5 free agents the Pacers should poach from Eastern Conference rivals
By Ben Grunert
Honorable Mentions
Before we dive into the five main targets the Pacers should set their sights on, here are some honorable mentions Indiana should at least consider this summer.
Khris Middleton
In his worst statistical season since 2015, Khris Middleton struggled amid his comeback from wrist surgery to the tune of 15.1 points per game on 43.6% shooting from the field and 31.5% shooting from three – his worst clip from beyond the arc since his rookie year.
Middleton only played 33 regular season games though, and he seemed to find his footing in the playoffs (despite Milwaukee’s shocking first-round exit). In five games against the Heat, the three-time All-Star averaged 23.8 points per game while hitting 40.6% of his threes.
Indiana’s biggest holes clearly come at the small forward and power forward positions. This past season, the Pacers marched out 28 different starting lineups. In their most-used starting five, 6-foot-5 Aaron Nesmith slotted in as an undersized power forward while a slightly shorter Buddy Hield started at the three.
A star wing like Middleton could seriously help this team, but he would likely come at a higher price than any other free agent worth pursuing for the Pacers. He also underwent knee surgery following the playoffs and will be out of action until July. Nonetheless, Middleton’s ability to score in bunches and take some playmaking burden off of Haliburton automatically makes him an interesting option.
Josh Hart
Outside of Middleton, Josh Hart is the biggest name among the “honorable mentions.”
A quintessential jack of all trades, Hart provides as much versatility as anyone in the league. From elite defense and rebounding to underrated playmaking and scoring, Hart does it all. His multifaceted excellence played a vital role in New York’s first-round victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Following the February trade deadline, Hart enjoyed some of the finest basketball of his career. Over 25 regular season games with the Knicks, Hart averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.6 dimes, all while shooting an astonishing 61.9% from 2-point range and 51.9% from distance.
Unfortunately, seizing Hart from the jaws of New York seems like a pipe dream. In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, the former Villanova star expressed love for his current team and indicated high hopes of staying with the Knicks.
Andre Drummond
Signing Andre Drummond wouldn’t cost much at all, and he would provide a much-needed skill for this Pacers squad: rebounding.
Even as his Detroit days grow more and more distant, Drummond can still crash the glass with the best of them. This season, his per-minute rebounding numbers were simply outrageous as he posted 18.8 boards per 36 minutes.
The Pacers finished 2023 allowing the most offensive rebounds per game in the entire NBA. The team also ranked dead-last in defensive rebounding percentage and ranked 24th in total rebounds per contest. Drummond could certainly help in these areas.
There’s just one problem with a Drummond signing, and it’s a big one. Any playing time for the veteran would eat into precious minutes for Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith. These two young big men haven’t fully unlocked their potential yet, and meaningful minutes for a player like Drummond would only hurt their development.