Indiana
James Wiseman Another Bet On Indiana Pacers Ability To Develop
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 22: James Wiseman #13 of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball past … [+]
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers officially signed center James Wiseman on Friday, a move that was necessitated by the reported departure of Jalen Smith. The blue and gold needed a big man, and they got one in Wiseman.
It’s a fascinating signing, and one that is a no-risk, high reward deal for the Pacers. Wiseman was the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and was considered a high-upside big man at the time. So far, that hasn’t come to fruition. But if anyone can turn his fortunes, it’s Indiana.
The blue and gold have improved as a team in the last three years in large part because of their ability to develop players who weren’t panning out elsewhere. Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, Jalen Smith, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jordan Nwora all came to Indiana from other places where they either didn’t fit perfectly, didn’t play, or weren’t in the long-term plans. They all got better with the Pacers.
“The most rewarding part of this job has been the player development aspect of it,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said in late May. “When you’re a small market team, there are certain things you’ve got to be great at. You’ve got to be great at player development.”
Another commonality among those players is they were all drafted in 2020. That’s more of a coincidence than anything, but that applies to Wiseman as well. The Pacers new center, along with Haliburton, Nesmith, Toppin, and Smith were all selected in the lottery of that draft.
Wiseman will hope that Indiana can help him find his footing in the NBA. With the Golden State Warriors, he was given chances to play but wasn’t effective or on the team’s timeline. He also missed an entire season due to injury, and he was traded to the Detroit Pistons at the 2023 trade deadline for several second-round draft picks.
With the Pistons, Wiseman struggled. He was out of the rotation early in the most recent campaign. Along the way, there were flashes — Wiseman’s size and speed gave him incredible highs. But his defense, turnovers, and lack of range are limiting.
Wiseman’s contract reflects a player has yet to put it all together. It’s a two-year deal, and the fact that it was signed before the moratorium was complete confirms it’s a minimum salary deal. It is partially guaranteed in the first season, and there’s a team option on year two. There’s almost no risk for the Pacers.
Yet there is upside, certainly, and the fact that Indiana signed Wiseman at all is reflective of their belief that he could turn into something over the life of the deal. The blue and gold are a contending team — they need their reserve players to produce when they are called upon. As the projected third center behind Myles Turner and Isaiah Jackson, Wiseman will play when injuries pop up. Indiana will need him to execute, and they wouldn’t have added him without some faith he can perform.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 11: Bennedict Mathurin #00 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket … [+]
If he can’t help out, then he won’t play. Wiseman will have to get better as a pick-and-roll defender, a ball caretaker, and a jump shooter. His range is limited, and his defense needs work. The average distance of a Wiseman shot attempt last season was under five feet, and Detroit’s defense was about 3.7 points per 100 possessions worse with Wiseman on the court. He has room to improve around his impressive rebounding and play finishing.
Certain players have seen their skills grow at these traits with the Pacers in recent seasons. Isaiah Jackson has improved as a defender, particularly with his discipline. Smith became a much better shooter with the blue and gold, as did Toppin and Nemsith. Nwora grew as a passer. Any of those improvements happening with Wiseman would be a welcome sight.
It would be a win for both parties. Wiseman needed to find a team that could help him get better and increase his chances of having a long NBA career. The Pacers hope they can turn a young, unproven player into a cheap contributor. Both groups really want this partnership to work.
That’s why it makes sense as a signing, especially if Wiseman is able to get better over the life of the deal. Indiana needs him to produce, but if he does, this agreement will be a win-win as Wiseman bets on himself with a lightly guaranteed contract.
Indiana
Indianapolis police investigate shooting near downtown canal
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — One person was taken to the hospital Monday night after a shooting near the canal in downtown Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded just before 8 p.m. to a shooting in the 300 block of West 9th Street. That’s an address within the 9 on Canal apartments near North St. Clair Street and West Senate Avenue.
Officers entered an apartment building and found a male who had been shot. He was taken to Eskenazi Health in stable condition.
A police report obtained by News 8 identifies the suspect as a male.
Police did not say what led to the shooting. No arrests have been made.
Indiana
Does this diner serve the biggest pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana?
