5 roster moves the Indiana Pacers need to make this offseason

[caption id="attachment_444329" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Indiana Pacers. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]rnrnThe Indiana Pacers blew up their roster at the trade deadline, sending Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, and Justin Holiday to the Sacramento Kings. In return for those players, the Pacers received Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson, which is a good haul for the players they sent out.rnrnThey made two other trades, sending Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round draft pick in exchange for an injured Ricky Rubio as well as a 2022 first-round draft pick and two future second-round picks. Their last move was to send Torrey Craig to the Phoenix Sun, receiving Jalen Smith and a 2022 second-round pick.rnrnThe Pacers played 26 games since making these trades, going 6-20, including a 10-game losing streak to finish the season. This means that they now have a young core and two more first-round picks that they can add to the fold. Let's look at the roster moves they need to position themselves for their future.rn Offseason roster moves the Indiana Pacers need to make: 1. Move on from Goga Bitadtze rnIn his three seasons with the Pacers, Goga Bitadze has averaged 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, and 0.8 assists per game. He was not efficient, going 47.7 percent from the field, 25.4 percent from beyond the perimeter, and 70.7 percent from the line.rnrnUnfortunately, Bitadze does not provide the defensive presence in the middle that a 6'11" player should. With the injury issues suffered by Myles Turner over the past few seasons, the Pacers have needed it. They have some tremendously talented guards who can create offense for their big men, meaning they should find a more defensively-minded backup.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Move%20%232" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_444330" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Indiana Pacers. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]rn Offseason roster moves the Indiana Pacers need to make: 2. Pick up Tyrese Haliburton's team option rnProbably the key piece in the Sabonis trade, Haliburton came to the Pacers and immediately increased their pace. Thanks to his move to the Pacers, Haliburton improved his offense from his rookie season, which was already impressive.rnrnHaliburton went from being a combination of point guard and shooting guard with the Kings to running the offense for the Pacers. This meant that he finished the season averaging 17.5 points, 9.6 assists, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals in 36.1 minutes per game. These are numbers that the Pacers can build around.rnrnAs with every rebuild, teams need to have players who produce at a high level who are also low cost. Haliburton has two seasons left on his rookie scale contract. Next season he is due $4.2 million and the final season is worth $5.8 million, which is such good value for the rebuilding PacersrnrnAt the age of 22, Haliburton is the future of the Pacers now that Sabonis has been traded. The fact he almost averaged a double double with the team in just 26 games means that he has already been handed the keys to the franchise by head coach Rick Carlisle which should excite Pacers fans.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Move%20%233" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_444331" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Indiana Pacers. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]rn Offseason roster moves the Indiana Pacers need to make: 3. Guarantee Oshae Brissett rnOshae Brissett has had to work for everything that he has been able to acheive in the NBA. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors back in 2019 and he worked his way onto the Raptors roster by earning himself a two-way deal that same season. This was then converted to a regular season contract at the start of the 2020 season.rnrnAfter being waived by the Raptors a month later, Brissett then had to wait four and a half months before signing a 10-day contract with the Pacers. He then signed a second 10-day contract. He obviously was able to impress the right people as he signed a contract with the Pacers for the 2021-22 season.rnrnHowever, when signing the deal, the Pacers chose not to guarantee the 2022-23 season. Well, after they blew up the roster at the trade deadline, Brissett is a good low-cost option to keep. His production belies the $1.8 milliion due next season.rnrnBrissett has averaged 9.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in his time with the Pacers. He has turned into a solid 3-point shooter going at 36.8 percent which is always useful for a team looking to form an identity.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Move%20%234" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_444332" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Indiana Pacers. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]rn Offseason roster moves the Indiana Pacers need to make: 4. Pick up Jalen Smith's team option rnWhen the Pacers blew up their roster they were able to start accumulating young talent which will hopefully speed up this process. They turned Craig into a 22-year-old power forward in Jalen Smith, who they are looking to be the long-term replacement for Sabonis.rnrnThey also received a 2022 second-round pick but with the Suns finishing at the top of the NBA standings, this pick will have little value. The true gem of this trade was Smith, who was the tenth pick in the 2020 NBA draft.rnrnSmith blossomed thanks to more playing time with the Pacers. He only played 22 games, starting four of them. He averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 0.8 assists in 24.7 minutes per game. He was also very efficient, going 53.1 percent from the floor, 37.3 percent from the perimeter, and 76.0 percent from the line.rnrnGiven that it is only his second season in the league, Smith has a lot of growing to do. The Pacers are going to surround the 21-year-old with more young talent in order to help develop chemistry as a team. Smith has two seasons left on his rookie deal which will allow the team to potentially sign some quality veterans as well due to his price tag, and others on the team, being so low.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Move%20%235" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_444333" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Indiana Pacers. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]rn Offseason roster moves the Indiana Pacers need to make: 5. Trade Malcolm Brogdon rnWhen the Pacers traded for Haliburton, they made him the future of the franchise. This means that they will want him to run the point moving forward. Given that they have two more years with him and team options, they have a little bit of time to assess his ability.rnrnIf they are going to do this effectively then they need to take away the competition for minutes which may impede his growth. Malcolm Brogdon was meant to be the player that elevated the Pacers when he was signed. Instead, he has been stopped by injury, leaving the Pacers to struggle over the past two seasons.rnrnIn fact, over his six-year career, Brogdon has played more than 70 games only once - in his rookie season. Given that he has three years and almost $67 million left on his deal, the Pacers need to move him to accrue assets that will help them in their rebuild. His age, which is 29, also does not fit the Pacers' timeline for their rebuild.rnrnThis team has the skeleton of a good roster. Their backcourt has some really good pieces in Haliburton, Chris Duarte, Hield, and T.J. McConnell, Smith, and Turner could also form a good combination in the frontcourt. If the Pacers can trade Brogdon then they can get back some expiring contracts as well as draft capital. This is such a desirable outcome for a rebuilding team.rnrn[story_link_next description="The%20perfect%20teams%20for%20the%20top%204%20prospects%20in%20the%20NBA%20Draft" url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/14/perfect-teams-2022-nba-draft/" /]

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5 roster moves the Indiana Pacers need to make this offseason

Offseason roster moves the Indiana Pacers need to make: 2. Pick up Tyrese Haliburton’s team option

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