Budinger and Hill reunited, excited about Pacers' potential

The summer began with Chase Budinger aware he would be traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Through talks with his agent he knew a list of teams attracted to him as well.

The Pacers were not one of those teams. Not at first, anyway.

"With all the changes that have been going on here I got a quick phone call about a week ago and heard Indiana was very interested," Budinger said.

A short time after the trade went through he received another message, this one from free agent center Jordan Hill, whom Budinger played with in college at Arizona and on the Houston Rockets a few years back.

"We're going to be teammates again." Hill texted.

On Tuesday, the two sat across the room from each other at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, each with a fresh start that recreates the past. Pacers president Larry Bird brought them in to help his team get faster and score more. It shouldn't be much of a transition for Budinger and Hill. Their only requirement is to stay true to their reputations — Budinger a small forward who can easily knock down 3-pointers, and Hill a rim protector who can lob hook shots over defenders.

After Budinger heard Indiana could make a move for him, he immediately looked up its roster. The core of veteran players with playoff experience sold him. Budinger feels he fits in better with older players — Minnesota had the fourth youngest roster in the league last year. He spent the past season watching younger stars like Andrew Wiggins develop. It was not a place ready to win.

It was almost worse for Hill. On a Lakers team that was dealt several season-altering injuries he had to quickly adjust to another year with an NBA punch line. Moving to Indiana quickly changes that.

"I felt they could use a guy like me," Hill said, describing himself as a hardnosed player. "With the guys on the team now we can make some noise this year."

There's also the added benefit of Hill being able to help mentor another Pacers big in rookie Myles Turner. Except after what he heard about Turner's summer league, it's Hill who wants to learn from the forward.

"I'm working on my mid-range," Hill said. "That's something he can help me out with."

Follow Star reporter Blake Schuster on Twitter: @Schustee.