Jeremiah Robinson-Earl discusses his signing with the Pacers
Former Villanova star and four-year pro Jeremiah Robinson-Earl signed a 10-day contact with the Pacers Saturday.
The Indiana Pacers signed forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to a hardship exception contract.Robinson-Earl was nearly headed to the G League after being waived by the Dallas Mavericks.Coach Rick Carlisle praised Robinson-Earl’s versatility and fundamental skills.
INDIANAPOLIS — Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was days away from having to start a season in the G League for the first time in his career.
The 6-9 forward and former Villanova star had played five games in the NBA’s minor league, but it was only on assignment while holding an NBA standard contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, this summer after four years in the league he found less interest than usual. He took an Exhibit 10 contract with the Mavericks and got to play with the team during training camp, but he was eventually waived and expected to start the season with the Texas Legends, Dallas’ G League squad.
That was until earlier this week when he got a call from his agent saying that the Pacers were in need of help with injuries stacking up and could end up with a hardship exception to sign players beyond the 18-player roster limit (15 standard contracts and three two-ways). Robinson-Earl said he got into town for the Pacers two days ago to work out and his signing was announced Saturday.
“It’s amazing,” Robinson-Earl said. “It’s a blessing to be able to do what you love, so I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
And the Pacers are just grateful to have another healthy body. Forward Johnny Furphy and guard Taelon Peter have returned to activity after missing all or most of the Pacers’ last four games, but they are still missing six players due to injury in guards Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin and Kam Jones, and forward Obi Toppin. The returns of Nembhard, McConnell and Mathurin may not be too far off, but Haliburton is out all season and the Pacers announced Friday that Toppin will have surgery to have a screw placed in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot and he’ll be out until at least February.
Robinson-Earl could give them needed forward depth in Toppin’s absence. He’s averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds for his career.
“We needed someone with some size and versatility,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Was kind of surprised he was available. He’s a guy who’s easy to like. He played 4 and 5 and he’s played some 3 in the NBA with Oklahoma City. I know he was in camp with Dallas and the Dallas people liked him a lot. Good opportunity for him, good opportunity for us.”
Carlisle thinks Robinson-Earl will be an easy fit stylistically and be able to jump into the Pacers’ system immediately.
“He’s proven and shown to be an adaptable guy,” Carlisle said. “Over the last day and a half since he’s been here, he’s picked things up very quickly. He’s a very fundamentally sound player. He shoots it, he passes it, he makes the right play. Knows who he is as a player and plays to his strengths.”
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