The Indiana Pacers pulled all the controllable strings in their pursuit of restricted free agent Deandre Ayton, ultimately signing the prized big man to a max offer sheet. However, the team ended up as runners-up for his services, with the Phoenix Suns immediately matching the offer to retain the former No. 1 pick.
Now, the Pacers are left with cold money dangling in their books, especially with the team having made a barrage of waivers to open up the necessary space for Ayton. Still, despite the foiled pursuit, there are definitely some silver linings for the franchise that could signal a big shift, especially for the front office.
The Indiana Pacers front office showcased new moxie in their Deandre Ayton pursuit
Over the years, the Indiana Pacers were perfectly molded in the spirit of a textbook small market team. Their complete refusal to spend big and even to upscale their free agent wish lists have doomed the franchise in the past. In fact, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst remarked in the lead-up to the Deandre Ayton situation that the team has historically avoided tendering “toxic” offer sheets, preferring to engage in sign-and-trades for reasons of… partnership ethics.
While dishing out a max offer sheet on Ayton’s way may have been a matter of necessity, as the Suns were reportedly not interested in a sign-and-trade, the attitudinal shift by the front office in recent weeks have been remarkable, to say the least. One fan gladly took delight in how the process unfolded, despite the actual goal being unreached.
I’ll tell anyone who will listen, getting Ayton was far less important than the Pacers having the balls to offer sheet him in the first place because of the likely shift in team business a move like that symbolizes
— Keegan | Wyatt Family Forever 🌎👐 (@prmskpr) July 15, 2022
For the Pacers fanbase, the front office’s gritty pursuit of Ayton is as refreshing as it can get. With the franchise on the surface of a rare rebuild, sticking to conventional business maneuvers will only impede the franchise’s trajectory, if not bring it down altogether.
Hence, this should be a nice prelude as to how Indiana could operate in the foreseeable future. From now on, shooting for the stars (no pun intended) may not be a pipe dream anymore as long as the Indiana Pacers retain their new moxie on succeeding transaction panels.
Heck, while all signs have pointed to their offseason ending, Kevin Pritchard, Chad Buchanan, and co. may even turn heads with a savvy move or two. At this rate, it definitely won’t be surprising.