On Tuesday night, the Indiana Pacers signed Jalen Slawson to their final two-way spot just a day after they cut Taelon Peter to open that slot up. Many had tabbed Slawson as the final regular-roster guy, but his place and incredibly high-value two-way contract now open new questions.
There are a few directions the Pacers can go, from trade to free agency, but all of them leave major questions. Indiana has their eight-man rotation locked and loaded, so adding another difference-maker seems unlikely this late into the offseason.
However, any flexibility added is always a good thing.
If the Pacers want to leverage that final roster spot to improve the roster and reach the heights they clearly believe are possible, here's how they can do so.
Dipping back into the free agency market
The free agency market has been left very dry, with James Harden (likely returning to the Cavaliers) and LeBron James as the biggest names still available. Neither will be joining the Pacers.
However, further down the list are players who could be looking for a prove-it deal. While this keeps players like Jalen Duren or Peyton Watson – restricted free agents seeking maximum paydays that their teams must match – out of Indiana's range, it also reveals the top options for their end-of-days scrapheap search.
The name at the top of that list has to be Jonathan Kuminga. Considering how many moves the Atlanta Hawks have made, we are far beyond the sign-and-trade point of no return. Atlanta has 17 players on their roster after completing the Lu Dort trade, leaving Kuminga as a player with a team in name only.
The former seventh-overall pick could add another body to the threadbare wing room, which may be the weakest part of the roster, and a player who thrives playing in the full-court, fitting the Pacers' identity.
There's also Bennedict Mathurin, the former Pacer lottery pick whose career is on its last legs after a trade sent him to the LA Clippers.
If Indiana wants more depth in their guard room, Brandon Williams could be a nice third guard.
Finding a way to de-consolidate
The other option to fill the last roster spot is to take back two players from a team with a roster crunch. Whether that means taking on two depth pieces for one movable contract, or taking on a salary dump for extra movable picks or assets, it's a logical way to maximize the roster spot if the Pacers have no interest in adding another player.
Maybe this comes in the form of the Milwaukee Bucks trying to clear out Jericho Sims' deal after trading for Kel'el Ware. Maybe it's the Brooklyn Nets trying to dump Drake Powell after an unimpressive summer league in order to enable a trade of their own.
Those options are less exciting, so let's instead look at the options for pursuing a move later in the offseason as the New York Knicks once did for Karl-Anthony Towns.
The New Orleans Pelicans were one of the 10 worst teams in the league last year and have run it back with the same roster instead of making any moves. Could Indiana swoop in for one of their many forwards, using a few second-rounders to clear up their glut?
Indiana has options available that it did not have just 24 hours ago.
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