Leave it to Larry Bird to cut to the chase.
After all the flowery introductions and recognitions and thank yous, the Pacers team president stepped to the microphone in Fort Wayne on Wednesday and explained the fundamental reason the franchise has purchased the Mad Ants of the NBA's Development League.
It's about getting more playing time for the players sent "down" to the minor league franchise. Having a refuge for the likes of Miles Plumlee, Orlando Johnson, Solomon Hill and Shayne Whittington to get game minutes, rather than idling at the end of the Pacers' bench.
"It seemed like we were really getting in their way," Bird said at the press conference at the Grand Wayne Center.