Indiana Pacers: Realistic and affordable free agent targets from every East playoff team

After an early affair with the summer, the Indiana Pacers find themselves coiled in an array of questions and franchise decisions that demand clear, definite answers. Failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in six season, they enter an offseason which figures to be the one of the most eventful yet for the Blue and Gold.

As usual, free agency is on top of the team’s bucket list, with the need for a substantial retooling looming bigger as their rivals in the East continue their successful campaigns. Although only three rotation players are slated to cash in on the offseason bonanza, the Indiana Pacers should approach the market with the mindset to improve the roster, instead of simply filling in the gaps.

The 2021 free agency class is quite thin compared to last summer because of stars opting to re-sign with their current teams, but talent is still in abundance. While the Pacers don’t have a lot of wiggle room to snag new pieces as they are over the cap, they can of course opt to re-sign their own expiring players as they possess their Bird rights. However, this may result in Indiana verging towards luxury territory, which they have thoroughly avoided in the past.

That being said, being conservative doesn’t augment improvement when money talks. Thus, to trim the fat, we surveil on one realistic and affordable free agent target for the Pacers to monitor from every playoff team in the Eastern Conference.