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Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard spoke to the media via Zoom video chat on Tuesday afternoon, a sign of the current state of things in the NBA and the world at large.

Pritchard fielded questions about all aspects of the Pacers' current situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as keeping in touch with players, the potential of a return to play, and the complications of preparing for the NBA Draft during uncertain times.

"We're doing everything we can do to keep together," said Pritchard from his kitchen. "We're going to have an extreme amount of patience and we're going to have to be disciplined."

When asked about the potential for some of the various scenarios of returning to play that have been floated in the media, Pritchard stated that he has full faith in NBA commissioner Adam Silver's judgement on when and how the NBA returns to play and that as of right now, the league is still in the process of charting the best course of action.

"I don't think anything is going to be talked about or announced until early May, so that would be probably the earliest that we would hear anything," he said.

From talking to the players, Pritchard said that he feels the team has a real hunger to take the floor and believes that the group was just starting to hit its stride before the hiatus began.

"They want to prove that this team is a good team in the playoffs," he said. "They want to show that they're a tough out."

"We think we can make some noise in the playoffs," he said.

On the injury front, Pritchard mentioned that Malcolm Brogdon – who had been sidelined with a torn left rectus femoris – is feeling 100 percent ready for a return.

"When I communicate with Malcolm, he's just ready to go," Pritchard said. "He was so looking forward to getting some games with Victor before the playoffs. Malcolm is so hungry."

Pritchard also made clear that he believes teams would need more than a few weeks of time to ramp up activity for their players to get a point where they are at peak form and not risking injury.

"I don't think it's going to be one week and 'let's get back and play some games,' I think they are going to give us a good amount of time, but I don't think it's going to be a week. I would say two or three weeks minimum, and then play some games. But we're going to have to be cautious."

During the stoppage, Pritchard has taken aggressive steps to keep the players connected to one another, checking on the team frequently during video chats and having the training staff send workout regimens to keep the team in shape.

"We get online for an hour or hour-and-a-half once a week and we just check in with the players."

Pritchard has been impressed with how proactive members of the team and company have been in finding ways to contribute positively to the community during this crisis.

"What I've been most proud of is how some of our players are using this platform to help. Victor and Tamika, they did their public service announcements. And I know Malcolm is coming out with a program right now."

Beyond the hurdles of planning for the postseason, Pritchard also addressed how the Pacers are prepping for the draft despite so many unknowns. Instead of getting hung up on what they can't do, Pritchard has his team locking in one what they can do.

"We can watch film, we can ask people about players, and we can make our evaluations." he explained. "I think our analytics department is probably as busy as they've ever been, because they're working on new projects. We're not sitting idly, I can tell you that."

With the front office becoming acclimated to their new reality of remote work and social distancing, Pritchard believes their discipline has the franchise on solid ground. And now it's just time for patience, with the timeline of how and when a return will occur still obfuscated by forces much larger than basketball and beyond anyone's control.

But when play is eventually resumed, Pritchard knows the Pacers will be as ready as anyone to return to the hardwood.

"I think we have an amazing basketball culture (in Indiana) that is being missed right now and I can't wait for us to get back to that."

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Pritchard Focused on Patience and Discipline During Unprecedented Times

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday they have waived forward JaKeenan Gant.

The Pacers roster currently stands at 19.

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Pacers Waive JaKeenan Gant

After a pair of high-scoring victories last weekend during the first-ever NBA India Games, the Pacers return to Indiana for their pre-season home opener against the Chicago Bulls.

Indiana topped 130 points in both of their wins over the Kings, as the team's refreshed roster appeared to have no problems finding the bottom of the net.

Much of the talk around training camp has been surrounding the play of third-year forward TJ Leaf, who appears likely to make his preseason debut in Friday's matchup with Chicago.

Leaf, who missed both games in India with a quad strain, has averaged 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds over his first two NBA season, but has thrived when given more playing time. During games in which Leaf was given 15 or more minutes last season, he averaged 11.8 points per game on 68 percent shooting.

More opportunity could but in the cards for Leaf thanks to a series of offseason moves that created an opening at the backup power forward spot. Thaddeus Young, who joined the Bulls during free agency, has been replaced in the starting lineup by Domantas Sabonis.

