Pacers forward Danny Granger hopes to play for the United States at the World Championships in Turkey this summer.

He hopes to be selected for Team USA, which will compete in the World Championships in late August.

"This will definitely be a different summer for me because I normally take a little bit of time after the season to rest, but I plan to get back at it sooner," Granger said. "Who wouldn't want to be able to have an opportunity to represent their country?"

He was selected to take part in Team USA's training camp last summer, but Granger elected not to participate so he could rest his right knee.

"I think that's a great experience for (Granger)," said Pacers president Larry Bird. "Like I told him, 'Don't go out there and fire up 50 3s. Take it to the hole. Show these guys you're a man.'

"I hope he gets an opportunity to play. I think it's a valuable experience anytime you can play for your country."

The city of Indianapolis is considering taking over Conseco Fieldhouse just a few days after Pacers officials said the city could risk losing the team.

The $15.4 million in operating costs for the arena would likely be paid using tax dollars.

Paul Okeson said the city is "seriously thinking about" taking over the operation from the Pacers.

Okeson is handling the negotiations as a member of the Capital Improvement Board, which oversees the city's sports venues.

"If they leave, it's going to cost us roughly $15 million to run this place, and that doesn't include the losses that come along with them going," Okeson said. "In no way is it giving money to the team."

Pacers president Larry Bird says that he's never heard team owner Herb Simon say he would relocate the club.

Bird did admit that he has received calls from people interested in purchasing the club and moving them somewhere else.

The Pacers are losing money and team officials have been talking with Indianapolis about the $15 million a year it costs the club to operate Conseco Fieldhouse.

Larry Bird reiterated what he said back in December today that coach Jim O?Brien will return next season.

Bird, speaking during his season-ending press conference at Conseco Fieldhouse, said O?Brien is part of the team?s rebuilding process.

The Pacers lost 50 games in 2009-10, their seventh-worst showing ever.

"The plan we had in mind, we just didn't get it done," Bird said. "If you're going to go to the playoffs, obviously we've got to get better."

Bird said he expected to be active pursuing trade opportunities during the off-season.

The Pacers released the following statement on rookie forward Tyler Hansbrough:

"Tyler Hansbrough is under the care of local and national medical experts regarding his condition that includes an inner ear infection and a concussion. Doctors will monitor Tyler on regular basis and they expect him to make a full recovery. Due to medical privacy laws, the Pacers and Tyler will have no further statements."

The Indiana Pacers would consider moving the NBA franchise to a new city if the city doesn't agree to cover the cost to run Conseco Fieldhouse.

Since the 18,345-seat venue opened 11 years ago, the Pacers' lease with the city has required the organization to pay for the building's general operating costs, estimated at $15 million per year.

But since March 2009, owner Herb Simon and the Pacers' top brass have insisted the economics of operating a small-market NBA franchise make it fiscally impossible to also pay to keep the arena running.

The Pacers signed their current 20-year lease with the city in 1999, but a clause in that contract allows the team to renegotiate its terms with the city's Capital Improvement Board after 10 years.

On Tuesday, Pacers Sports & Entertainment President Jim Morris said if a deal isn't inked by June 30, Simon would have to start searching for other solutions, and nothing would be off the table.

"We've been having conversations with the Ballard administration for two years," Morris said, "and we're now at the point where we need to wrap this up in the next 30, 40 days."

The Pacers and city leaders are working hard to make sure that doesn't happen.

"We have not had conversations with other cities. We do not want the team to move," Morris said. "In the event that we're not able to address the issues, you have to look at all your options, but Herb has never threatened to move the team, and it's not a matter of leverage; it's a matter of trying to find a way to make this work."

Pacers point guard T.J. Ford won't opt out of the final year of his contract with the team, according to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.

Ford will make $8.5 million in 2010-11.

"To no surprise, T.J. Ford said he's not opting out of the final year of his contract that will pay him $8.5 million," Wells wrote on his Twitter page.

Pacers owner Herb Simon says that both president Larry Bird and coach Jim O'Brien will be with the team next season.

Indiana will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

"That will be a basketball decision and I haven't heard any information that he won't be back next season," Simon said of O'Brien. "So he'll be the coach next season."

"Yes, Larry will be back next season," the owner added.

"It'll be up to him on if he wants to return after next season. Larry is a no-nonsense guy. He calls the shots the way he sees them and he's never going to compromise his values, which I appreciate."

In addition to giving O'Brien and Bird votes of confidence, Simon said that he has no intentions of selling the team.

There have been reports that the Pacers are considering, or are even close to, signing Marcus Williams of the D-League's Austin Toros.

The Indianapolis Star reported early Thursday that the team is on the fence, but even if they did sign the player they wouldn't suit up for the Pacers this season.

Indiana could still sign a D-League player after the season for the summer, but it doesn't appear as though they'll make any additions before the end of the regular season.

"We've taken a close look at our options and we're not going to make a roster move at this time," Pacers general manager David Morway told RealGM via e-mail.

Indiana will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season, but have won eight of their last 10 games.

Indiana is considering signing a player from the NBA's Development League for the first time before the season ends.

The Pacers would sign the player to a non-guaranteed contract and he wouldn't play in any of the remaining four games.

The move would allow the Pacers to have the player for their summer league roster in order to see if he might fit into their long-term plans.