Shooting Guard
Current Roster
Victor Oladipo, 27, signed through ’21 | Wesley Matthews, 33, free agent | Edmond Sumner, 23, signed through ’20 | Tyreke Evans, 30, it’s complicated |
Victor Oladipo seems to be progressing well, but there’s no real timeline on his return. Prudence is the best course in the two-time all-star’s recovery. He’ll be back sooner of later. Tyreke Evans, on the other hand, won’t be back any time soon and might be down forever. Evans has been exiled from the NBA for substance abuse issues. There was an excellent chance that Evans wasn’t going to return to Indiana in the first place, now it’s assured.
Edmond Sumner entered the season billowing with hype after his stellar play in the summer league and the G-League, but it has yet to translate onto an NBA court. He had two starts and looked thoroughly lost, but he’s worth more of a look.
After basically red-shirting 2018, 2019 was his de facto rookie season, after a torn ACL ended his career at Xavier. Sumner’s on an inexpensive contract, under complete team control, give the kid more time.
Then there is Wesley Matthews. Matthews played hard and well during his stint in Indiana, but he didn’t set the world on fire. That’s kind of who he is: a bulldog of a starter who threes-and-D’s. Culturally he’s a tremendous fit with the Pacers, if he stays, he might get an opportunity to start in the beginning of the season, but will then have to retreat to the bench. And that might be the hang-up.
Matthews sees himself as a starter, which makes a return to Indiana dicey. The Mavericks, Hornets, Rockets and the Lakers might have one of those spots open, needing a reliable starting two-guard. His most fitting spot, given the current stage of his career, would be as a key second unit player, but he wants to start, and starting opportunities exist, then more power to him.
Free agent options
There are plenty of these ranging from the ones who would cost max contracts, even with an ACL injury (Golden State’s Klay Thompson); to ones that will just command a contract between $10-20M (Orlando’s Terrence Ross, Toronto’s Danny Green, and probably Philadelphia’s J.J. Redick); to players who’ve been inconsistent in their careers (Charlotte’s Jeremy Lamb and Portland’s Rodney Hood); there’s players wanting for offense (Houston’s Iman Shumpert), wanting for defense (Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) and then there’s Lance (Lakers’ Lance Stephenson). There’s a lot of directions Indiana can go if they want to dabble in free agency.
Trade options
A couple of intriguing twos that could start when needed but also thrive off the bench are New Orleans’ E’Twaun Moore and Houston’s Eric Gordon. Moore seemed more plausible before the Pelicans landed the Zion Williamson pick. If New Orleans wanted to get younger he’d be a moveable piece, but he could also be a valuable contributor on a potential playoff-team in New Orleans. The leverage, in this case, rests in the French quarter.
Speaking of unlikely, Eric Gordon. Houston’s expressed interest in a shake-up and exchanging Gordon for Thaddeus Young (on sign-and-trade) would do just that. Young would give Houston the type of glue guy that they have lacked since Trevor Ariza left, and Houston is close to Young’s hometown (New Orleans).
Obviously, if Houston entertained the idea it would be in concert with a Chris Paul move that netted a wing scorer. Anyway, if you wanted to explore trading for a shooting guard, there are two players to check in on.
Draft options
If 2018 Indiana Mr. Basketball Romeo Langford falls…which he might. He’ll certainly be picked lower than his outstanding expectations predicted before the season began but all the way to 18? We’ll see. For those who’s memory only extends eight months ago, Romeo would elicit an eye-roll. For those who remember Romeo at his best, he would represent a break of Danny Granger proportions. But surely he won’t still be available for the Pacers to ponder selecting him, right?
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A more realistic first-round possibility is the smooth shooting, and awesomely named, Tyler Herro (Kentucky). His shooting splits are impressive (46 FG-36 3P-94 FT), his defense is not, but he has the physique of an NBA two-guard. A couple of intriguing options also linger in the second round.
Michigan’s Jordan Poole is a two-way talent that has thrived as a prominent option and as a reserve. Unlike the other “this guy has amazing potential” picks, Poole has actually delivered in games; his buzzer-beater that sunk Houston two March Madness’s ago is one of the better plays set to Celine Dion’s “My heart will go on” in recent memory.
Gonzaga’s Zach Norvell Jr. plays similarly to how Victor Oladipo did during his sophomore year at IU. He’s a jitter-bug on the court, who is neither afraid to shoot nor defend. He is also unpolished and raw, the type of prospect you take in the second round and let ferment in the G-League for a year before increasing his role in future seasons.
Others to considers: wing defenders Matisse Thybulle (Washington) and Talen Horton-Tucker (Iowa State), the versatile Nickeil Alexander-Waker (Virginia Tech) and scorer Kevin Porter Jr. (USC). In the second round there’s Virginia and Lawrence Central marksman Kyle Guy.