Larry Bird recently discussed who will be the Pacers' leader this season and in the process hinted that Jermaine O'Neal wasn't always capable of handling the role.

"Just because you make the most money doesn't mean you're the leader," Bird said. "A lot of guys didn't want to step on toes. Not only here, but other places I've been at. They'd say, the guy makes the most money, that means he's the leader. That's not the case. The leader comes from the guy doing the right thing, the guy that's going to be there every day at practice, the guy that plays through pain without complaining. They do the necessary things to prepare themselves."

"I think the situation you have here, you had one guy making a lot of money, and everybody just took it as he's going to be leading us, and in some instances that was true. But I think more now that since it has opened you'll see a number of guys stepping up."

Guys like Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy Jr. are prime candidates to provide leadership in Indiana this season.

"You can't let your ego take over," Bird said. "It can't be about you. It has to be about the team . . . whoever it is, they will follow because they've been needing it for a long time. . . . There are a few guys down there that other guys will gravitate to."

The Pacers plan on bringing Austin Croshere back to Indiana this season after a two year absence.

Croshere spent nine seasons with the Pacers, averaging 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 540 games, before he was traded to Dallas for Marquis Daniels in the summer of 2006.

He played for Golden State last season but will be on Indiana's training camp roster next week.

"We're bringing back Austin this year," Team President Larry Bird said. "He's out there and he needs a place to go. He's been here (working out) the last couple of weeks and he looks good. Jimmy (O'Brien) loves him because he can shoot the 3-pointer."

Jamaal Tinsley will not practice with the Pacers as the team continues trying to trade him, according to Associated Press.

Larry Bird, the team's president, maintains that the team will not buy out Tinsley's contract.

"He will stay wherever he's at until we get something done. Jamaal knows that, his agent knows it, and we know it," Bird said. "Nothing has changed from what we said at the beginning of the year."

"We're going to try to get the best deal for us. If it drags on a little bit, then that's what it's got to be."

Tinsley has played his entire career with the Pacers, having been sent to Indiana from Atlanta after being drafted in the first round in 2001.

T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack will battle to be named the starting point guard of the Pacers in training camp, according to Indianapolis Star.  

"I think T.J. and Jarrett both have the qualities of a starter," Coach Jim O'Brien said. "They're both going to play huge minutes. Another thing is, Jarrett brings toughness and energy. He's not limited to the point guard spot. He can also play two-guard."

Indiana acquired both players in trades this summer, with Ford coming from Toronto and Jack from Portland.

Despite losing Gilbert Arenas for the start of the season, the Wizards do not appear to have any interest in Pacers point guard Jamaal Tinsley, according to Indianapolis Star.

Mike Wells, a beat writer for the Pacers at Indianapolis Star, spoke with Ivan Carter, a beat writer for the Wizards at the Washington Post, about possible interest from the team with Arenas' latest knee surgery.

Washington officials appear to have told Carter that the team has no interest in Tinsley, and Wells has also reported that the Warriors aren't an option for Tinsley either.

Pacers' forward Danny Granger traveled 10,000 miles in August to take part in the NBA's first basketball camp in Indonesia, according to Indianapolis Star.

However, he didn't expect to be treated like a rock star so far away from home.

"It was cool to be thought of like that over there," Granger. "Everywhere we walked we had cameras in our face. It shows how basketball has expanded. Everybody knew me. They really watch the NBA over there."

Granger, the only NBA player on the trip, was shocked to see how poor some parts of the country really are.

"It was kind of humbling," Granger said. "I make a lot of money, and I go over there and I couldn't believe what I was looking at. When I walked through the orphanage, I was like, 'Oh my God' because I had no clue it was going to be like that."

"A lot of the kids didn't speak English, but we had a translator," Granger added. "I did different drills with them and had a question-and-answer session with them. They asked me questions like how much money I make and do I think anybody from Indonesia can make it in the NBA."

Many people are still wondering whether or not the Pacers' Larry Bird will be able to handle complete control of basketball operations because he despises using the phone, according to Indianapolis Star.

Bird has swung a few moves this summer with both Toronto and Portland despite his distaste for talking on the phone.

"You're right, I'm pretty short on the phone," Bird said back in late March.

David Morway, Indiana's general manager, has helped fill some of the void left by Bird's shortness by being very accessible.

There have been rumors that the Warriors and Pacers are talking about a trade involving both Jamaal Tinsley and Al Harrington, according to Matt Steinmetz of the San Francisco Examiner.

Other players would have to be included in any deal as well, and Golden State could be interested in Marquis Daniels, who hasn't impressed in Indiana.

Don Nelson coached Daniels for two seasons in Dallas.

RealGM Note: Using RealGM's Trade Checker, the Pacers could ship Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels to the Warriors for Al Harrington and a contract in the $2M range.

The Pacers are adamant about not buying out the remainder of Jamaal Tinsley's contract, which is about $21 million.

The team will intensify their efforts to trade Tinsley before training camp begins.

The Pacers have begun negotiations with forward Danny Granger on a contract extension, but a deal doesn't appear to be close, according to Indianapolis Star.

Granger and the Pacers have until Oct. 31 to agree on a contract extension, but the parties could opt to wait until next summer when he becomes a restricted free agent.

"You always like to get something done, but at the same time, if we don't then Danny will just go into the season," agent Mike Bartelstein said. "I think Danny's best basketball is ahead of him. He loves it in Indiana. We would love to get something done, but we have to see if there's a deal that makes sense for both sides."