Micah Potter has been with the Indiana Pacers for roughly two weeks, but he is already starting to prove that he might be a real asset, not just another body on the roster.
Through his first six games with the Pacers, Potter has averaged 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 50% from the field and 38.9% from deep in 20.7 minutes. In his last two games (both starts), he has turned it up another level, averaging 13.5 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 53.3% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc.
It's a small sample size, and it's not like he's putting up jaw-dropping numbers. But given how bleak Indiana's outlook at center is, Potter's emergence has been a welcoming sight, and it may culminate in him sticking around a little longer than most anticipated.
Micah Potter can be a real asset for the Pacers
There's a lot to like about the Ohio native and what he brings to the Pacers. He is proving that he can stretch the floor, grab rebounds at a solid rate, and just play some generally smart basketball. Potter doesn't force anything, he's often in the right place on the court, and he has already shown good chemistry with the rest of the team.
Additionally, it's clear that he already has some fans within the organization. This includes head coach Rick Carlisle, who praised Potter following his 16-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 2 (h/t Wheat Hotchkiss of NBA.com).
"He’s a very solid player," Carlisle said of how Potter has impressed him so early into his stint with the team. "He’s done a lot of good things. He knows his game, he’s learned our system very quickly. I think solid is the word."
Potter is still very limited, particularly defensively and from a potential perspective (he's already almost 28 years old). He's not the Pacers' answer at center, but it says a lot that, at least with how things currently look, he has already taken the starting job over Jay Huff.
The Wisconsin native is making it clear that he can play valuable basketball for the Pacers, even if it's not leading to any winning at the moment. Is he going to be a long-term contributor for them once they re-enter the title picture? It's way too early to tell. But at the very least, if he keeps up this level of play, Potter may have the opportunity to contribute in Indiana even past this season.