Rookie/FA Camp Cuts

The Pacers have been conducting their Rookie/Free Agent Camp for the last few days in preparation for the Orlando Summer League that beings today. They have parted ways with Tyrelle Blair, local favorite Pete Campell, and Anthony Lever-Pedorza. Recognize the first part of the last name on the last guy? Yep, he’s the son of former Nugget and Maverick Lafayette “Fat” Lever, who has the best nickname out of any NBA player in history.

Googling “Fat Lever” will get you:

Fat Lever Himself

Some Confederates making fun of fat Union soldiers. Huh? We still kicked your ass.

And, of course, Fat Levers themselves.

Kind of a shame to see Pete Campbell go, even though there was no way possible this guy was making the Pacers. Earl Calloway, who played well in the D-League last year, (taking phenoms such as Keith Closs off the dribble, no doubt) has gotten public praise from Jim O’Brien, along with former Pacer Courtney Sims and former NBA player Josh Davis, who played for O’Brien in Philadelphia. Truth is, we have a pretty solid rotation without any of these players, and I can’t see anyone on this roster except Stephen Graham and Shawne Williams making the cut for the regular season. No word on if Roy Hibbert or Brandon Rush will play the two summer league games we are in after the 9th of July, which is when the trade becomes official.

Oh, and one other kind of interesting thing about summer league. Our first game is today at 3 pm against Oklahoma City, making the Pacers the first team to play against OKC since they moved from Seattle. The unnamed team will be wearing that stupid “NBA OKC” as a generic alternative to the Sonics jerseys. The logo basically looks like the “DRAFT NY” logot he NBA uses for the draft every year, except for a lamer city. Hopefully the Pacers whip up the Okies quite well, maybe all the way back to Seattle?

Other NBA news:

Most expect Elton Brand to stay with the Clippers and should make the decision very soon. Brand playing Nellieball would just be…ugly.

It’s rumored that the Warriors have now entered the race for Corey Maggette, but do they have any chance of beating out teams like the title contending Spurs and defending champions Celtics?