Indiana Pacers: What Sabonis being an all-star means for free agency periods in the future

The Indiana Pacers maximize a player’s potential. Domantas Sabonis being named to the NBA All-Star game could attract free agents due to his surge of success.

Yesterday, the Indiana Pacers were informed that power forward Domantas Sabonis would be making his first career appearance in the NBA All-Star game.

As many Pacers fans know, Sabonis’ career had an interesting start as he was traded on draft night from the Orlando Magic to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In that trade for Sabonis, who was the 11th overall pick of the 2016 draft, was current teammate Victor Oladipo.

To fulfill Paul George’s wish of playing elsewhere, the Pacers front office, knowing the potential of Oladipo and Sabonis, traded for the duo.

The rest is history.

It was an instant success for Oladipo and Sabonis once in a Pacers uniform, and the pair has only improved over time.

Many NBA fans were aware of Oladipo’s potential due to his time at Indiana University and being selected with the 2nd overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft.

However, Sabonis, who played at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, was unknown to many outside of the NBA scouting world.

Son of a FIBA Hall of Famer, Domantas had potential and was unable to showcase it in Oklahoma City, but the Pacers front office trusted its evaluation and knew he could shine given the opportunity.

The Pacers are currently 31-17 and are currently the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to a fantastic start to the 2019-2020 campaign for Sabonis.

It’s safe to say the big man has exceeded expectations.

Due to Sabonis’ recent surge of success and his ability to improve over time while being a part of a winning franchise, other players throughout the NBA may take notice.

Indiana has never been a highly-touted free agent destination, but the current climate of the NBA allows a franchise like the Pacers to contend without the movie stars of Los Angeles or the shining lights of New York City.

Players who simply want to win and have a shot of hoisting a world championship are attracted to an organization like the Pacers and Sabonis is an example of why they should.

It’s safe to say that the Pacers organization has faith in everyone on the roster. There is an expectation to adhere to the culture and to put the team before oneself.

For players who have a spirit like Malcolm Brogdon, the Pacers present a perfect fit. The Pacers simply maximize a player’s potential.

Players across the league will take notice of how Sabonis has improved his game and team. Free agents can potentially take an interest in what the Pacers as a franchise has to offer and give some consideration as it being a viable destination.

This past offseason was a testament as to how the Pacers are perceived across the NBA.

With the addition of former free agents Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and T.J. McConnell to the roster, it’s safe to say that the Pacers have the respect of players league-wide.

Hopefully, with the Pacers’ continual success more free agents will call Indiana home in the future.