Pacers sign former first-round pick Kareem Rush

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Pacers sign former first-round pick Kareem Rush
By CLIFF BRUNT, AP Sports Writer
July 3, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Pacers started addressing their need for outside shooting by looking way outside, signing Lithuanian League star Kareem Rush.

The 6-foot-6 guard was the Baltic League Final Four MVP last season. A first-round draft pick in 2002, Rush has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte and Seattle.

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The Pacers on Tuesday also signed Stephen Graham and Andre Owens. All three will participate in the team's rookie-free agent camp starting Thursday.

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh was excited about Rush, a career 35 percent 3-point shooter in four NBA seasons.

"He's a great shooter," Walsh said. "We think he's at the perfect stage in his career to make a step forward. He's got a chance to be a very good player."

Rush helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals in 2003-04. He averaged a career-best 10.1 points per game for Charlotte in 2005-06 and scored a career-high 35 points against the Pacers on Nov. 16, 2005.

Walsh wouldn't promise that Rush would make the team.

"He certainly showed our coaches and management on our team that he can play," Walsh said. "He's got a very good chance to make the team."

Owens is a former Indiana prep star who played one season at Indiana before transferring to Houston. The 6-foot-4 guard played last season with Anaheim in the D-League, averaging 16.6 points.

"Andre Owens is a local," Walsh said. "He lives here, and he really played well in the tryout last week."

Graham is a 6-6 forward who has played for Portland, Cleveland, Chicago and Houston. Last season, he averaged 18 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and was a D-League All-Star.

Eight of the 14 players on the camp roster are guards because of Indiana's emphasis on improving its outside shooting.

[timvp]

Link?

[timvp]

Link?

[ShoogarBear]

Kareem Rush? Was Charles O'Bannon not available?

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