(INDIANAPOLIS – March 4, 2005) The Indiana Pacers announced Friday they had placed forward Jermaine O’Neal on the injured list and signed veteran free agent forward Dale Davis. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
O’Neal was placed on the injured list with a subluxated sprain of the right shoulder, which was sustained in the second quarter of Thursday night’s game at Denver. O’Neal will miss a minimum of five games. To make room for the signing of Davis, the Pacers also Friday waived forward Michael Curry.
The signing of Davis reunites him with the Pacers. The No. 1 draft pick of the team in 1991 (13th overall), the 6-11, 230-pound Davis played nine seasons for the Pacers, averaging 9.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. During that time, Davis was named to the NBA All-Star team in 2000. He was traded by the Pacers, Aug. 31, 2000, to Portland for Jermaine O’Neal and Joe Kleine.
Davis played four seasons for the Trail Blazers and was traded July 20, 2004, to Golden State. He played 36 games with the Warriors before being traded to New Orleans Feb. 24, 2005. He did not play with the Hornets and was waived Tuesday.
“Dale is a veteran big man who had his best years with us,” said Pacers CEO/President Donnie Walsh. “He gives us depth up front, which is important since we’ve been bothered by injuries there all season, he gives us rebounding, which we need, and he’s one of the best defensive post players we’ve ever had.”
(Pacers News release)
