Indiana Pacers: Grades for the Off-Season Additions at the Halfway Point

With 41 games in the books, it’s time to look back at each of the Indiana Pacers’ off-season additions. Here are Indiana’s mid-season grades.

This last off-season was a time of change for the Indiana Pacers. Several long-standing members of the roster were allowed to walk in free agency so the team could move in a younger direction. So far, the results are good.

Currently, nine of the players on the roster were not on the team last season. Three of them are starters and two others are in the every game rotation. Here we’ll dive into the success each player has sustained in their first half season in Indianapolis.

T.J. Warren: A-

T.J. Warren is still looking like the steal of the off-season. He is averaging 17.8 points per game and has continually shown he can be a go-to scorer for the Pacers. Just last week, he went inferno against Charlotte and put up 36, 30 of which were in the second half. Maybe the most surprising thing is that Warren is actually playing defense for the Blue and Gold. He takes the toughest wing assignment every night and usually does well. The only reason this isn’t an A is Warren is occasionally plagued by off nights where he totally disappears on offense.

Malcolm Brogdon: B+

The President has been the best Pacer for stretches this season. The major problem is Malcolm Brogdon has already been struggling to stay on the floor. Brogdon has missed 12 of the first 41 games through various injuries, most recently back spasms. If he can stay healthy, he will be firmly in the conversation for his first All-Star appearance. The former Buck has quelled everyone who didn’t believe he could step in and be the guy. He continually makes clutch shots and is also dishing out a career high 7.4 assists per game.

Jeremy Lamb: B

Jeremy Lamb started the season off HOT. He finished in double figures in 16 of his first 17 games with the Pacers. Since then his consistency has dipped, but not to the point of no return. On the second of the new year, he did drop a 30-spot on the Denver Nuggets. Lamb will likely see the biggest change once Victor Oladipo returns. Starting January 29, he will be relegated to the Indiana bench, but the way he responds could determine the Pacers’ ceiling.

Justin Holiday: B+

Justin Holiday has been one of the most important members of the Indiana second unit. He regularly closes out games because of his tough defense and ability to knock down shots. Never known as a marksman, Holiday is currently connecting on a career-best 40.8 percent of his 3-pointers. Several of the championship contenders are looking to add a 3-and-D wing before the deadline, luckily Indiana got ahead of the curve and nabbed theirs in July.

T.J. McConnell: A

Coming in on a very affordable 2-year, $7 million deal, T.J. McConnell has become one of the best two-way bench guards in the NBA. He gets more assists than any player averaging less than 20 minutes per night. He constantly gets open looks for teammates and is always willing to push the pace to catch opponents off balance. McConnell’s play has made it near impossible to keep him out of the line-up once Oladipo returns.

Goga Bitadze: C

By now, Pacers fans should be used to rookies not making much of an impact. Goga Bitadze has shown some flashes of why Indiana invested a first round pick in him, but has been far from consistent. He’s shown patience when operating around the rim and the ability to protect the paint on the other end. He is still at least one year away, but his production while assigned to the Mad Ants is very promising.

JaKarr Sampson: B+

Signed to serve a role at the very end of the bench, JaKarr Sampson has shown to always be ready when called upon. Nothing shows this more than Sampson starting eight of the 13 games he has played in. He isn’t always in the rotation, but when the team is dogged by injuries, Coach Nate McMillan knows he can trust the big man. Might as well get acclimated with Sampson, because it wouldn’t be hard to imagine him returning next season.

Naz Mitrou-Long: D-

If you haven’t watched every single game, there’s a good chance you haven’t seen Naz Mitrou-Long touch the floor as a Pacer. He’s signed to a two-way contract and has only played in three games thus far. He’s already 26 years old and doesn’t offer much upside. Don’t be surprised to see someone else with this two-way contract next season.

Brian Bowen: D+

Brian Bowen has also only played in three games this season, but the difference from Mitrou-Long is Bowen happens to be five years younger. The belief is Bowen has greater upside at this point. He was a five stare recruit in college, but ultimately spent a season in Australia following an ineligibility ruling by the NCAA. He will probably get at least one more season to prove he belongs in the league.