the only one.

And it’s probably among the reasons I was approved by the plaintiff and defense attorneys to serve. (Most potential jurors were dressed comfortably, in jeans and a hoodie or jacket. No need to dress business or even business casual for this, y’all.)

I’m obsessed with process, the way in which things happen and why, so this was an eye-opening experience. And what made this opportunity memorable was the judge and the jurors with whom I served. Only one of us had before — and she said it was roughly 40 years ago.

It was a diverse group — age, gender and background — and let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised (and proud) with how seriously everyone took it. Seriously.

Nobody was checked out, bored or trying to hurry through the process. The best part was going around the table so each juror could share their perspective on the case several times, collaborating and then uniting to make a decision.

We weren’t all in agreement immediately and that was fine. But when it was time for the verdict, there were zero doubts in the room. (We were required, by law, to reach a unanimous decision.)

That reminded me of the motto Kevin Pritchard repeats often — “We agree, disagree, and then unite.”

That’s what this experience was like.

It was a criminal case that took several days. I felt sorry for those involved, sorry for the nurse, officer and detective who were called to the stand to answer questions about this September night and how they did their job. It’s not an exaggeration to estimate at least 50 lives being impacted by this one incident.

I could go on and on about the experience, but that's not why you’re here. (If you have any questions, though, feel free to reach out.) I share this because, like me, you may be curious. There were no cameras in the room, but the judge said that would be returning on May 1.

As April concludes, all but one first-round playoff series have been resolved. That’s Warriors-Kings with a Game 7 to be played on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. And with either result, it will lead to an intriguing second-round series against the Lakers.

And with that, let’s get into it — a rundown of many news items that unfolded over the last week. Several of the subjects will become larger stories themselves.

✍️ New CBA Ratified

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association reached agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement earlier this month and last Wednesday, it was ratified. So it was approved and finalized.

And the seven-year deal takes effect on July 1, the start of the NBA’s fiscal year.

The pages and pages of the new CBA are being written up and are not yet public. But there’s many changes that will come from this, like stricter penalties on teams repeatedly over the tax, an additional two-way slot, new in-season tournament and other new ways to go about business.

Did you know that Ted Wu, the Pacers’ VP of Basketball Operations and Cap Management, helped write the previous CBA? He was a guy teams would call to get clarity on a situation or whether a move was allowed. That’s a huge asset to have in the front office.

Once the new CBA is out, all front offices will dig into it and plan accordingly.

🕘 NBA Finals Tip Times Bumped Up 30 Minutes

The league also announced a change to the upcoming NBA Finals schedule. Instead of starting most games at 9:00 p.m. ET, they will be moved up to 8:30 p.m. ET. Games 2 and 7 (if necessary) will be at 8:00 p.m. ET.

This is a positive step, both for current fans and in attracting a new audience. With games starting after 9 p.m, how many kids are even up by the time this marquee event tips off? Certainly not very many in the Eastern Time Zone, like Indiana.

Already this postseason, Lakers-Grizzlies and Warriors-Kings have been two of the featured matchups and they’re having games end after midnight on the east side of the country. I’d love to see that improve. This is a start.

All Finals games air on ABC.

🌵 And Then There Was One…

NBA team without a G League affiliate.

The Portland Trail Blazers, one of two teams without a G League team, were approved to operate a team — and they plan to do so at the Chiles Center on the campus of the University of Portland beginning next season.

The only NBA franchise without one is the Phoenix Suns, who are now under new ownership with Mat Ishbia taking over in February. He’s already been bold and shown his willingness to spend money in acquiring Kevin Durant at the trade deadline, so I’d be surprised if they don’t establish their own G League affiliate by this time next year.

The G League is now up to 31 teams, including the G League Ignite and Mexico City Capitanes.

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📺 Lloyd Pierce On NBA TV

It was a pleasant surprise to see Pacers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce on my television during the playoff games on Wednesday. He appeared on the NBA TV studio show, which originates in Atlanta — where Pierce lives and previously coached the Hawks.

He’s well-spoken and in one segment, he discussed defensive changes made that were having a positive impact on the game. I’d like to see more of LP during the postseason.

🤕 Oladipo Undergoes Surgery

One week ago, former Pacers guard Victor Oladipo went down clutching his left knee in a playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He had just played 26 minutes in the previous game and while he’s not the player he once was, he was having an impact.

And now he has another setback.

Oladipo, who turns 31 years old this week, suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and underwent surgery on Thursday in New York. It was done by Dr. Jonathan Glashow — the same doctor who performed Oladipo’s second surgery on his right quad tendon (on May 13, 2021) after the first one, by a different doctor, was ultimately unsuccessful.

To be clear, this injury was to his other knee, not the one he suffered his first major injury to while with the Pacers. It’s another blow for a player who once thrived on his speed, sharp movements and ability to stop quickly.

