Indiana Pacers: Oshae Brissett trying to earn some minutes

The Indiana Pacers have found success with bench guys over the past few years, most notably Edmond Sumner. Alize Johnson was another end-of-the-bench guy that produced when he hit the floor and has now done the same with the Nets since leaving Indiana.

Now, it is time for Oshae Brissett to shine in a similar manner after signing his second 10-day contract with the Pacers. The team has been looking for an extra body on the wing and failed to land anyone at the trade deadline, opening the door for G-League standout Oshae Brissett.

Can Oshae Brissett be the next surprise for the Indiana Pacers?

The Pacers added Brissett in early April and let him ride the bench for the better part of two weeks, playing sparingly in three games. That is until Wednesday night’s contest in Houston against the Rockets.

Brissett came in off the bench for just under 10 minutes and made a substantial impact. He was +12 in his nine-ish minutes while adding 10 points and an assist. He also added a highlight-reel alley-oop finish in transition to catch some eyes.

If Brissett can continue to make good use of his minutes, the Pacers will have a head start on the competition on the perimeter heading into next season. At the very worst, he is still a worthwhile option off the end of the bench that can give Indiana minutes as a last resort.

It took Edmond Sumner several years to become a consistent piece of the rotation but he has always stepped up to the plate when called upon. He was never expected to be a game-changer or a high-impact player in the rotation but he has earned that larger role with his play this season.

Oshae Brissett could be next in line in a similar capacity. He has the size and length to help Indiana’s perimeter defense and can serve as the backup four rather than Jeremy Lamb or Doug McDermott, who are better suited to play more on the outside.

This is a good situation for the Pacers to monitor over the next few weeks. Hopefully, Brissett will earn a contract to finish out the season – and potentially next season – with the Pacers.