With Tyrese Haliburton out for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon, the Pacers have been on the lookout for help at point guard, having cycled through multiple veterans during the preseason and later cutting James Wiseman to add Mac McClung. McClung was subsequently replaced by Monte Morris, whom the team initially intended to bring in for camp before discovering he had a calf injury that has since healed.
Head coach Rick Carlisle said McClung was the most impressive participant in a three-player free agent workout on October 27, which is why the Pacers signed him. According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), the other two participants in that session were Morris and Cody Martin, whose 10-day hardship contract with Indiana expires on Friday.
Martin, who missed Thursday’s game in Phoenix due to an illness (Twitter link via the team), is unlikely to return to the Pacers unless they’re granted another hardship exception, Fischer writes.
In addition to keeping close tabs on free agents, Indiana has also been monitoring the trade market for backcourt help. Sources tell Fischer that Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado is of particular interest to the Pacers.
Alvarado, 27, went undrafted in 2021 after a standout college career at Georgia Tech. The 27-year-old is making $4.5MM this season and holds a player option for 2026/27 worth the same amount.
Through 10 games this season, Alvarado is averaging 6.7 points, 2.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 18.9 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .423/.429/.800.
Waive Dennis and Bradley and resign Wiseman and Mac
Alvarado deserves better than the Pelicans dumpster fire. Between him and McConnell there would be zero chance of me getting through the next Pacers-Knicks series with my TV screen intact. Do it, Indy
Alvarado seems like a great fit for Carlisle, at least in terms of energy and attitude.
As a Knicks fan, I object to this…..but I’m also intrigued….Could get interesting if they meet again in the playoffs
I’m skeptical because IND is 1-11 and Alvarado can be a UFA at the end of the year. IND has no real history of tanking, so maybe they don’t know how to do it right. At a minimum, the FO doesn’t go out and improve the product on the floor during the season. Not that Alvarado is likely to move the needle much.
It’s already a highly competitive, 10 team race to the bottom 😂😂😂