The newest player to join the Indiana Pacers may be a familiar name: C.J. Fair.
As a rookie last year, he joined the Pacers for training camp but then obviously did not make the opening day roster. He’s once again joining the team on a non-guaranteed training camp deal.
Fair, 24, is still working to earn a roster spot on an NBA team. Any team. He spent all of last season up in Fort Wayne with the Mad Ants, who advanced all the way to the NBA D-League finals. Fair appeared in 50 games and averaged 13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game.
With the Pacers already have 15 players with fully guaranteed contracts and another — Toney Douglas — partially guaranteed, the best bet for Fair would be to have a great training camp, learn a ton, and then go back up to the Mad Ants, which is now owned by the Pacers, and continue to develop his game.
One specific thing that Fair has been told he needs to improve is his 3-point shot. That is clear, as he shot just 27.4 percent from deep with the Mad Ants last year, including a 22-percent mark in road games.
Fair, a fellow Syracuse University product like rookie Rakeem Christmas, has been in Indianapolis for workouts the past two weeks. The Pacers open camp next Tuesday. On Thursday, like most of his teammates, he was out at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course for their annual golf outing benefitting the Pacers Foundation.
VigilantSports.com spoke with him at the putting green, where he was helping golfers line up a long putt for a grand prize.
Back with the Pacers for another training camp, how do you view this opportunity:
It’s an opportunity to get into the NBA. It’s a good situation for me. I’m familiar with the staff; they’re familiar with me. I’m just trying to get one step closer and I thought this was my best opportunity.
And, so much of it is about getting game film for other teams to see, no?
I’m getting a lot better going against elite guys. If I get better and the right people see it, good things will happen.
Have you had a conversation with Larry Bird or Kevin Pritchard and what have they said you need to work on to reach the next level?
Yeah. They see a lot of good progress in me. That’s the main thing. They want to see me keep progressing. If I’m not getting better, my chance isn’t that great. The main thing for me is to come in here and show that I can be consistent at the NBA 3-point line and I think I’ve shown that I’ve gotten a lot better from last year and how I’m improving. Just gaining experience really. Just seeing where I could fit in because some teams might want me to play the small forward spot or the stretch-four the way it’s going. It’s all about how I fit in people’s systems.
Has anyone stood out to you in the pickups games?
Paul George. Last year he was hurt so I didn’t get to watch him play. Seeing him play, I was really impressed. The skills he has.
Looking back to normal?
Yeah, yeah. He definitely looks like he never got hurt. That was fun to see, and how he operates. I’m excited to see how he does this year.
Have they told if training camp may lead to a spot back with the Mad Ants, now they they own the team? That could be a good fit.
That’s definitely a good fit for me if things go in that direction. I talked to the new head coach. That could be a good situation for me if it comes down to it. I’m already familiar with everything there so it would just be second nature. We’ll see how it goes.