With the season ending for the Indiana Pacers, the decisions now turn to the team's offseason plans and the future. One that is going to be very interesting once the draft lottery turns up. After that, the Pacers will know to what extent they may need to reshape their roster for a deep playoff push.
Since Tyrese Haliburton will return and the Pacers will have Ivica Zubac for an entire season, the plan will be different from last year. This suggests the roster could see some turnover, or even add some veterans to aid the youth. With the team only having one spot open for a free agent, the additions could be minimal, but that could be the key to getting this team back into the finals.
1. Javonte Green
Green has been an intriguing piece for the Detroit Pistons this season and could fit smoothly right into the Pacers lineup. This season, in 17.6 minutes, he averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, on 44.7% from the field and 38.1% from three. This allowed him to bring a nice spark of offense from the bench and into the Pistons' lineup, where he shot a career-high 3pt percentage.
Not only is he known for his solid shooting, but Green is a high-energy wing who can soar over opponents for a poster. His ability to attack downhill and score in transition adds to his offensive bag as well. He is also a great perimeter defender and plays with the same high energy on defense. At 6'5", he could be a gritty shooting guard who could bring some juice to this bench.
Green's scrappiness and grit have kept him in good standing with these franchises. His basketball instincts are not teachable, and that is something this Pacers team values. Heart and Hustle with Hardwork will provide success, and if the Pacers found Green, then they would be.
2. Amir Coffey
Sticking with a similar player role, Coffey could be another great veteran grab for Indiana. The 28-year-old started the season out in Milwaukee, where he was in and out of the rotation for most of the year. At the deadline, though, he was shipped to Phoenix, and this allowed him to see a bigger opportunity. Due to Phoenix's injuries, Coffey got his chance and looked solid on all ends.
Similar to Green, he is a combo wing at 6'7" who can knock down the three but do all the little things on the defensive end. Coffey, who was shooting 28% from three in Milwaukee, flipped the script and shot 41.7% from three in Phoenix on a bigger workload. This proves that he still has his shot, and he would be a perfect fit as an on-ball scorer for this bench unit.
Coffey on the defensive end also fights hard for loose balls, contests for offensive rebounds, and makes those effort plays Pacers fans are accustomed to. Therefore, if Phoenix's wing depth is a little too deep, the Pacers should give Coffey a try.
3. Charles Bassey
Even if the Pacers have three centers on the roster (if they pick up the club option on Micah Potter), adding to the room is not a bad idea, especially if there is some uncertainty about the future of some members of this front court. Bassey has bounced around a lot this season, playing for four different clubs, yet he is someone who should be on a roster.
The big man in his recent stretch with the Golden State Warriors has been impressive. As in the two games he saw, he put up back-to-back double-doubles. Now, this is in March, and at the end of the year, but Bassey has the tools, even if the stats do not always show it.
For starters, he is a solid shot blocker and rim protector, as he played in 13 games this year but totaled 11 blocks. That is also with four different teams and four different lineups; imagine if he were in a steady situation. He is also a great offensive rebounder, which will allow the Pacers to even out their rebounding numbers.
Overall, none of these players will be a key difference-maker or a top-tier addition. That is where the duo of Haliburton and Zubac comes to play for the Pacers. Yet the bench still needs some help, and even if it could get deeper with a top 4 pick possibly joining the starting five, it still needs a bit of a boost.
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