The Indiana Pacers may have just dodged a bullet after Deandre Ayton opted to join the Los Angeles Lakers (h/t Shams Charania of ESPN). Ayton was recently bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Pacers, who signed him to an offer sheet back in 2022, were linked to him once again. However, the former No. 1 overall pick signed with the Lakers instead, and this should prove to be a good thing for Indiana.
Following Myles Turner's departure after signing with the Milwaukee Bucks, there is no doubt that the Pacers are in desperate need of another center as they look to replace him. On paper, signing Ayton could have been a solid idea as he became the best free agent center on the market before he signed with Los Angeles, and there is a lot to like about his game. However, Ayton's entire NBA career up to this point has been a hypothetical as he has never consistently lived up to the hype, with many questioning his work ethic.
Indiana needs another center on the roster. Ayton, who does provide some value on the court, could have been worth taking a flier on. However, the cons may outweigh the pros for him, and for a team like the Pacers, who want to remain in title contention, they now have a chance to turn their attention elsewhere and find a better long-term fit.
The Pacers still do not have many other options
With Ayton no longer a possibility for the Pacers, they now have to look elsewhere to address their center needs. It is highly unlikely they are going to find somebody who can replicate Turner's skillset and impact this season, so the Pacers may not be in any sort of rush to find their answer. This is especially true given that next year will be more of a gap year following Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury.
The free agency market is slim pickings for the Pacers, and they did not draft a center. They exercised the team option for Tony Bradley for next season and extended a qualifying offer to Isaiah Jackson, who is now a restricted free agent. Additionally, it remains to be seen what could be in line for Thomas Bryant, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer. While all these players provide some intrigue and value, it would be incredibly difficult for Indiana to put trust starting any of them full-time for a full season.
One potential option for the Pacers is to trade for a center. There are not many realistic options out there, but one name to keep an eye on is New Orleans Pelicans big man Yves Missi, who could be on the move. Missi is young and would be a great fit for the Pacers. It is unclear what the asking price would be, but the Pelicans have a bit of a logjam at center, and Missi is still on his rookie contract.
With Ayton having signed with the Lakers, the Pacers are still in need of a big man. However, this is more of a blessing than a curse as they can look at the big picture once again and determine what their best option is, both for next season and the following seasons after, as they aim to eventually return to the NBA Finals.