Indiana Pacers news roundup: GM wants to stay, Joe Young return?

Well, Indiana Pacers fans, we are almost one month into the NBA’s unexpected pause in play. The hiatus has been tough, but there is still a ton of relevant Pacers news and information out there.

No matter how the league continues or if the season is canceled, it will, of course, have major impacts on the Pacers and how they press on.

Before we get into some links that you should check out if you missed them, let’s pause and note some positives about this season. Setting an uplifiting mindset these days has really helped me get through some of the tough times we are facing collectively as humanity.

Firstly, the Pacers held it together this season, even with Victor Oladipo never getting a chance to find his rhythm. Domantas Sabonis stepped forward in a huge way and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, leading the team to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference despite not having their best player.

Several Pacers can honestly say this season has been the best performance of their careers. That’s tremendous.

We should also be thankful that the Pacers have a list of certainties they can count on. Thanks to solid structuring by Kevin Pritchard and the Pacers front office the team is set up for the future and doesn’t have to rely on the draft or free agency this summer to build its team out. In these uncertain times where we hardly even know how the draft/free agency will look or when it might take place, that’s huge.

Now, let’s look at some great Pacers articles around the web and get you all caught up.

Pacers are pushing community efforts to help those in need

The Pacers are doing a great thing and partnering with the Colts to help raise money for local community centers that will help to feed people in need while the effects of COVID-19 are felt. According to their press release, if $200,000 is raised by Thursday, the Colts and Pacers are going to add an addition $420,000 to the fund.

Some fun Pacers content we published recently

Last week for April Fool’s day we looked at several recent draft day blunders that we wish were jokes.

Over the weekend, I detailed 11 Pacers that many people may forget spent part of their playing days in Indiana.

Pacers GM Chad Buchanan gaining interest for outside top executive positions

Also over the weekend it was reported that the Chicago Bulls had an interest in interviewing Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan for their top executive position. Very soon after this report, Shams Charania reported that Buchanan was happy in Indianapolis and flattered by the interest, but not looking to uproot his family and take on a new role at this time.

Joe Young would love to play for the Pacers again

Joe Young said on a recent Instagram Live stream that he would love to return to the Utah Jazz or the Pacers. Young, who played three seasons with the Pacers from 2015 to 2018, never saw much time with the team and was never a very complete NBA player and has played most recently in China.

Pacers players of past and present were in the news this week

Domantas Sabonis participated in the NBA’s Players Only 2K Tournament over the weekend and hilariously got mad at his own virtual personification because, “he sucks, he really sucks.”

Pacers legend Rik Smits participated in a Twitter Q&A session and revealed his favorite current Pacer.

And finally, we looked back at several trades and transactions this past week and re-graded them. Some of them were bleaker, but revisiting the Paul George trade should make Pacers fans happy that the team was able to salvage so much opportunity out of a crappy situation.