Reggie Perry was enjoying a video game on Wednesday night when he learned that the Pacers wanted to sign him, writes James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star. After receiving a message from his agent, Perry, who had been playing for Raptors 905 in the G League, got a flight the next morning and joined his new team on a 10-day hardship contract.
Perry, who stands 6’8″, also got a crash course in playing center. Indiana has Myles Turner, Goga Bitadze and Isaiah Jackson all injured and Domantas Sabonis in health and safety protocols, so Perry became the team’s tallest available player.
“That’s literally what (coach Rick Carlisle) said to me. As soon as I met him (he said), ‘You’re the tallest player on the roster, so you’ll be playing (center) for us. You’re screening and rolling,'” Perry said. “That’s literally exactly what he said to me. It was a great conversation. He was glad to have me. All the coaches and players, they all welcomed me with open arms.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- After being waived by the Thunder last season and joining the Pistons on a two-way contract, Frank Jackson may have a long-term future in Detroit, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Jackson is averaging 16.5 points per game since returning from the health and safety protocols and an ankle injury late last month, and he has forged a leadership role with his young teammates. “The game is starting to slow down (for me),” Jackson said. “It’s my fifth year, and being around some really awesome talent and coaches … I’m just lucky to be here, and I’m going to keep rolling.”
- Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley got to face the two teams that passed on him in the draft, the Pistons and Rockets, over the past week, notes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Mobley averaged 23.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in the two games and posted a double-double in the first half at Houston. “We were extremely fortunate to end up with Evan,” coach J.B Bickerstaff said. “That’s not a knock on the other two guys that went before him. I think this rookie class is going to be one of those classes that we talk about for a long time. But we were fortunate to get our guy, one that fit exactly with what we were trying to do. We’ve seen the impact he has had on us so far.”
- Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton, who will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, has signed with Klutch Sports, the agency tweeted.
I think it’s premature to say the other two teams passed up on Mobley. He wouldn’t talk or workout with anyone but Cleveland. Mobley made his choice and Cleveland agreed to draft him. This is poor writing
That is 1000% false. Cavs didn’t get the chance to talk to or workout Mobley before the draft. He didn’t even workout with the Rockets because he reportedly “stonewalled” both teams in hopes of being picked 1st. This is poor commenting.
link to thecourier.com.
“There was some (incorrect) chatter about #Cavs meeting with — and working out — Evan Mobley prior to the draft. GM Koby Altman just said this was a unique process and they didn’t have that opportunity to talk to him during the pre-draft process.”
-Chris Fedor
So you want to confirm from another writer and claim that is 100% correct. Day prior to the draft, reports surfaced that Mobley wasn’t interested in Houston and he only engaged with Detroit and Cleveland. Detroit was already set on Cade but only accepted a meeting with Cade to please the fan base. Mobley had no interest to talk with Houston and that was one guy I wanted Houston to take. Even so, I think it’s nonsense that a player dictates the draft like that. Green did the same thing too in that draft. Cade knew he was going first and only talked with Detroit. Pistons must have told them that he was their man from the start. Either way, a player dictates where he goes, is bad business. I wish players coming into the league, wouldn’t feel “entitled” to where they go. It’s a gamble if team A selects a player who only wants to play from Team B. That player can block all communications to Team A. That’s why Houston went with a safer draft with Green. They were getting over Harden and another bulk, would have really lit the fire under the fans. Stone protected his job in that situation.
He also worked out for Toronto, not just CLE
No. What happened actually indicates that Mobley had no preference as to team, only draft position. Mobley did what every top of the draft prospect does (Green did the same). You workout for the team(s) at your firewall draft position(s) (usually the lowest drafting team(s) that are likely to take you). Mobley’s ONLY concern was not slipping past #3, so he worked out for the team drafting #3.
Also, workouts really don’t matter, and certainly would never cause a team to pass on a better prospect at the top of a draft.
