Pacers Get High Marks For Offseason Moves

It's dangerous to issue grades before the term is complete. That's a lesson many analysts learned when they thrashed the Pacers for their lack of offseason moves – just before Larry Bird engineered the trade for Darren Collison.

One of the most prominent, however, waited until after that deal before passing judgment. And Chad Ford of ESPN.com Insider ranked the Pacers' offseason as the third-best among Eastern Conference teams, giving them an A-minus.

"Collison is the point guard the Pacers have been longing for … forever," wrote Ford. "As a rookie starter for the Hornets during the second half of last season after Chris Paul went down with an injury, Collison averaged an impressive 18.8 ppg and 9 apg, while shooting 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range. Those are rookie of the year numbers. Pair him with Danny Granger and an emerging Roy Hibbert and the Pacers finally have a young core to build around."

Ford was also complimentary of the Pacers' draft picks, calling Paul George a "Tracy McGrady-type talent," and said second-rounder Lance Stephenson has drawn comparisons to Tyreke Evans.

"The Pacers now look as if they have a legit shot at making the playoffs this season and should be $20 million under the cap next summer," he wrote. "After a long dark spell, things are finally looking up in Indy."

Kellogg to share Major Taylor Award

Clark Kellogg, the newly minted Vice President of Player Relations, will share the Major Taylor Award with former Purdue and NFL standout Roosevelt Colvin given during the 27th Annual Circle City Classic.

Named for Indianapolis cyclist Marshall "Major" Taylor, the award is for African-American athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and officials that make significant local and nation contributions to youth. Kellogg and Colvin will be honored at the Classic Coaches Luncheon on Oct. 1.

"We are proud to present Indianapolis native Rosevelt Colvin and former Indiana Pacers player Clark Kellogg with this year’s Major Taylor Award,” said Tanya Bell, president and CEO of Indiana Black Expo, Inc. “Their accomplishments on and off the field have earned both of them a spot among a very elite group of athletes.”

Kellogg supports a number of organizations including the Pacers Foundation, the Simon Youth Foundation, Athletes in Action, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Special K Elite Hoops Basketball Camp.

The Circle City Classic will feature North Carolina A&T against Tennessee State at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 2. In the first Circle City Classic high school game, Carmel will face Warren Central on Oct. 1.

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