Sports Radio Interviews

Larry Bird: We’re Gonna Be Very Active This Summer

Larry Bird seems intent on filling the needs of his Pacer team through free agency.  They’ve got about $57 million in salaries locked in, so some wheeling and dealing would really aid in freeing up some cap room – if only he could trade the contract of the man who’s been ordered to stay away from the team, Jamaal Tinsley.  Laid back Larry’s team seems like it’s locked in to mediocrity for a while with the makeup of its current roster.  I get the feeling Larry knows that though (evidence is below) and he’s ready to mix it up.  Bird joined WNDE in Indianapolis to discuss his team’s needs, if he’ll get a player who can play in the 13 hole in tonight’s draft, and how active the Pacers will be this summer.

What are your overall impressions of the draft and what’s your take on drafting at 13?

“It’s a pretty good draft.  There will be a lot of players, maybe not impact players but be able to play a lot of minutes next year.  I know at 13 we’re gonna get a good player so I’m not really worried about that.”

What do the Pacers need?

“We need a point guard, a wing player, and a big man.  There’s not a lot of bigs in the draft; if one of the good point guards drops to us, we’ll probably take him.  Right now, I think there’s gonna be four guys that come to us that I like, it’s gonna be a decision I have to make, so, we will.”

How will you shore up your power forward spot?  Through free agency?

“I hope so.  There’s some names out there we like and hopefully we can get something done.  We’re hoping to sign Josh McRoberts back, I think he’s gonna be a good player in the long-term.  We still have Roy Hibbert, Danny Granger is gonna play some four this year, we got Troy Murphy over there.  We have a lot of holes to fill but we’re gonna get a good player in the draft and we’re gonna be a better basketball team this year.  We hope Mike Dunleavy can get back to help us and if he does we’re gonna be a lot better.”

How active will the Pacers be this summer?

“Very active this summer.  We’re gonna try and do a lot of different things – we gotta lot of holes we gotta plug and we think we can do that over the summer time.”

Listen to Larry Bird with JMV on WNDE in Indianapolis

Tags: Basketball, Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers, Josh McRoberts, Larry Bird, NBA, Troy Murphy