EDINBURGH, Ind. (Amazing America) — Is a trip to the Hoosier state complete without digging into a massive Indiana-style breaded pork tenderloin sandwich?
The Edinburgh Diner, a classic small-town joint about 40 minutes south of Indianapolis, serves up a delicious version of the staple that just might be the biggest one out there.
Drawing locals and road trippers alike, the menu at this cozy diner focuses on classic comfort food, with burgers, fries & onion rings, hearty breakfast spreads, and hefty portions of homestyle dishes — all for an affordable price.
The Edinburgh Diner’s 16-ounce behemoth of a pork tenderloin sandwich costs just $9.99.
The recipe is pretty simple overall, but there is a whole culture built around the Indiana pork tenderloin sandwich.
A large piece of pork is pounded super thin, then dipped in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Deep-fried until golden brown and crispy, it’s served on a basic hamburger bun with toppings like pickles, onions, mustard, or mayo.
The thing the otherwise no-frills sandwich iconic is the pork cutlet being way bigger than the bun, hanging over the edge dramatically. Locals say that if the tenderloin fits inside the bun, it’s not done right.
A crispy, salty exterior, tender pork, a soft bun and tangy toppings combine to form a simple yet beloved, satisfying Midwest meal.
Inspired by European schnitzel brought to the Midwest by German immigrants, the sandwich made its Indiana debut at Nick’s Kitchen in Huntington in the early 1900s. Over time it skyrocketed in popularity, becoming what many call Indiana’s unofficial signature dish.
It’s not just a sandwich. It’s a slice of Midwestern food culture. The debate over who makes the best one might never be settled, but until then, we are more than happy to try any and every version of this scrumptious dish — for research, of course.
The Edinburgh Diner is located at 413 S Eisenhower Dr, Edinburgh, Indiana 46124. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
We know there are plenty of other stories of unique landmarks and cultural experiences in all corners of the USA, and we’re making it our mission to find and highlight them. If you know of one, we’d love to hear about it. Send a DM to @amazingamericatv on Instagram!
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Indiana
New judge lifts order blocking absentee ballots in Indiana Senate primary
(INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE) — A special judge on Friday lifted an order blocking officials in three western Indiana counties from mailing absentee ballots in a Republican primary where President Donald Trump has endorsed a challenger to state Sen. Greg Goode.
Putnam County Superior Court Judge Charles Bridges took the step the same day he took over the dispute involving whether one of two women with the last name Wilson who filed to run against Goode in the primary should be removed from the primary ballot because of a 2010 criminal conviction.
The original judge on Wednesday had ordered the county clerks in Vigo, Clay and Sullivan counties to hold off on distributing absentee ballots involving the Republican Senate District 38 race.
Under state law, county election offices must start mailing requested absentee ballots on Saturday ahead of the May 5 primary.
Friday’s order from Bridges said that delaying those ballots would violate federal law and that the county court couldn’t prevent the clerks “from fulfilling their constitutional duties regarding the mailing of absentee ballots.”
Alexandra Wilson’s attorney argued before the Indiana Election Commission last month that she remained eligible since her 2010 guilty plea to a low-level Class D felony charge of resisting law enforcement at the age of 19 was accepted by a judge as a Class A misdemeanor.
The dispute has gained attention because of its possible impact on the campaign prospects of Brenda Wilson, a Vigo County Council member who has Trump’s endorsement against Goode following the senator’s December vote against the Indiana congressional redistricting plan.
The four-member Election Commission split 2-2 during a hearing last month on the challenge to Alexandra Wilson’s candidacy, with the tie vote leaving her name on the ballot.
Bridges set a hearing for Tuesday to review the Election Commission’s actions.
Alexandra Wilson’s attorney, Samantha DeWester, argued in a court filing that blocking mailing of primary ballots would wrongly hurt her client’s “ability to campaign and effectively run for elected office.”
Attorney Jim Bopp, who is a top political ally of Gov. Mike Braun and is supporting Brenda Wilson, is pursuing the legal case against Alexandra Wilson.
Bopp said he would not fight to keep the initial absentee ballots from going out with Alexandra Wilson’s name included.
“The vast majority of ballots that are going to be cast are, of course, in the future, with early voting and in-person voting,” Bopp told the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “That’s the most important thing to get right.”
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