The Indiana Pacers withdrew Enrique Freeman's qualifying offer not even a week ago, making him an unrestricted free agent and effectively ending his run with the team. Instead of being upset about the move, however, the Ohio native revealed that "it's a good feeling" as he looks to carve out a nice role elsewhere (h/t Spencer Davies of Responsible Gambler).
“It's a good feeling,” Freeman said. “I think I put myself in a good position to where I'll be somewhere soon to get a job and continue my career.”
Before the Pacers moved on from him, Freeman had been in a battle for the last two-way contract with second-round rookie Taelon Peter. Indiana ultimately chose to give the spot to Peter and move on from the 25-year-old after one year instead.
Though his run in Indiana is over, fans might still keep an eye on Freeman from here on out. He quickly became somewhat of a fan favorite due to his fun and energetic playstyle. As it stands, he remains a free agent. However, with next season still a few months away, it would not be a shock if Freeman finds a new home for himself sooner rather than later.
Enrique Freeman can be a contributor in the NBA
Unfortunately for Freeman, there was no realistic way for him to carve out a role with the Pacers. He was going to be buried on the depth chart at the NBA level, regardless of whether the team treated him as a power forward or center, and his ceiling was not high enough to justify giving him a two-way contract over someone like Peter. However, just because it did not work out with the Pacers doesn't mean it won't somewhere else.
Freeman showed flashes during his rookie season, and he looked fantastic in summer league this year. In five games, he averaged 16.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.8 blocks. Furthermore, he shot 72.5% from the field and 55.6% from beyond the arc. The competition wasn't the greatest, but Freeman still showed out and did everything he could.
One of the biggest concerns about Freeman is what position he would be able to play at the NBA level as he is a bit undersized. However, he plays a lot bigger than he really is due to his athleticism and energy, and that is one of the most appealing aspects of his game. Whether that will amount to anything long-term remains to be seen, however.
There is a lot to like about Freeman. He plays incredibly hard whenever he steps on the floor and has a lot of intrigue. It is clear that he still needs to work on some areas of his game as he doesn't necessarily excel at much, but the tools are there. It doesn't bode well for Freeman that he is on the older side of prospects, but he has made it clear that he deserves a shot. It won't be in Indiana, but the Akron alum should be able to land somewhere else as he looks to make an impact in the league.