NBA Free Agency is around the corner. These are 3 targets that could help out the Indiana Pacers roster heading into next season.
The Indiana Pacers are about to enter into a very important offseason. Kevin Pritchard will be faced with some big decisions. Rumors are swirling around the league that Victor Oladipo wants out of Indy as they look to shape their roster for next season.
The Pacers are also still searching for their next head coach after moving on from Nate McMillan. With both of these decisions looming, it will be tough to gauge what the Pacers will want to do in free agency. With little to no cap space, the options aren’t too grand in terms of adding talent to the roster.
We currently have no idea what the roster will look like in the 2020-21 season. With no first-round draft pick and a lot of money tied into the frontcourt, Indiana is in for an interesting offseason. Here are three free-agent targets that make sense for the Pacers.
Justin Holiday
Justin Holiday is currently on the roster for the Pacers but is set to hit free agency this offseason as an unrestricted free agent. The oldest of the three Holiday brothers had one of the best seasons of his career with the Pacers this season. He averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds,1.3 assists per game, and had an effective field goal percentage of 56.6 percent.
Holiday shot a career-best from behind the 3 point line, shooting 40 percent and finished in the top 20 in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage. Holiday was a vital part of the second unit for the Pacers providing three-point shooting and defense at the wing position.
The Pacers had him on a one year deal worth around 4 million dollars. He is likely due a larger payday this offseason with teams coveting three-point shooting and defense. A team may be willing to dish out some money for Justin Holiday, making it difficult for the Pacers to re-sign him. If Kevin Pritchard can find a way to retain him it would be a win for the Blue and Gold.
Jae Crowder
Jae Crowder has been a very solid addition for the Miami Heat this season. Crowder landed in Miami after the trade with Memphis that also sent Andre Iguodala and Soloman Hill to South Beach. Crowder has started all 19 games for the Heat this postseason and is averaging 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game.
Crowder brings a hard-nosed personality to the court and plays excellent defense on the wing. The Heat use him as a Power Forward but Crowder can also play at the Small Forward position. Crowder has been an important piece in the Heat’s Finals run.
Crowder is currently on a very cheap deal so it will be interesting to see if the Heat opt to bring him back or not. If they decide not to, the Pacers should definitely consider bringing him in.
Harry Giles
Harry Giles is a 6-foot-11 Power Forward who has played with the Kings since 2017. Giles played in 46 games and started 17 of those. He averaged 6.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 55 percent from the field.
Giles is a good option for a backup big and is only 22 years old so you would get a solid young prospect. He works mostly in the paint on offense and operates as a good pick and roll player. Giles also flashes the ability to operate at the top of the key and utilizes a decent drive game.
The Kings chose not to pick up his option this year which will allow Giles to enter free agency as an unrestricted free agent. I’m not totally sure what the Kings will decide to do with him or what kind of money he will command. If the Pacers could snag him up on a cheap deal it would provide them with a solid young back up forward the Pacers could develop, especially if the Pacers separate Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.