Indianapolis ? Former Kansas University basketball guard Brandon Rush hopes to remind Indiana Pacers fans of one of the best players in team history, Reggie Miller.

“Just coming in and helping the team win,” Rush told the Indianapolis Star on Wednesday after taking a physical exam with his new team. “With him being a sharpshooter, I want to be that kind of player.”

At 6-6 and 210 pounds, Rush compared himself to another NBA great.

“I kind of pattern myself after Paul Pierce,” Rush said, referring to the former Jayhawk who led the Boston Celtics to the NBA title. “I’ve been watching him his whole career, and he’s definitely a guy I see myself trying to play like.”

Rush was drafted by Portland at No. 13 and traded to the Pacers for No. 11 pick Jerryd Bayless. The Pacers can’t comment on Rush until trades become official July 9.

“My agent told me they were going to pick me but then trade me to Indiana,” Rush told the Indy Star. “I knew, but I just couldn’t say anything.”

Rush said his three years in college, “made me a better teammate. Coming into college, I was known as a go-to guy who could dominate the ball the whole time. Learning to be a better teammate helped me to be a better player.”

Rush’s brother, Kareem. played for the Pacers last year but is not expected to re-sign with the team.

“I definitely see us as a team on the rise. They were one game behind eighth place,” Rush said of where the Pacers finished in the Eastern Conference playoff race. “We’ve got a lot of young talent, and I think they’re going to make some more trades. I think we’re definitely a team people are going to have to deal with.”

Beasley back at practice

Miami – Michael Beasley returned to practice with the Miami Heat on Thursday, one day after the No. 2 overall pick in last week’s NBA draft was knocked out of his first official summer-league workout with a chest bruise.

Beasley was inadvertently elbowed by a teammate during a defensive drill about 45 minutes after Miami opened its summer-league camp Wednesday morning. He was taken to a doctor for evaluation and treatment, and did not participate with his summer Heat teammates in practices Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Beasley returned for a non-contact session Thursday afternoon, the team said.

He is expected to take part in summer league, which opens Monday in Orlando.

Paul agrees to new deal

New Orleans – Chris Paul and the Hornets reached a contract agreement Thursday that could keep the All-Star point guard with the team for at least the next four seasons. Lance Young, Paul’s agent, said Paul agreed to a three-year extension with a player’s option for a fourth year. The total value of the deal is $68 million.