While fans are surely eager to get a look at rookie Goga Bitadze, the Georgian center is still slowed by a right ankle sprain, which will keep him out of Friday's contest.

Myles Turner, who also suffered an injury during his first training camp with the Pacers, has told the Georgian forward to be patient: "I'm just telling him to keep his head up," Turner said. "It's hard to come in here in a new environment, especially in a new league. I just tell him to take his time. It's easy to want to push it, but he's going to be so valuable for the season that he needs to take his time and sit back and learn."

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG - Jeremy Lamb, SF - T.J. Warren, PF - Domantas Sabonis, C - Myles TurnerBulls: PG - Tomas Satoransky, SG - Zach LaVine, SF - Otto Porter Jr., PF - Lauri Markkanen, C - Cristiano Felicio

Pacers: TJ Leaf - questionable (right quad strain), CJ Wilcox - questionable (right quad strain), Goga Bitadze - out (sprained right ankle), Victor Oladipo - out (knee surgery rehab), Aaron Holiday - out (illness)

Bulls: Ryan Arcidiacono - probable (low back tightness), Perrion Callandret - probable (left patellar tendinitis), Luke Kornet - probable (right turf toe), Wendell Carter Jr. - questionable (tailbbone contusion), Shaquille Harrison - out (left hamstring strain), Chandler Hutchison - out (left hamstring strain)

March 5, 2019: A late 3-pointer from Darren Collison helped solidify a late lead as the Pacers won 105-96 over the Bulls in a late-season matchup.

Although the Pacers led by 16 in the first half, the Bulls battled back into the game as guard Zach LaVine racked up 27 points.

A late flurry of offense by the Pacers proved enough to put things away, however, as Bojan Bogdanovic drilled a 3-pointer to cap his 27-point night.

Myles Turner was a force on defense as well, recording a career-best seven blocks in the victory.

Good seats remain for the first preseason game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Secure your seats today to see the new-look Pacers take on their Central Division rival Chicago Bulls. Find Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: None
Radio: 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Bulls (Preseason)

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Edmond Sumner's Career in Photos

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T.J. McConnell's Career in Photos

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Pacers 86, Clippers 75 (Summer League)

The Pacers managed to come out victorious in their final Las Vegas Summer League game, topping the Clippers 86-75.

Although Los Angeles chopped Indiana's lead down to just one in the fourth quarter, a late flurry of offense from DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell helped propel Indiana to victory.

With four minutes remaining Akoon-Purcell connected on back-to-back 3-pointers for the Pacers. Surging with confidence, Akoon-Purcell drove to to the hoop on his next possession, converting on a layup and putting Indiana ahead 82-70 with 2:44 remaining.

Alize Johnson delivered one of his best Summer League games, finishing with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists.

Akoon-Purcell, whose impressive fourth quarter sealed the game for Indiana, wrapped up his night with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

For the Clippers, Oshae Brissett led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds.

In the early moments of the first quarter, Indiana was able to string together an 8-0 run, putting them ahead 12-7.

With under a minute remaining in the the quarter, Johnson lined up a three from the top of the key and drilled it, putting Indiana ahead 21-17 after one.

Despite a slow start to the second quarter, a 7-0 Pacers run put the Blue & Gold ahead 28-21.

Following a Clippers basket, Johnson corralled an offensive rebound and tip-toed the sideline for an acrobatic layup to keep the Pacers comfortably ahead.

Indiana remained in control for the remainder of the half, taking a 37-28 lead into the locker room. Johnson was dominant for the Pacers in the first half, racking up a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Clippers had the upper-hand to begin the third, however, narrowing their deficit to just five. But a 3-pointer from Jay Henderson, followed by a thundering fast-break dunk by Markis McDuffie quickly rebuilt Indiana's lead to double-digits.

L.A. continued to battle back, eventually narrowing it down to a 59-56 Pacers lead by the end of the third quarter.

Just as the lead became perilous for Indiana, the Pacers got an offensive eruption, capped by back-to-back threes from DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell to put Indiana ahead 80-67 with under four minutes remaining in the game.

From there, the Pacers cruised to the victory, picking up a win in their final Las Vegas Summer League contest.