The Pacers‘ free agent shopping for 2018 is all but over, with the team having used up its cap space on Doug McDermott and Tyreke Evans before committing its room exception to Kyle O’Quinn. While the team may make some tweaks around the edges of its roster, it won’t be able to offer more than the veteran’s minimum to any more free agents.
With his roster for 2018/19 nearly set, Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard spoke to J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star about this summer’s free agent signings, an increased focus on three-point shooting, and several other Pacers-related topics. The conversation is worth checking out in full, but here are a few highlights from Pritchard:
On considering making a trade during last month’s draft:
“We had a couple of guys that we really liked in the draft and to move up we were going to have to take on some contracts. Some teams wanted to get off contracts. We were able to move up but it would’ve taken us completely out of free agency. What happens is you evaluate what you think can happen on July 1 in free agency, which you have no clue, or do you move up and get a young guy that’s up and coming? As we analyzed it, what we felt like was important was this team last year made a jump like we weren’t expecting. We wanted it to be a good team, but adding a really good rookie (chosen higher in the draft) is a good thing but sometimes that’s a future’s play.”
On Thaddeus Young‘s decision to exercise his player option:
“We were thrilled because we wanted to keep that starting five in place. Now we’ve kept the top seven guys (from last year’s team) in terms of minutes played and adding a few players that we feel like could come off our bench to be effective. Thad means everything to us. The continuity of that, what he brings in the locker room — it feels like we over-talk about that stuff — but it’s important. We know what Thad is. He’s going to be a great leader and he’ll have a heck of year. I have no doubt.”
On the contract status of head coach Nate McMillan, who is entering the final year of his deal:
“We’re talking right now. We value what he’s done. We understand how important he is and we’ll have conversations over the summer with him.”
On what it will take for a star free agent to seriously consider the Pacers:
“If we win a series or get a little deeper into the playoffs with our flexibility, that’s our ultimate goal. A good core we believe in and then ultimately some flexibility to go after something like that. We may not get him, but you have to at least try. For me, having some success on the court, having our players enjoy the way we play and winning, that’s the best thing Indiana can provide. If you want to come, have success, have a chance to win in the playoffs, we can provide that.”
Indiana is doing everything right. Keep a very good starting 5 intact of Collison-Oladipo-Bogdanovic-Young-Turner, add scoring talent in Evans and McDermott off the bench, and add TE, DM, and KO to a bench unit of Sabonis, Joseph that should be a major advantage for Indy. Don’t sleep on the Pacers in the east.
Oladipo’s contract, which was originally questioned, now looks like one of the best in the game.
Right now I have them fighting for the 3-5 seed with 76ers, and Wizards, with Boston and Toronto likely getting 1 and 2. Toronto sucks when it’s the playoffs but they’ve proven to be winners in the regular season, that’s why I have them so high.
I’d throw the Bucks in there too. I think the east playoff teams will be Toronto, Boston, Philly, Indy, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Washington, and Miami. Not in that particular order though
The east will be fun to watch battle it out all season
Yeah competitive… just lacking the quality.