Micah Potter's contract with the Indiana Pacers is now fully guaranteed for the rest of the season, indicating that the team will likely keep him around for the foreseeable future (h/t Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files).
The Pacers signed Potter on Dec. 26, and it didn't take long for him to make a positive impact. Through his first seven games with the team, the Ohio native averaged 8.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 50% from the field and 40.9% from beyond the arc.
Potter also started two games, which included an 11-point, 10-rebound performance against the Orlando Magic. This game marked just the second double-double of his NBA career.
It's still not likely that Potter is going to be an answer to Indiana's long-term center problems, but his emergence has still been an encouraging sign regardless. He looks very comfortable with the team, and he is playing his role incredibly well. Plus, he already has some fans in the organization, including head coach Rick Carlisle (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."
The Wisconsin native has made the most of his opportunities, and fans should be excited to see what he has in store moving forward with the Pacers. But one way or another, they still need to find a long-term solution at center. And they may have to do it soon.
The Pacers should be active ahead of the trade deadline
This year's trade deadline is less than a month away, and it's crystal clear what the Pacers' plans should be: pursue an upgrade at center.
Based on recent reports, this seems to be the case. But whether they will actually be able to pull off a trade is a different story.
So far, the Pacers have been linked to five centers in a potential trade: Daniel Gafford, Ivica Zubac, Walker Kessler, Nic Claxton, and Yves Missi. Of these five, Missi seems to be the most realistic option because of his taking on a reduced role with the New Orleans Pelicans, who seem to have all their eggs in the Derik Queen basket. But even he might be tough for the Pacers to acquire, given that he's just 21 years old and showed flashes during his All-Rookie Second Team campaign last season.
Regardless, it's no secret that Indiana needs a new center, and it might be aggressive in its pursuit of one. With the trade deadline approaching, they will be a team worth monitoring as they look to address one of their biggest needs.