The Pacers open their annual rookie/free agent camp one week later than usual. That’s because the Orlando Summer League is no more — as documented here — and they will instead spend two weeks in Las Vegas.
For the first time in league history, all 30 teams will participate in what has become the NBA’s official summer league. (Utah still hosts a four-team league, a model Sacramento replicated this summer.)
The Pacers were the last holdout, the only franchise to have not previously participated in Vegas. Pacers officials preferred Orlando, where the focus was solely on basketball. No tickets were sold and a limited number of reporters attended.
Indiana’s 13-man roster is heavy on current Pacers, including both 2018 draft picks: guard Aaron Holiday and rebounding extraordinaire Alize Johnson.
2017 second-round pick Ike Anigbogu had what he described has minor left leg surgery and will not play. He does plan to be at every practice, travel to Vegas, and sit on the team bench. Fellow 2017 second-round pick Edmond Sumner will make his summer league debut after rehabbing from left ACL surgery at this time last year. He sat out most of his rookie campaign.
The Pacers plan to fly to Vegas on Wednesday, July 4th, scrimmage Team China on Thursday, and then will help get the 82-game Las Vegas Summer League schedule started at noon (Vegas time) on Friday against Houston.
VigilantSports.com will be in Las Vegas to cover the team, which will be coached by Mad Ants head coach Steve Gansey.
His assistant coaches: Dave McClure (Pacers Development Coach), Tim Dather (Video Coordinator) and assistant video coordinators Ben Eblen and Jared Bartling.
13-man Roster:
Guard (8):
- 3: Aaron Holiday — 6-1, 175, UCLA (Rookie)
- 5: Edmond Sumner — 6-5, 188, Xavier (Pacers)
- 9: Elijah Stewart — 6-5, 194, USC (Rookie)
- 7: Travis Leslie — 6-4, 205, Georgia (France)
- 8: Levi Randolph — 6-5, 205, Alabama (France)
- 10: Tra-Deon Hollins — 6-2, 195, Nebraska-Omaha (G League, Fort Wayne Mad Ants)
- 12: Bryce Alford — 6-3, 185, UCLA (G League, Oklahoma City Blue)
- 23: C.J. Wilcox — 6-5, 195, Washington (G League, Santa Cruz Warriors)
Forward (4):
- 0: Alex Poythress — 6-7, 238, Kentucky (Pacers)
- 22: T.J. Leaf — 6-10, 225, UCLA (Pacers)
- 24: Alize Johnson — 6-9, 201, Missouri State (Rookie)
- 26: Ben Moore — 6-8, 220, SMU (Pacers)
Center (1):
- 32: Henry Sims — 6-10, 248, Georgetown (Italy)
The Pacers’ 2018 Summer League team will play in Las Vegas July 6-17.
Pacers’ Summer League Schedule:
- Friday, July 6: v Houston, 3:00 pm (NBA TV)
- Saturday, July 7: v San Antonio, 3:30 pm (ESPN)
- Monday, July 9: v Cleveland, 5:00 pm (ESPN2)
- Wednesday, July 11: v Atlanta, 8:30 pm (NBA TV)
- Friday, July 13: v Brooklyn, 4:00 pm (ESPNU)