Notebook: Countdown to the lottery, Fever momentum, and a powerful reflection from Kenny Moore
With the NBA Draft Lottery two weeks away, the Pacers face a pivotal moment — while the Fever build depth, welcome back Damiris Dantas, and show encouraging signs in preseason play.
Good evening and welcome back to Fieldhouse Files. It was a stormy day in Indianapolis.
Sunday marked just two weeks until a significant date in Pacers history: the draft lottery.
After going 19-63 this past season, they have a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. More importantly, they have a 52.1% shot of selecting inside the top four — which is critical. If they drop out of the top four, their pick goes to the LA Clippers as part of a midseason trade that brought center Ivica Zubac to Indy.
The draft lottery show will air live from Chicago at 3 p.m. ET on May 10. Yes, that’s also Mother’s Day. The Pacers need all the good karma they can get ahead of this.
As for Pacers basketball and the NBA Playoffs, I’ve been thinking about this for a while: Can they maintain their pace and increased number of possessions while staying healthy? We saw another young player, Donte DiVincenzo, suffer a torn Achilles tendon in the playoffs over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Fever were back inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday to resume training camp. They enjoyed Sunday off after shooting 51% and scoring 29 points off turnovers in a 109-91 road win against the New York Liberty.
Click here to read my game recap and watch my report.
They have two more exhibition games, both at home: Thursday vs. Dallas and Saturday vs. the Nigeria National Team.
I spent Friday evening at the Lucas Oil Estate as Republic Airways hosted its 14th annual Plane Pull gala — benefiting A Kid Again, Indiana Wish, Riley Children’s Foundation, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent, and other children’s organizations.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment was one of many sponsors for the event.
One of the special guests was Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II. He’s been with the franchise since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Years later, he’s one of four players featured on giant photos inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
However, he recently requested a trade — seeking a fresh start elsewhere — so he doesn’t know how much longer he’ll be here. But the former Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nominee for the Colts clearly values this community.
Two Sundays ago, on April 19, I ran into him sitting courtside for the Indy Ignite game against Dallas Pulse in Fishers. He’s also frequently attended Pacers and Fever games.
Moore choked up and grew emotional when reflecting on his time here.
It’s been so welcoming over the course of these nine years in this community. One thing that I’ll definitely take away, that’s one of my favorite memories, is teaching eight graders life skills and learning the curriculum around it and just seeing them thrive and giving me a headache at the same time, but I can’t help a headache too. (laughs)
Just putting myself in a position as an educator or a teacher is — I don’t think teachers get enough credit for what they do.
I’ve been able to meet so many great people over the course of Indianapolis, but the one that hits home for me … [pause to collect himself, and the crowd applauded in support]
It’s been the families that I’ve been able to meet. I think for me, I’ve always tried to find comfort wherever I’ve been in life and being here in Indianapolis since 2017, I met a couple families that have made me feel at home so I kind of adopted this place and Indianapolis adopted me. It feels like a hometown, so yeah, Indiana will always have a special place in my heart.
We most often see these players in their element — on the hardwood or the field. But this is just another example of a player opening up and sharing human feelings.
Don’t forget that.
Damiris Dantas Arrives
Fever reserve center Damiris Dantas is ready for her third summer in Indianapolis — but first, she needed an approved work visa.
That requirement delayed her arrival, which finally came over the weekend.
