What Should the Indiana Pacers do with their rotation players?

Glenn Robinson III: Finally a bright spot

With all the players reviewed so far either being paid too much or just not being that useful to the Pacers (besides Lavoy), it is nice that Glenn Robinson III is finally a value contract and good player. If I had told you that last summer, you might have hit me in the face, but Robinson III made long strides of improvement this season and was one of few bright spots on the Pacers roster.

When Philadelphia rescinded his qualifying offer in 2015, making him an unrestricted free agent, the Pacers took a flier on him and signed him to a 3 year, $3,241,000 contract with the last 2 seasons non-guaranteed.

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What a contract that has turned out to be! Essentially a 3-year minimum deal for one of the Pacers best and most exciting players throughout the season. To have Robinson III be on the minimum again next season is huge for the Pacers — if he was being paid what he is worth the Pacers would have no cap space this summer.

Robinson III had only played in 80 games in his whole career before this season, and he had no noteworthy skills. This year, he started a third of the Pacers games, played 20 minutes a game, and was able to shoot an impressive 39% from three point range. Top that off with a +2 net rating and you have got yourself and effective player. Oh yeah, and he won the dunk contest.

Let’s not forget his game-winner, either.

Robinson III is one of the few players the Pacers have an easy decision on. He will be on the team next year, the Pacers will definitely be exercising his guarantee at essentially the minimum. An additional bonus to Glenn’s original contract is that it was 3 total years in length, meaning that next offseason they will have full Bird rights to keep Robinson III for any amount even if they are over the cap. That will probably only be relevant if another unnamed Pacers small forward decides to stay with the team, but that will become more clear next summer.

Robinson III is going to be a Pacer next season, and he should be a solid contributor in however minutes he gets every night.