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What Should the Indiana Pacers do with their fringe players?

By Tony East

Dec 12, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers bench reacts to the Pacers scoring a three point basket against the Charlotte Hornets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers bench reacts to the Pacers scoring a three point basket against the Charlotte Hornets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Joe Young of the Indiana Pacers
Jan 7, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Joe Young (3) and New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) get into an argument that leads to both of them being ejected from the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks 123-109.Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Joe Young: Is it time to cut ties?

Similar to Niang, Joe Young was a middle second round pick, but in 2015. Also similar to Niang, he impressed in the summer league and got a 4 year deal worth 4.3 million. The first 2 years of his contract (last season and this season) were guaranteed.

His full $1,471,382 for the 2017-2018 season gets guaranteed if Young is not waived by July first (the start of free agency). Joe Young has been a competent (at best) player for the Pacers, playing in almost half of the games each season he’s been a member of the team.

More from Pacers Free Agency

For the Pacers and Joe Young, it’s all or nothing over the next month and a half. The Pacers have to decide whether to keep young for next season or not, and it is not an easy decision. He is a minimum contract, so it’s not too big of a deal to keep him, but he is a replacement level player. The Pacers may try to replace him with a better player on a minimum contract or get someone new to fill his role on a slightly cheaper salary with their second round pick (or first, but that player should have a larger role than Joe Young).

Because over a million dollars becomes guaranteed for Young on July first, the Pacers will have to act fast in deciding if they want to keep him, or if they would rather have 1.5 million to spend in free agency (hint: it’s probably the latter). In addition, the point guard market has become quite inflated in the NBA, meaning there are minimum guys who are much better than Joe Young available.

The Young decision will be telling, and it will be easier to predict what will happen to Young after the draft.

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