4 former Indiana Pacers who could help the team in 2021
By Luke Parrish
Solomon Hill is the type of veteran leader the Indiana Pacers need
After struggling to find a role with the Indiana Pacers early in his career, Solomon Hill has found his calling in the NBA as a bench leader. While that is not the most enticing job in the world, it is a valuable one in the world of sports.
Hill has spent the last six seasons with four different teams and has seen what it takes to compete in the playoffs. His last two seasons have seen incredible playoff runs by underdogs. In 2019, Hill sat on the bench with the Miami Heat and witnessed a Finals run that almost set the NBA on fire.
Last season, Hill was a bit more involved, playing in 71 games with the Atlanta Hawks and helping them get to the Eastern Conference Finals. Hill got his first-ever playoff start in 2021 but he has seen the playoffs in five of his nine NBA seasons.
The Pacers tend to add players with experience to their bench, most recently JaKarr Sampson. Having an end-of-bench role player who can provide minutes but is simply involved to help the young guys and bring leadership to the bench is important. Solomon Hill may have never been an impactful player with Indiana in the past but his new role is something Indiana lacks.
If JaKarr Sampson leaves in free agency, Solomon Hill is a good contender to replace his spot on the final roster.