The Indiana Pacers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first summer league game of the season, and Enrique Freeman may have just thrown his name into the "Myles Turner replacement" hat.
After Turner shockingly signed with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this offseason, the Pacers now have to figure out what their center situation looks like for next year. So far, they have re-signed James Wiseman, traded for Jay Huff, and exercised Tony Bradley's team option. Furthermore, they extended a qualifying offer to Isaiah Jackson, and all signs point to him returning as a restricted free agent. However, the start of next season is still months away, and it is not too late for the team to switch things around.
In a victory for Indiana, Freeman recorded 19 points on 5-for-9 shooting, seven rebounds, and three assists in 30 minutes. Furthermore, as was the case during his limited run last season, the Cleveland native made a lot of noise with his energy and activity. Freeman is not technically listed as a center, but he played the position a lot last year in small-ball lineups.
It is unlikely the Pacers will put this much trust in a second-year player, but their center situation is not great right now, and Freeman is continuing to prove he has what it takes to contribute at a high level.
Enrique Freeman may be in line for a bigger opportunity next year
Freeman is technically not signed to the Pacers yet, but there is no reason to believe he will not secure the team's final two-way contract opening. He provides a lot of energy on the court and has a lot of potential. Additionally, with next year likely being a gap year for Indiana, they are likely going to experiment a little bit. This is where Freeman could come into play.
As it stands, it seems that the Pacers are not going to rely on just one player to replace Turner. Instead, they will run a committee at center. On paper, this makes a lot of sense and could prove to be the right call for the team. However, this is still not ideal as they still don't know exactly what they have. Huff has not played an expanded role in his NBA career yet, and Jackson and Wiseman are coming off Achilles injuries. Furthermore, while Bradley does provide some value, particularly on the boards, his skillset is very limited.
The Pacers have a unique prospect in Freeman, who could be a long-term fit for the team. He is turning 25 years old near the end of July, so his ceiling is a bit lower than some of their other young talent. Even so, he is an exciting player to watch and could be a legitimate answer to some of their center problems.
Indiana is not likely to compete for a championship next year, though they could still make some noise. However, they still have a bright future and should be a threat once again once Tyrese Haliburton returns from his injury. In the meantime, the Pacers will try out a few different players, rotations, and lineups to see what sticks and will help them contend in the near future. Freeman is one of those players to keep an eye on, as he could be exactly what the team needs.