--Indiana is headed overseas for the first time since 1996. The Pacers will take on the Denver Nuggets in a preseason game in Taipei on Oct. 8.
"I think this is a great opportunity for our franchise and hopefully recognition from the NBA of the team we are building, the way we play and the effort that our players put forth," Pacers president of Basketball Larry Bird said. "Having been to Europe as a player with the Celtics and later as part of the U.S. Olympic Team, it's a great opportunity to promote our game and create new fans of the Pacers. The Far East loves the NBA and for us to be a part of this trip is an important milestone for the Pacers." The Pacers played Seattle in Germany and Spain in 1996.
--The Pacers plan to do their best to avoid an arbitration hearing with locked-out point guard Jamaal Tinsley. Team president Larry Bird said their goal is to trade Tinsley before the July 27 hearing in New York City.
"Every day we talk about it, we contact teams," Bird said. "We're always putting feelers out there to see if we can get anything done."
Tinsley, who has two years remaining on his contract, hasn't played in an NBA game since January 2008.
--All-Star forward Danny Granger is so determined to be part of the 2012 Olympic team in London that he's moving back the date of his annual basketball camp in New Mexico. Granger pushed the date back to August so that he can take part in the USA Basketball training camp, which could lead to him playing in next year's World Championships, in late July in Las Vegas.
"I think in four years a lot of the players won't be playing anymore or on their way out (the NBA)," Granger said. "It would be a great honor to play in the Olympics if I make it."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think some people just love me or hate me. That's the way it is. Everybody has their opinion." -- Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough, the 13th pick in the NBA draft
