Backup center for the Indiana Pacers is declining his player option

The Indiana Pacers had the best bench in the NBA this season. They scored more points than any other second unit in the league and they were a big reason why Indiana was so successful in the playoffs. The depth this team had was impressive and it was fun to watch.

Part of the success of the bench in the regular season was because of Jalen Smith. Smith really improved from last season. He was a really good three-point shooter and that made him useful. He shot an incredible 59% from the field and 42% from deep.

Smith's effectiveness dwindled in the playoffs. It dwindled to the point that he was out of the rotation for the last two series in the playoffs. He was passed up by Isaiah Jackson on the depth chart. He just wasn't strong enough to get the rebounds that he needed to get.

Jalen Smith is leaving the Pacers to become a free agent

Smith had a player option to return to the Pacers this season that would have paid him $5.4 million this season. He decided to decline it and become a free agent, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. He will be searching for another team to play for.

Losing Smith means that the Pacers have to find someone else who can do what he brought to the team. They don't have another center behind Myles Turner who can stretch the floor. Jackson is a rebounder and a rim-runner who doesn't do much else.

This is the first player to leave the Pacers this offseason. The only other free agent that the Pacers have done anything with is Pascal Siakam. They re-signed him to a max deal. How else are they going to improve the roster with such little cap space? They're going to have to make trades.

It seems like there are a few assets they could part with if they wanted to. This is only the beginning of free agency for the Pacers. Things are going to continue to change.