Pacers Rumors: Hill, Granger, Stephenson

The Pacers are off until Saturday after last night’s blowout win over the Nets, but many of the team’s players take it as a slight that the NBA excluded them from the Christmas Day games, observes Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.  Indiana would certainly be a welcome addition to a holiday schedule that doesn’t look quite as star-studded as it did when the season began. Here’s more on the Pacers:

• A rumored trade would send Danny Granger and George Hill to the Celtics for Rajon Rondo, but Hill’s agent, Michael Whitaker, tells Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star there isn’t much to the idea. Whitaker hasn’t spoken with any team about a trade involving Hill this season, he says. Hill isn’t paying much attention to the rumor either, Buckner observes.
• Lance Stephenson last night reiterated his desire to re-sign with the Pacers to reporters, including Harvey Araton of The New York Times. “This is a great team — I’d love to stay,” Stephenson said.
• Josh Newman of SNY.tv wonders if Stephenson could be an All-Star this season, and gauges the ability of the Pacers to re-sign the emerging talent.