Another article from Indy.

[damekmo@teleport.com]

Croshere and Rose staying? Pierce going? Stay calm....just kidding.

From:
http://www.starnews.com/sports/indianasgame/pacers/articles/pacers0727.html



Free agent forward likes what he hears; Perkins apparently will return to
Pacers.

By Mark Montieth

Austin Croshere and Isiah Thomas had their lunch date at a Santa Monica,
Calif., restaurant Wednesday. They departed without making any
announcements or promises, but with a shared good feeling.</p>
>
>"I thought we had a great meeting and hit it off well," Thomas said in a
>prepared statement. "He wanted to know what I thought about him as a
>player and his opportunity in Indiana to win a championship."</p>
>
>Croshere, who is mulling offers from the Pacers and Toronto, said he still
>plans to wait until Friday, and perhaps longer, to make a decision, but
>said he liked what he heard from the Pacers' new coach.</p>
>
>"Definitely," Croshere said. "It's a much different approach than we had
>with the previous staff, but it's one that can be very successful. With
>the track record he has, he can make it into a success."</p>
>
>Thomas was in the Los Angeles area to appear at a camp conducted by
>Washington Wizards forward Tracy Murray, who dropped off Thomas at the
>restaurant. Thomas flew to Detroit  later Wednesday and plans to return to
>Indianapolis next week. </p>
>
> While Croshere's status remains unsettled, Sam Perkins appears set to
>return to the Pacers for his 16th NBA season. He likely will sign a
>one-year deal for the middle class exception of $2.25 million.</p>
>
>Donnie Walsh, the team president, while declining to comment on the status
>of player negotiations until Aug. 1, spoke optimistically of Perkins'
>return. </p>
>
>"I feel like Sam will come back," Walsh said. </p>
>
>Perkins and his agent, Lee Fentress, did not return telephone calls
>Wednesday.</p>
>
>Perkins, who turned 39 on June 14, was leaning toward retirement
>throughout last season but apparently has been swayed by the level of
>interest from NBA teams. </p>
>
>One of the interested teams has been Seattle, for whom Perkins played from
>1993-98. Perkins, whose wife is a police officer in Seattle, visited with
>Sonics officials last week.</p>
>
>"Sam can still play," Seattle president Wally Walker told the <i>Seattle
>Post-Intelligencer</i>. "He's still an effective backup center in this
>league."</p>
>
>Perkins, who did not return a telephone call to his off-season residence,
>joked about that interest with a friend in Seattle. "What's the deal with
>these offers?" he said in the <i>Post-Intelligencer</i>. "Can I get any
>slower?"</p>
>
>Perkins averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds last season, statistics that
>were improved from his first season with the Pacers. He struggled with his
>shooting throughout the playoffs, when he averaged 4.8 points while
>shooting .327 from the field. But he was highly respected by his coaches
>and teammates for his work ethic and locker room presence.</p>
>
>"I thought he was an important part of the team and I'd like to have him
>back," Walsh said.</p>
>
>With the signing date of Aug. 1 looming, Walsh is positioned to accomplish
>his goal of re-signing all six of his free agents, unless Rik Smits
>decides to retire.</p>
>
>Jalen Rose is expected to accept the Pacers' offer of a seven-year, $86
>million contract. Rose and his agent, David Falk, have not been available
>for comment, but Rose is not known to have met with officials from other
>NBA teams aside from an informal meeting with Detroit president Joe Dumars
>the first week of July. Dumars told confidants that he expects Rose to
>re-sign with the Pacers.</p>
>
>Negotiations with Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson, who both are represented
>by agent Arn Tellem, have not hit major roadblocks, although no agreements
>have been finalized.</p>
>
>Miller, who is expected to receive a raise over his previous salary of $9
>million, would have to settle for a major cut in pay to sign with any
>other team. Jackson, while out of touch with Tellem in recent days,
>believes the hiring of Thomas helps his cause.</p>
>
>"I thought it was a great choice and I think it was in my favor," Jackson
>said Wednesday.</p>
>
>Walsh, however, is not ready to claim any victories until he gathers
>signatures on contracts.</p>
>
>"I'm working on it, but I'm not sure yet," he said. "I don't think the
>game's over until the last second goes off the clock."</p>