The Indy Star’s Mike Wells reports the Association’s Players Union has filed a grievance on behalf of PG Jamaal Tinsley, aka “The Pacers’ answer to Stephon Marbury”.
Tinsley’s agent, Raymond Brothers, said last week they planned to file the grievance because he wants the Pacers to trade, release or buy out his client.
Tinsley was barred from the team before training camp. He will make more than $14 million in the final two years of his contract, which expires in 2010-11. Pacers president Larry Bird said they have no intention of buying out Tinsley’s contract.
“We made it clear to Jamaal and his agent, Raymond Brothers, that we would pursue a trade that we feel would be best for both parties and we continue to do so,” Bird said in a statement. “In the meantime, we will do whatever necessary in preparing our case for arbitration should it come to that.”
The Pacers have until Feb. 19 to trade Tinsley this season, and his name again is circulating in rumors.
An Internet report Tuesday mentioned Pacers center Jeff Foster and possibly Brandon Rush going to Charlotte with Tinsley. The two teams have talked in the past, but a deal is not imminent.