Indiana Pacers: Early 2021 Free Agency Big Board to fill roster holes
By Shayler Neal
With McDermott getting pricey, the Pacers may look at other options
With Doug McDermott’s contract expiring at the end of the season, and a team three-point percentage ranking and defensive rating both in the bottom-half of the league, the Pacers could substantially benefit from adding a wing defender who can shoot the 3 at a decent clip. These upcoming free agents do just that.
While Indiana’s brass can easily offer him an extension, shooters are very hot commodities in the league right now. We saw that last offseason when Davis Bertans and Joe Harris both got paid handsomely over their market values. That can easily resonate with McDermott, who shoots over 40 percent from downtown for his career, but it may throw the front office off and hesitate on pulling the trigger on an extension, and justifiably so.
Knockdown Shooter Target for the Indiana Pacers: Georges Niang
I think it’s fair to say that Georges Niang has improved since he last donned the Navy and Gold. To be fair, it was his rookie season, and he wasn’t a key part of the rotation, but still, he definitely has had a significant glow up. After being drafted by Indiana with the 50th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and spending a year with the organization, he signed with the Utah Jazz, who currently hold the best record in the NBA, and in the last two seasons, Niang has been a rotation piece.
Niang is shooting over 42% from beyond the arc this season, which is 17th amongst all players, and he takes about 4 threes a game. His game doesn’t need much analysis. He is a very skilled spot up shooter and plays solid defense. His game would compliment Sabonis well and would draw attention away from Sabonis in the post. If the Pacers were to let McDermott walk, he could be a very good alternative for a cheaper price tag.
Knockdown Shooter Target for the Indiana Pacers: Wayne Ellington
Wayne Ellington is a certified bucket getter. After doing some research on Ellington, I found out that some call him “The Man with the Golden Arm”, which has to rank high in the hypothetical active All-NBA nicknames list.
Ellington has spent 12 years in the league torching opponents with threes. He is a career 38% from behind the arc, but has had a career year in his 12th year in the league with an exceptional 42% from 3, with large volume at 6 attempts per game.
With plenty of experience on winning and losing teams throughout his career, Ellington will provide teams with consistency and smart play, and the Pacers would seriously benefit from his efforts if he were to sign with Indiana this offseason.
Knockdown Shooter Target for the Indiana Pacers: Nicolas Batum
I can’t imagine Nicolas Batum is still going for 5 years, 120 million like he was given by the Charlotte Hornets in 2016, but Batum is still posting very good numbers since he’s arrived in Los Angeles and will have teams interested this offseason. After a lackluster few years in Charlotte, Batum has bounced back in a big way. Playing nearly 28 minutes a game for the title-contending LA Clippers, Batum has produced 8.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 1.0 SPG on 46% from the field and a very good 40% from three.
These are huge increases in efficiency from last year, where he shot 34% from the field, and a dismal 28% from three. His intrigue is his frame and versatility on both ends of the floor. Standing at 6’8, Batum is fairly position-less. He is most suited at the forward positions, but can be utilized at the two-guard as well, presenting teams with a vast array of options. I think Batum could fit very well just about anywhere, so Batum makes my list. But only if the price is right.