Report: Pacers expected to target Marcus Smart, Tyreke Evans, Will Barton

The Pacers could have a decent chunk of cap space this offseason. According to recent reports, they may look to spend on guards and wings.

Less than a week away from free agency, reports linking teams to players and vice versa will flood Twitter timelines and notification centers alike. A couple of recent reports have linked the Pacers to a few free agents potentially coveted league-wide.

First up was Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports:

And then Chris Haynes of ESPN:

The news did come after Indiana decided to decline Lance Stephenson’s $4.3 million team option. These reports coming on the same day does not seem like a coincidence. Indiana may feel like it can spend the $4.3 million Stephenson was slated to earn on a more dynamic player. Smart, Evans, and Barton could all be that player, even though they will certainly make more than that 4.3 million figure—possibly double, even.

Stephenson is certainly a better defender than Evans and Barton, though they are both coming off career-best seasons on the offensive end. Barton, starting in 40 of his 81 games for the Denver Nuggets, averaged 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and one steal per game. Barton shot 45.2 percent from the field, 37 percent from three (5.2 attempts per game), and 80.5 percent from the free throw line.

Evans, in 32 starts in 52 games, averaged 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game—while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from three (5.5 attempts per night), and 78.5 percent from the free throw line.

Both Barton and Evans offer more reliable three-point shooting than Stephenson, which matters. While it was an outlier, Evans’ 41.1 percent pull-up three-point shooting last year makes him quite an attractive target since he can potentially create his own shot.

Barton and Evans can both start as well, which the Pacers may find appealing. Bojan Bogdanovic had a solid 2017-18 campaign in Indiana, but the Pacers may choose to opt for the more well-rounded offensive game of Barton if he were to come aboard.

Darren Collison also looked good as a starter last season next to Victor Oladipo, but maybe Evans opens even more up for the offense? Who knows, those are decisions that coach Nate McMillan would have to make if the team brought in either of those guys.

Then, there’s Marcus Smart. Being a restricted free agent, Smart may be tougher to acquire than Barton and Evans. Boston may like to bring him back, though it seems like it may become too pricey for them and their soon-to-be expensive roster.

Smart’s market seems like it will settle in between $10-13 million per year. A team like Indiana could afford that, though preferably on the lower end.

Smart just needs one offer at $13 million or more, and there may be a team willing to pay that. A team like the Suns has the space to give Smart what he wants—a big payday and a starting spot. With positions 2-5 locked in, Phoenix just needs a point guard. Smart, a dogged defender and good playmaker, would be a great fit next to Devin Booker.

Smart could start in Indiana as well, forming one of the best defensive backcourts the league has to offer next to Oladipo. He may have to take less money for that to happen, though. Maybe the winning would make up for it. But the Celtics could still match the contract offer, so it is a tough game to play.

Guard (backup, in particular) and wing may end up being the Pacers’ top offseason priorities, seeing as though those are currently where the roster’s two biggest holes lie. What Thaddeus Young chooses to do with his player option could have an impact on that, however. That decision needs to be made by June 29, though whether he remains in Indiana may not be determined until July 1 or later.

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These are just rumors for now. They make sense, however, and we will see how much interest the Pacers actually have in Barton, Evans, and Smart come July 1. Strap in everyone. It’s free agency time.