The Indiana Pacers plan to take the entire seven-day period allowed them before deciding whether to match the Toronto Raptors’ offer sheet to free agent guard Jarrett Jack, Pacers President Larry Bird said Wednesday.

The official paperwork was not in the Pacers’ hands until Monday, which gives them until next Monday to decide what to do with the sheet. The Raptors signed Jack to a four-year deal worth $20 million. In Toronto, he’d back up incumbent starter Jose Calderon. Last season, Jack and T.J. Ford split the starting point guard job for parts of the season but Ford was expected to be the starter next year.

“My owner’s coming into town next week to talk about it,” Bird said by telephone. “And coach (Jim O’Brien) is coming back, too. We’ll talk about it. We have five days left.”

The 25-year-old Jack, who averaged 13.1 points per game last season, was one of the more coveted reserve guards available in free agency. Several teams, including the Clippers and Nuggets, tried to work deals for him before Toronto made its offer. But the Pacers have a glut in the backcourt, with Travis Diener available behind Ford as well. And the Pacers still have not resolved the status of former starter Jamaal Tinsley, who has not played in more than a year since being told to stay away from the team following several trangressions in previous years.

Several people at the Las Vegas Summer League said this week that Tinsley has been working out in the Atlanta area and is in terrific condition, considering how long he’s been out of action.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that the Pacers had reached a two-year deal with reserve center Josh McRoberts.

(nba.com)

Popularity: 1% [?]