After a relatively disappointing 2020-21 campaign, the Indiana Pacers enter the summer with a cloud of uncertainty. Hampered by both coaching staff and personnel issues, the upcoming offseason figures to shape up the direction of the Navy and Gold into the future.
That being said, one of the options that the front office can venture into for retooling the roster is the free agent market. Despite being projected before to be one of the league’s deepest crop of available players, most stars opted to re-sign with their current teams before even sniffing free agency.
However, there are still players who can turn out to be value signings. With Kevin Pritchard already having a good resume with bargain finds, this offseason will not be any different, even with the Indiana Pacers having little room to wiggle with throwing money at free agents.
Without further ado, let’s zoom in on four under-the-radar free agents that Pritchard and the Indiana Pacers would be smart to pursue.
Tony Snell is a cheap 3-and-D option for the Indiana Pacers
The 29-year-old journeyman has become somewhat forgotten by most despite his decent play as a 3-and-D player in the league, mostly because of the contract he signed with Milwaukee in 2017 which quickly proved to be too much. However, Tony Snell has been rock solid for the Atlanta Hawks this season, being a part of the team’s ascent into a playoff team under Nate McMillan.
Snell is shooting a ludicrous 56.5 percent from three this year on moderate efficiency and ample playing time. That number won’t certainly hold up with a more sizeable dose of triples, but he does not need the ball and score to make a positive impact on the floor. He is a sound team defender and can slow down wing scorers in spurts with his 6’6 frame.
In today’s NBA, it never hurts to have an embarrassment of riches with players who can shoot and defend at a great clip. The Pacers already have TJ Warren, Justin Holiday, and Oshae Brissett on guaranteed contracts next season, but adding another versatile option on the wing like Tony Snell will almost certainly be a positive addition for the Navy and Gold, especially with Doug McDermott’s impending free agency. And the best thing is that Snell will likely come cheaper than his 11 million salary in the present.
Mike Scott brings spacing and toughness to the Circle City
Mike Scott is a familiar face for Indiana Pacers fans, especially when he was with the Atlanta Hawks. Remember that explosion in Game 5 of the First Round in the 2014 Playoffs? Well, that guy is still in the league as a reliable stretch big for the 76ers.
The eight-year veteran is currently on his third season with Philadelphia. Despite only playing sparse minutes for them, Scott remains a favorite with the Sixers, and for good reason. At his best, he can not only stretch the floor as a power forward or a small-ball center, but he also brings toughness, physicality, and veteran leadership that can pay dividends come playoff time.
His 34 percent clip from downtown may seem marginal, but he is a career 36.2 three-point shooter. Perhaps he simply needs more playing time to catch his rhythm and be more consistent. That may come in Indiana, where his skillset makes him a great fit next to any of the team’s herald centers in Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Goga Bitadze. Fortunately, he can most likely be had for only the veteran’s minimum.
Torrey Craig is a very underrated defensive-minded tweener
After an uneventful stint with the Milwaukee Bucks, Torrey Craig quickly found a home with the Phoenix Suns, who proved to be a perfect fit for the skillset of the fourth-year player. Things rapidly took a turn for he 30-year-old as he soon became a key part of the Suns’ bench rotation as a defensive specialist after being held long in Mike Budenholzer’s junkyard.
The burly forward is a defensive menace, with a physique akin to the likes of PJ Tucker and Jae Crowder, who possesses a similar skillset. Being able to hit the three on a 35 percent clip, right at league average, and usually tasked with defending the opposing team’s best scorers, Craig possesses great value as another player who fits the mold of an interchangeable 3-and-D piece. Being able to latch onto guards and hang with centers is another bonus.
Despite being relatively new to the NBA, Craig is already a veteran voice. He does not crack under pressure, notably serving as a very effective defender for the Denver Nuggets in last season’s playoffs against the likes of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. And with the East’s superstars in Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum, having another potent defender to throw against them will provide added defensive layer for the Indiana Pacers.
Alex Caruso brings championship experience and grit to the Indiana Pacers
If you think that Alex Caruso is more valuable in the meme section than basketball, then you’re missing out on Carushow’s dependable skillset. Despite being known more as a commodity for social media relief, the fourth-year player has been a valuable piece for the Los Angeles Lakers for two seasons already.
In their championship run last season, Caruso proved his mettle as a reliable backcourt stopper in Frank Vogel’s defensive schemes. The Lakers primarily used him off the bench to provide a jolt of energy in the game by constantly providing pressure against talented scorers in the guard positions. In the playoffs, he was deployed to help slow down the likes of Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, and Jamal Murray as the Purple and Gold took a cakewalk run to a title.
However, Caruso is not indispensable, especially if the Lakers have grander plans in the offseason. If another team expresses interest and gives a sizeable offer to make Los Angeles hesitant on handing him an extension, then bet on that team seizing the defensive stopper. And that team could be the Indiana Pacers, who could certainly use a quality backcourt piece next to the oft-injured Malcolm Brogdon and scorer Caris LeVert, especially with TJ McConnell entering free agency.