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The Indiana Pacers Next Step to Winning Now: Sign Terrence Jones

By Mason Hankins

Dec 21, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 121-110. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 121-110. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Terrence Jones was recently bought out by the New Orleans Pelicans in the wake of the DeMarcus Cousins trade, and teams around the league are showing interest. The Indiana Pacers should be one of them.

The trade deadline was sadly uneventful for the Indiana Pacers, but that doesn’t mean they still can’t shake things up.

It’s been well-documented that the Pacers lack depth at the power forward position. Outside of Thaddeus Young, Coach McMillan is searching for a big man to separate themselves from the pack.

Unfortunately, that is yet to happen. Pacers fans have seen the likes of Lavoy Allen and Kevin Seraphin play significant minutes off the bench, but they are not the pieces that are going to propel this team atop the Eastern Conference. That leaves Rakeem Christmas, who was surprisingly inserted in the rotation last night against Memphis. He showed some promise averaging four points and 6 rebounds in the last two games, but that small sample size does not mean he’ll be getting a promotion, especially being as inexperienced as he is.

The young forward has some upside, but is Rakeem Christmas really the solution to Indiana’s big man dilemma, and can he be the guy to help this team make some noise in the latter half of the season? If he was, McMillan probably would have given Christmas a shot at proving himself much earlier.

The Pacers were unable to reinvent themselves and make a deal before the trade deadline, so the power forward depth chart remains the same (Young, Allen, Seraphin, and Christmas). But, it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Enter Terrence Jones

Terrence Jones has been waived by the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Pacers desire another solid option at power forward. Sounds like a perfect marriage to me.

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Jones has had an excellent season as he has averaged 11.5 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game in his first season in New Orleans. The Kentucky graduate and national champion is a proven winner and plays the game with an intensity that this Pacers team desperately needs. He certainly does not belong on the waiver wire, but the logjam at the forward spot, coupled with DeMarcus Cousins’ arrival in New Orleans thrust him into free agency.

The Pacers should give him some heavy consideration because when Terrence Jones gets a chance, the man simply answers the bell. For instance, earlier this season, the Pelicans’ Anthony Davis was out with an injury. That meant Jones would draw the start against the heavily favored Cleveland Cavaliers. You better believe he took advantage of that opportunity.

Jones was locked in and went off on his way to 36 points and 11 rebounds as the Pelicans stunned the Cavaliers. There is sufficient evidence that the 6′ 9″, 255-pound free agent can get it done when given a shot, and frankly, that’s all Indiana should need to hear.

What Signing Jones Does for the Pacers

Although the Pacers would be required to cut someone on the current roster to sign Jones, this seems like a no-brainer for the front office as Indiana must win now. If Indiana doesn’t act soon, another team will surely leap at the chance of signing him.

The Indiana Pacers must rise to contention in the East, and a Terrence Jones signing will expedite that process. That means bringing in players that will keep Paul George around, and help recruit future free agents is imperative for this team moving forward.

Next: Miller Time Podcast Episode #178: Gregg Doyel

Indiana must make an impression that they want to win now as it will undoubtedly change the culture of a team that seems to be in limbo. The optimal way to do that at this point in the season is to sign the best available player available. That player is Terrence Jones.

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