The good news: Oladipo re-signed with the Heat last summer and after originally agreeing to a one-year deal, they stretched it to a two-year deal. That player option for next season is worth $9.45 million.

From the season: Oladipo returns 'home' to Indy, moves past 'catastrophic' injury and how Monday's game serves as closure for all

💨 Guess Who’s Back, Back Again?

Lance is back. And true to his nickname, Born Ready, Stephenson arrived in Puerto Rico on Friday and finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and four assists in his first game playing for Leones de Ponce.

🏀 Fever, WNBA Open Camp

Sunday, the final day in April, marks the start of the WNBA season. The Fever and other teams open camp.

It’s a new era for the Fever. New head coach (Christie Sides). The No. 1 pick (Aliyah Boston) for the first time in franchise history. And they’re finally back inside The Fieldhouse for good.

While $360 million in renovations were completed to the building over the last three Pacers offseason, the Fever were left without a home. Last season, they had home games at THREE different venues in town: Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Hinkle Fieldhouse and Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Not anymore.

Now they are settled into their quarters at the north east end of The Fieldhouse. And with all games are in one spot, it makes it easier on the team and fans alike, and it allows for them to establish a true home court again.

Lance Stephenson will resume playing professional basketball this weekend.

The former Pacers guard has signed with Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico, a source confirmed to Fieldhouse Files Thursday night.

The team announced the deal on Thursday, saying Stephenson was replacing Chason Randle. They are coached by Sergio Hernández.

The Baloncesto Superior National League season runs through mid-June. And several notable players have played in this league recently, including Mad Ants guard Elfrid Payton and DeMarcus Cousins.

This is an opportunity for Stephenson to get back to playing the game he loves and get a nice paycheck in return. He did not sign with an NBA team for the 2022-23 season so his last game played was on April 10, 2022 in Brooklyn.

With plenty of guard depth, the Pacers elected not to re-sign him last fall.

See Also: Lance unplugged — Grateful, humbled and hopeful to continue on with Indiana

In the meantime, he’s mostly remained in Indianapolis and worked out at a gym in Fishers. “Never doubt yourself,” Stephenson wrote on Instagram. “Remind confidence and poise. Keep focus and avoid distractions.”

The team says Stephenson is expected to make his debut on Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET. That game can be watched live on YouTube. They are 6-9 and have lost four of their past five games.

I wrote about two weeks ago how the Pacers (35-47) shut out of the seven annual end-of-season awards. However, we now know exactly what the results look like since the NBA has been announcing the winners before various first-round playoff games.

That’s an improvement from how the league experimented with an award show at the end of June, well after the entire season had concluded. By then, you forget the finalists, performances and have already started to look ahead to the next season.

The biggest surprise to the Pacers was that Bennedict Mathurin, taken sixth overall last June, was not among the three finalists for Rookie of the Year after seemingly being in the top two until the final month of the season.

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The Indiana Pacers season ended just over a week ago and already, there have been changes made behind the scenes.

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The Pacers own the rights to five selections in the upcoming NBA Draft, which will be held on Thursday, June 22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Three of their draft picks are set: 26 (via Cleveland, Caris LeVert trade), 29 (via Boston, Malcolm Brogdon trade), 55 (via Cleveland, Victor Oladipo trade).

Their top pick falls within the lottery — picks 1 through 14 — so we won’t know for sure where they’ll select until after the draft lottery is held on May 16.

(I was one of eight reporters invited inside the draft lottery drawing room last May. Click here to read what that experience was like.)

Monday was an important day because the NBA resolved several tiebreakers — and two directly impacted the Pacers, who finished the season 35-47.

Six ties were broken with random drawings conducted by Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations, at the NBA office in Secaucus, New Jersey. It was overseen by Marie Dhimmar of Ernst & Young.

1. For the third straight summer, the Pacers have a lottery pick. And after winning a tiebreaker with the Washington Wizards, they are slotted in 7th entering the draft lottery. They have 6.8% chance of securing the top overall pick and a 29.4% chance of jumping inside the top four.

2. The Cleveland Cavaliers lost the random to the Memphis Grizzlies. That directly impacts the Pacers because they have the rights to both of the Cavs’ picks. So it is No. 26 and 55.

Had the Pacers lost their regular-season finale in New York, they would’ve finished in a tie for sixth with the Orlando Magic.

The top three teams each have a 14% chance at landing the No. 1 pick: Detroit, Houston and San Antonio.

The other significant outcome the Pacers will be watching closely at the draft lottery involves the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. And they’ll be rooting for the Spurs to draft first.

Both teams finished 22-60 so whichever team has the better first-round pick, the other team selects higher in the second round. If the Rockets are behind the Spurs in the first round, they will receive pick No. 32 — and it then belongs to the Pacers.

If not, the Pacers will receive the Miami Heat’s second-round pick at 50. That’s a significant difference in what was a complicated deal with several teams involved.

The next key date: The Draft Lottery will be held on Tuesday, May 16 inside a Chicago ballroom.