@DXC that maybe true. But I think Stone protected his job by selecting Green. I still believe the reports that Mobley wasn’t interested playing for Houston. And like I said, after the Harden meltdown, I don’t think Stone wanted to risk another distraction or even Mobley bulking at signing with Houston. I seriously felt Mobley was needed more than Green or Cade. He’s worked out well with the Cavs and I can’t help but being pretty anal sore about Houston not drafting him. A large part of me thinks Familia is ruining that organization and forcing Stone to be his puppet. Similar to Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, except Jones doesn’t use a GM or a shield to take the blame on bad decisions. This next draft, if it’s a another guard, I am jumping ship. I’ve been a fan since my favorite player Charles Barkley made his final game there. A part of me likes the Suns too but have been a Rockets fan and grew to the team and organization. I just hope Stone makes the right pick, Forward or Center
I guess we won’t mention that Green went for
21 pts, 5 ast, 5 reb. Or that Cavs lost to Rockets 115-104
Or that Cade went for a triple double. 19 pts, 10 ast, 10 reb. And that Pistons won 115-105.
See how selective reporting works. Stay informed and don’t swallow everything they feed you.
That being said, Mobley has been the best of them by far, and is significantly responsible for where his team is, in 3rd place
Why would they mention that, this is a rumours site not a stats site
For the more grammatical smh; “Why would they mention that? This is a rumours site, not a stats site.”
The writer made reference to Mobley being passed on. Then proceeded to show his stats against the two teams. Yet omitted who the they took to pass on him. Or the fact they lost both gms.
Why do I even have to explain this. Free your minds .
Mobley is best big in draft. But he is not ROY. There is competition for that honor still. And a long way to go.
And he is not responsible for Cavs. Allen and Garland are if you have to pick a player. Cavs success comes as a Team. Which Mobley has shown to be a big part of.
So again, stop swallowing everything they feed you.
AL The writer is not obligated to your perspective. It was Not an ROY article. You think you’re smart but you ignored the source.
Cavs dd not have the choice of drafting Cade C or Jalen G. They hit on the choice they had, incidently, a player you repeatedly said could only be a 5. In fact in the reg lineup he plays a 3. Your criticsm is based on a local writer having a different goal than you, and even ignored who was best, only that the others did okay too. I’m sure they all kept track,of each other.
Cavs only had a choice of Mobley, Barnes, Suggs, Giddey, Kuminga… you only named the ones they could not have gotten without a stupid slot switch.
PiratesFan- You did not provide a source, making your point less believable. SexLand did and the timeland was clear and Mobley spoke to it. I don’t know why you insist he did interview with Altman; it is not necessary to your point, which is that candidates should not have a say in what team he goes to— Which, is not IRL nor some better ideal. It is dumb. Sorry your team picked wrong boo hoo.
I don’t swallow anything buddy stop being so aggressive to everyone who doesn’t feed into your nyk homer bs. I’ve been to MSG when they were literally selling Renaldo Balkman jerseys on the concourse. Settle tf down and holler at me when your team wins something.
I like Rich P but not sure if Sexton signing is going to play out well for the Cavs. The fact he represents Garland too is interesting too.
Rich P or no Rich P, Clev will surely F*CK it up trying to fit Sexton back into the lineup.
I have always liked Garland. And saw Sexton as more a scorer. He is not the right kind of PG for those bigs. And Cavs success amplifies that. Even Cavs have tried playing them both. Since they saw Sexton as a scorer. Two small guards will never work. The piece they are missing is a shooter at the 2. That will make them a better and more consistent team.
This is for the blind…..
Mobley is the real thing. But he is not there yet. Against Hornets it was Allen who controlled gm for Cavs. He and Love won the gm. A gm they could of lost. Mobley’s stat line for gm. 37.30 mins. 8 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast.
Allen’s line. 34 mins, 29 pts, 22reb.
Love with 25 and 9 in 26 mins.
That is all conventional wisdom AL, except for leaving out your bad advice. Everyone has bemoaned the Sexton-Garland fit, but Altman drafts for the “best talent available” regardless.
Allen does usually gets mentioned as the second-best Cav. Love is crucial to winning when healthy especially with Sexton & Rubio out. In effect Love is currently the alternate playmaker to Garland.
What is your point?