Colossal red flag raised on potential young prospect for the Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are definitely not devoid of young talent in any way, shape, or form, with the likes of Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin leading the team, but bolstering the roster with even more youth never hurts. Coincidentally, a tiny window about acquiring a talented prospect opened for the entire association just recently.

News of the San Antonio Spurs waiving Josh Primo, the 12th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft highly touted among the franchise, sent shockwaves around the league, with some initially chiding the team for cutting ties with such a raw, yet talented youngster. However, as details started to surface about the circumstances of the abrupt release, the Spurs’ maneuver was definitely understandable, if not perfectly appropriate.

Actually, scratch that. It was the right thing to do.

The Indiana Pacers should never entertain the tiny window opened by the Josh Primo release

Following the cold, raw news, as a fan, I was naturally ecstatic about the Indiana Pacers potentially looking to gear toward claiming Primo off waivers. After all, his upside was high enough for San Antonio to take a relatively big risk taking him that high in the draft. Testament to that is the Spurs brass having just picked up his player option for next season.

Then the deflating, perplexing, and angering reason for his release flooded social media. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne revealed that rounds of bizarre, illicit acts prompted his axing from Alamo City.

Yikes.

As known to everyone, San Antonio’s brass is one of the most principled, yet conscientious front offices in sports. Thus, Primo’s jarring actions were most likely a result of a string of investigations that confirmed the attendant details. Approaching this with guarded curiosity will only yield a sense of unwarranted and irresponsible tolerance.

Inarguably, the Indiana Pacers, as do all teams, should steer clear of him, perhaps for good. After all, this matter transcends the nuances of roster-building and on-court product.

Ultimately, this should be regarded as a reminder that even the most solid cultures in sports are not fully safe from cracks and crevices that threaten to bring down even the best of them. Hopefully, this begins a sequence of a more socially conscious sports community that is exacting to offenders, and beneficent to victims.