What can former Mad Ant Oshae Brissett bring to an undermanned and bruised Indiana Pacers team following his new three-year contract?
From a strictly personal perspective, Syracuse product Oshae Brissett is hustling his way into my favorite players on this Indiana Pacers team. To my complete enjoyment, the reliable Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the aforementioned forward has been signed to a three-year contract with the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers have signed forward Oshae Brissett to a three-year deal, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2021
The news was following yet another impressive performance by Brissett against the San Antonio Spurs in which he produced in what was his very first career start. Oshae was one of the only efficient Pacers of the night, dropping 13 points, and sniping three of his five attempts from the three-point line. Not only was his offensive game providing a solidly strong punch, but his flashes of switch-ability also continued to further shine in the loss.
If the 6-foot-7 forward continues to flash and produce like this, the 22-year old should stay at that starter spot for the rest of the season, especially if this Pacers team continues to be riddled with injuries.
Oshae Brissett should start for the Indiana Pacers to finish the season.
The Indiana Pacers are just not contending, and pushing for what would be a meaningless seventh seed wouldn’t benefit this squad at all in the short or long term. With that being said, giving players like Goga Bitadze, Edmond Sumner, Cassius Stanley, and of course Oshae Brissett extra minutes could mean a lot in the long term for a team that projects to be retooling for the long run this offseason.
This team has lacked a gritty, strong, and athletic defensive forward who can play the four all season, and it’s harshly held this team back from potential schematic flexibility. When your team is running Jeremy Lamb at the four, you really lack the versatility that Brissett now brings.
Oshae has shown the skills defensively and, even, offensively that Nate Bjorkgren has been wanting on the team for quite some time now. His ability to seemingly be all over the floor as a helper on defense, provide solid and physical on ball stoppage, and simultaneously add value as a communicator is something that this roster sorely lacked.
With a possible Turbonis break up via the front office this offseason likely coming to fruition, Oshae at the four spot next to Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis makes a whole lot of sense. His ability to cut and even shoot off the catch would fare well with Domantas and Brogdon, and his Tasmanian Devil-like defense would fit near perfectly next to Myles Turner when he inevitably returns from his untimely toe injury.