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Rumor: Pacers preparing an offer for Aaron Gordon in Free Agency

By Tony East

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 27: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks to the basket against Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 27, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 114-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 27: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks to the basket against Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 27, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 114-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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According to an ESPN report, the Indiana Pacers are expected to target the Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon in restricted free agency this summer.

Many mysteries still surround the Indiana Pacers and their plans to improve the roster this summer. Nobody knows how much cap space they will have or who they will target with that room.

But today a report was released by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that suggests the Pacers will target Orlando Magic power forward Aaron Gordon in free agency this summer:

Gordon, 22, will be a restricted free agent, which makes him substantially harder to acquire. If he signs a contract with the Indiana Pacers, the Orlando Magic will have three days to decide if they want to match that contract offer. If they do match the offer, then Gordon goes back to Orlando.

Essentially, for Indiana to be able to nab Gordon away from the Magic, they would need to offer more money than the Magic are comfortable paying him. Who knows what that figure actually is.

This tweet also (somewhat unintentionally) tells us something about the Pacers cap sheet. The distinction “anticipated $20M-plus in salary cap space” suggests that the Pacers will have enough money to offer Gordon a fair deal. For them to get that much salary cap space, more moves would need to be on the way. Between Thaddeus Young’s player option, Joe Young’s team option, and the partially guaranteed contracts of Darren Collison, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Al Jefferson, the Pacers have a lot of methods in which to clear space. Their cap situation is fluid.

Gordon averaged 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds last season. He could be an athletic spark to the squad and could handle some lead duties when Victor Oladipo is on the bench.

Next: Please, no: Why the Pacers shouldn’t sign Rodney Hood

You can read about the pros of signing Gordon here and the cons here. What Indiana does in free agency will be easier to speculate over the next coming days. Expect more rumors like this one to start pouring in as free agency begins.

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