Diener signs 3 yr deal with the Pacers

[NYWarrior]

cool

http://wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=6812791

[ozmetal71]

Good news.  Hopefully Indy will actually let him play once in awhile.

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=2&date=7/19/2007&id=26666

[ozmetal71]

Beat me by about thirty seconds.

[SoCalwarrior]

Great news for Travis.  Unless another point guard falls into their lap, he should get some good minutes backing up Tinsley.

[Avenue Commons]

Hilarious. I came to the site to make a post asking if anyone knew anything about where TD would be playing next year. I just read Bill Simmons' article on the NBA Vegas League, and it got me thinking about TD and how he would slap the snot out of Bill Simmons.

[The Lens]

You can't really blame Simmons...in college he was packaged by ESPN announcers as this scrawny under-dog with the babyface who somehow played D1 hoops. 

They never talked about how he was an absolute bad a$$, with a competitive fire to match Garnett, had been playing on city based AAU teams since grade school and would walk around campus in velour sweat suits.  He was probably the most "thug" guy on the team. 

(and I mean all of the above as a compliment)

[sailwi]

Went to the Pacer site to see if there was any further info and nothing there yet.  They did have a feature story and pictures on day 2 of the tryouts for the Pacemates which at least made the visit to their web site worthwhile.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

You can't really blame Simmons...in college he was packaged by ESPN announcers as this scrawny under-dog with the babyface who somehow played D1 hoops. 

The never talked about how he was an absolute bad a$$, with a competitive fire to match Garnett, had been playing on city based AAU teams since grade school and would walk around campus in velour sweat suits.  He was probably the most "thug" guy on the team. 

plus he had a potty mouth that would make a sailor blush.

[MilTown]

That's great news for TD. I hope he gets the opportunity he is looking for. I wish him the best against everyone except the Bulls! I still think he will run into some problems with the bigger, more physical point guards in the east, but even with his liabilities, he can be a productive player in a reserve role.

[muwarrior87]

emphasis on a$$...but that aside, this looks like a great opportunity for him to further his career. Best of luck.

[Avenue Commons]

Baston Out but Diener Reportedly In


June 19, 2007


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Though Maceo Baston will not return to the Pacers, it appears the backup point guard slot has been stabilized with the reported contract agreement with free agent Travis Diener.


Baston

The Pacers opted not to match Toronto's offer sheet (reportedly $3.8 million over two seasons) on restricted free agent Baston, who'll now officially join the Raptors. Even without Baston, the team is relatively well-stocked in the frontcourt (Jermaine O'Neal, Jeff Foster, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, David Harrison) and has priorities elsewhere, specifically point guard.

"I like Maceo a lot," said Donnie Walsh, "but this time of year you have to make some tough choices, and we chose to let him go."

Baston averaged 8.6 minutes, 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in 47 appearances last season. He rejoins the Toronto team that gave him his first NBA opportunity in 2003.



Diener

Though the Pacers haven't confirmed the deal, The Indianapolis Star reported the agreement with Diener, who averaged 3.8 points and 1.0 assists in 49 games with the Magic the past two seasons. A 6-1, 175-pound sharpshooter who paired with Dwyane Wade to lead Marquette to the NCAA Final Four in 2003, Diener should get the chance to establish himself as a legitimate NBA backup with the Pacers.

We know he can shoot: fully 72 percent of his shots (107 of 149) have come from the 3-point line, and he's hit 40.2 percent.

[Wade for President]

AWESOME...AWESOME...AWESOME NEWS!!!!

Congrats Travis.

[mosarsour]

Best news I've heard all week!  Congrats TD! 

[77ncaachamps]

Even though I got the exact length and amount of the contract wrong, I must say that I was somewhat close to the actual deal! LINK

[spiral97]

Even though I got the exact length and amount of the contract wrong, I must say that I was somewhat close to the actual deal! LINK

I don't think the amount of the contract has been reported yet.. only that it is a 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd...

[4everwarriors]

Too bad for the Bucks Larry Harris didn't snag him.

[77ncaachamps]

Too bad for the Bucks Larry Harris didn't snag him.

Too bad for us...and Miami.

We could have seen MU South!

[Avenue Commons]

Even if it is for the NBA league minimum, it's a serious amount of money. And this doesn't include his per diem while traveling, appearance money, his share of merchandising, etc. It's totally possible that he'll gross a million or more a year for the next three years. Pretty good.

07-08             08-09            09-10
798,328     826,269     855,189

http://www.insidehoops.com/minimum-nba-salary.shtml

[IndyEagle]

Travis Diener has signed with the Indiana Pacers.

See story in today's Indianapolis Star:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070720/SPORTS04/707200454/

An an MU alum and Golden Eagle fan, I'm tickled.   Travis should get a fair amount of playing time, 'cause Jamaal Tinsley is  inconsistent at PG and is also VERY injury-prone.

[Avenue Commons]

Even if it is for the NBA league minimum, it's a serious amount of money. And this doesn't include his per diem while traveling, appearance money, his share of merchandising, etc. It's totally possible that he'll gross a million or more a year for the next three years. Pretty good.

