Indiana Pacers: Grading the team’s moves in Day 1 of NBA Free Agency

Three-and-D adept Torrey Craig signs with the Indiana Pacers

Speaking of the “new face” from the previous slide, the Indiana Pacers surprisingly managed to snag free agent forward Torrey Craig. One of the league’s most effective three-and-D adepts at the tweener role, the 30-year-old agreed to a two-year deal with the Blue and Gold set at ten million dollars.

With contenders expected to line up for Craig’s services, news of him heading to Indiana was a bit surprising, especially with the team currently reeling after missing the postseason in the last campaign.

Still, given the Pacers and head coach Rick Carlisle’s desire for the team to regain its defensive identity after steeply declining on that end last season, acquiring Craig will help in a lot of ways, especially with his physical and blue-collar play fortifying Indiana’s brittle wing defense.

It’s interesting, however, to see how Craig’s arrival will impact the rotation. Brissett needs to play substantially after his impressive debut late last season and Holiday should comfortably slot in as the team’s primary backup to TJ Warren. Perhaps this will prompt the Indiana Pacers to shed some players like Jeremy Lamb, or trim the frontcourt in a stylistic change to small-ball.

Grade: A-