Jalen Slawson was one of the few bright spots of last year's gap year. The second-year wing made the Indiana Pacers roster after a preseason stretch with both the Orlando and Osceola Magic, which came after he was cut by the Sacramento Kings.
After a turbulent start to his career, Slawson has yet to claim the stability he certainly wants, but he has at the very least bought himself another year in the NBA after signing a two-way deal with the Pacers.
This means that all three two-way contracts are filled by Slawson, Kobe Brown, and Ethan Thompson.
Some questions remain about what will now happen to Braden Smith, as the recent second-round pick will need to be signed sooner or later. With no more two-way spots left, the Pacers can either sign him to their final roster spot, wasting a valuable resource, or hide him in the G-League and hope no one else seeks to sign him.
Thompson would likely be the odd man out.
However, even with that difficulty in mind, the Pacers have to be over the moon with this. They have managed to sign a playable wing to a contract that will not count against the cap. While it sets a limit on how many games Slawson can play (50 games max), it leaves optionality going into next year.
With all that under consideration, let's get to the topic of Slawson as a difference maker.
Making the most of any situation
Slawson had lived a career completely without opportunity until very recently. He was a late second-rounder, and as such, on the roster bubble from the very second he entered the NBA. He was cut after just one season, much like Taelon Peter, who was cut to make space for Slawson.
While Slawson spent all of last year in Indiana making the most of the gap year opportunities that being on a bad team provided, his true breakout happened in Las Vegas over the past few weeks.
Jalen was fantastic for a Pacers team that was in desperate need of any capable players. While the team finished at a disappointing 2-3, Slawson was among the very few difference-makers. Averages of 20.8 points per game, along with nearly seven rebounds and 3.2 blocks, were understated by less-than-stellar efficiency.
Looking ahead, Slawson will probably not find himself in the rotation early on in the season, but he could find a role if any of the wings on the bench underperform. Between him, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Ben Sheppard, someone will need to break out.
It's rare for good teams to carry developmental projects without also having expectations. The Pacers will carry Slawson as a depth piece.
Archetypically, these are the wings the Pacers love. Locking in a player they are confident in for so little is a masterclass, and certainly a happy sign for Slawson, whose career was on the rocks just one short year ago.
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