07-08     08-09     09-10
798,328     826,269     855,189

http://www.insidehoops.com/minimum-nba-salary.shtml

Turns out it's WAY more than the league minimum. And its a guaranteed contract. Between the cash he made his first two year in the league, and this contract, he should be set for life. Good for TD. He must have had at least a couple teams making offers to get this kind of money.

Diener's three-year deal with Indiana worth $4.9 million, father says

Former Marquette standout expected to sign contract early next week

By Carlos Muñoz
The Reporter cmunoz@fdlreporter.com July 20, 2007


It will be easier for June Diener to see her grandson play next season.


Travis Diener, a Fond du Lac native, is set to sign a three-year contract to play point guard for the Indiana Pacers, and the deal is expected to be worth $4.9 million, his father, Bob Diener, told The Reporter late Thursday.


Diener, a former Goodrich High School and Marquette University standout, will sign the deal over the weekend pending a passed physical, his father said. The contract includes a player option to void the contract after the second year.


"I think it's great," said June Diener, whose grandson is expected to be the backup point guard for Indiana after two years with Orlando. "I'm so happy he's closer to home now. He's really deserved it. He's worked hard for this.


"He wants to play. He didn't want to sit on the bench."


The deal will make Diener financially secure, but Bob Diener said it isn't the only reason his son is going to the Pacers.


"Money was secondary," said Bob Diener, whose son was unavailable for comment Thursday.


"He wanted an opportunity to play. "The Pacers seemed like a good opportunity to prove himself."


Diener played 49 games last season for the Orlando Magic, who drafted him with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. He averaged 3.8 points a game and shot 81 percent from the foul line.


But he did not play in 115 of 164 regular-season games for the Magic, which is well-stocked at guard with J.J. Redick, Carlos Arroyo, Keyon Dooling and Jameer Nelson.


Diener is expected to backup starting Pacers point guard Jamaal Tinsley.


"That's the way everything looks right now," Bob Diener said. "If you're a backup, you're only one play from being a starter.


"From a basketball standpoint, it's a really good situation for him. He's going in knowing he'll have an opportunity to play. Last year, when he got the opportunity he more than proved himself."


Diener's former high school coach and uncle, Dick Diener said, "I think he's got an opportunity there to become the backup point guard and maybe, if the situation changes, end up starting.


"The more they see of him, they'll find out he just doesn't make mistakes. He's got a great basketball IQ, and he can shoot with anybody in the league."


The Pacers saw enough to offer Diener a guaranteed three-year contract.


"They are a team that's shown that they want him there for more than a couple years," said Drake Diener, Travis' cousin, who recently finished a stint in the NBA Summer League with the Houston Rockets.


"Any time a team commits to a guy and goes out of their way to sign a player, it shows they want him involved."


Travis Diener's family will get involved by swarming to Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to watch him play. It is about a six-hour drive from Fond du Lac.


"It's an exciting time," Dick Diener said. "It's a great opportunity. (Pacers executive) Larry Bird has liked Travis since he came out of college.


"The family will get to see him more, as well as anyone else that is a fan of him from Wisconsin. He'll be playing in Milwaukee (and) Chicago, and Indianapolis isn't that long of a drive."


The Pacers visit Milwaukee often as both teams are in the Eastern Conference Central Division.


Bob Diener said his son has proved he deserves a chance to play.


"He's always had his doubters his whole life," he said. "He'll more than prove himself. Larry Bird, all them guys know what he can do."

[NYWarrior]

.....much like McIlvaine did.  Considering that TC made roughly $1.1M in his first 2 years with the Magic and now gets $5M for the next three - - its proof-positive that the shorter 2nd round contracts can ultimately become more profitable for the player

http://www.insidehoops.com/salaries-rookies.shtml

[4everwarriors]

getting Mo Williams-like money on his next contract. All he needs is a chance.

[77ncaachamps]

From Pacers Insider:

July 20, 2007
Were you surprised?
Posted by Mike Wells

I could only shake my head and laugh when I found out the Pacers had agreed to a three-year deal with point guard Travis Diener.

Why was I laughing?

I was talking to a Pacers official earlier this week about the point guard situation when he said, "I've seen the names you've put in the paper. We've got a person in mind and he's going to surprise a lot of people."

I was surprised to hear it was Diener. I looked at Diener's name earlier this month, but I didn't think he would be somebody that the Pacers would go after to be Jamaal Tinsley's backup.
When you look at it, though, Diener is the type of player that fits into Jim O'Brien's system.

Diener gives the Pacers another 3-point shooting threat and his motor is always in overdrive. He'll have trouble defending players like Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups. O'Brien has the option of using Marquis Daniels at the point in those situations.

Do you think the Pacers made a smart decision by giving Diener a three-year deal? If not, who do you think they should have went after on the free agent market?

Read More reactions (or react yourself) at http://blogs.indystar.com/pacersinsider/