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As far as Jim O'Brien is concerned, the roster is set.
With the release Thursday of undrafted rookie free agent centers Courtney Sims (Michigan) and Lukasz Obrzut (Kentucky), the Pacers' roster stands at 14 players. With one preseason game Friday at Memphis remaining before the regular-season opener Wednesday against Washington in Conseco Fieldhouse, O'Brien said he anticipates no more changes.
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"This is the 14 we're going into the year with," O'Brien said after practice Thursday. "People in our organization are always thinking about how we might be able to get better but my job is to like this team and I do."
Sims had his best performance of the preseason in his final appearance, scoring 12 points with 8 eight rebounds in 28 minutes as the Pacers won in Minneapolis 106-95 Wednesday night. O'Brien said he'd like to see Sims head to the Pacers' D-League affiliate in Fort Wayne, Ind., to both develop his game and remain relatively close at hand.
"I asked Courtney to seriously consider going with our Fort Wayne team because he knows our system," O'Brien said. "I think Courtney has good low-post moves, he shoots the basketball well, he needs to – and I was very open with him – get tougher and stronger to be able to compete with the big guys. That's the only thing that's going to hold him back from being on an NBA roster. I would prefer him to be there so we could keep track of him. I really like what Coach (Kent) Davison does up there. I know him and I think he's the type of coach Courtney will benefit from."
Playing overseas would likely mean a more lucrative contract but the D-League offers the possibility of a quicker return to the NBA. Sims, who was undrafted despite averaging 11.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks as a Michigan senior, believes strongly that he has NBA talent.
"I think I have good ability and good smarts on the court," he said. "If I work hard, everything will work out. I'm just trying to show the coaches that I can play, that I can hang in there and that I want it bad. That was the question with me in college, do I really want it, do I play hard, and I'm just trying to answer those critics."
Obrzut, who made two brief preseason appearances and totaled nine minutes, two points and one rebounds, is a native of Poland who indicated to O'Brien he'd likely head to Europe.
INJURIES KEEP RUSH FROM FINDING RHYTHM
For Kareem Rush, it's a frustrating, all-too-familiar scenario, battling a preseason injury that has limited his ability to make an impression the coaching staff. But at least this time, he knows he has a job.
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Rush has been battling a sore Achilles tendon that has limited his availability. After scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting in the preseason opener, he has totaled 17 points on 7-of-23 shooting in four appearances since. Rush returned from a two-game absence to play 18 minutes in Minnesota Wednesday but shot just 1-of-7. He's expected to play Friday in Memphis.
"We're hoping to be able to see more in the game against Memphis and more in practices leading up to our opener," O'Brien said. "His injuries have really hindered our evaluation process."
In his last NBA job, Rush suffered a torn groin muscle on his first day of camp in Seattle and wound up being released four game into the 2006-07 regular season. Then came a productive stint in Lithuania before signing with the Pacers.
"It's kind of nagging but I think I've made my impression in practice," Rush said. "I've practiced throughout this injury and I think I've had good showings so it's not a matter of me going out there and proving it in the game. I think the coaching staff knows what I'm capable of doing. It's just a matter of me getting healthy. That's the most important thing. I don't want this to be a nagging thing throughout the whole season but it can be if I let it."
PACERS SHORTHANDED FOR PRESEASON FINALE
Troy Murphy won't play in the preseason finale at Memphis Friday but is progressing as expected in his recovery from a strained Achilles and could be ready for the regular-season opener. Jermaine O'Neal (sore left knee) is doubtful. David Harrison (sore hip) and Rush both could play. Shawne Williams, who missed Wednesday's game in Minneapolis to perform community service, is expected to play in Memphis.
