Phillip B. Wilson

IndyStar

They've known each other since middle school while growing up in Dallas, so Indiana Pacers guard Donald Sloan was as excited as anyone about Wednesday's signing of free-agent wing C.J. Miles.

"That's my guy," Sloan said after Thursday's Summer League workout at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. "We're both from the Dallas area, played against him in high school and AAU, played with him in Cleveland last year before my release. He's going to be a great addition to this organization."

They were texting before Miles' four-year, $18-million deal was announced. Sloan didn't want to get his hopes up too soon.

"He told me it was possible and I was like, 'You're probably going to meet with five other teams,' " Sloan said. "Once I actually saw it on the little free agency tracker, (I said), 'He got it done.'

"I hit him up and we've just been joking ever since. He's like, 'Now I need you to stay since I'm here now.' "

Sloan joined the Pacers last season and appeared in 48 games with one start. He realizes summer league is the time to prove his worth for next season.

"He did his part, now I've got to do my part," he said. "It's tough, but at the same time, if you trust in your work, you trust your abilities, everything else will fall into place whether it's here or somewhere else.

"Now you get new faces, new bodies and an actual game-like look as far as 40 minutes (per game), that's great."

And if he can lock down a roster spot for 2014-15, he will enjoy playing again with Miles.

"C.J. is a great shooter," Sloan said. "I think the two times we played against him last season, we couldn't stop him. One game, he had six 3s. The other game, hit three consecutive ones."

Miles shot 39.3 percent from 3-point range for Cleveland last season, the best percentage in his nine-year NBA career.

The duo also tweeted at each other. Miles opened with "you can't get rid of me bruh lol". Sloan answered with: "my man..... lol welcome aboard fam.... #PacerNation".

Sloan added that Miles has a musical background.

"He's a rapper, you should get him to rap for you," Sloan said. "He's a real rapper, he has a CD and everything. He could make a living off it if he wasn't playing basketball."

Call Star reporter Phillip B. Wilson at (317) 444-6642. Follow him on Twitter: @pwilson24.