The Indiana Pacers have done very little other than retain their own players in free agency. They have brought back Pascal Siakam on a four-year max contract and they have re-signed Obi Toppin on a four-year deal worth $60 million. Both of those deals make sense.
Siakam was always being brought back after the Pacers traded for him in the middle of the season. Toppin being brought back was a little more questionable, but it makes sense. With those two guys returning, the Pacers have only made one outside move so far.
Indiana signed James Wiseman to a two-year deal. While the terms weren't available immediately, we had a pretty good idea of what they were when the deal was announced considering the lack of cap space that the Pacers have to bring anyone in at a substantial number.
The Pacers signed James Wiseman to a minimum deal
Because the signing was officially announced on Friday, that means Indiana signed him to a minimum contract. Signing a minimum contract after being the former second pick overall in the 2020 NBA Draft is quite a fall for Wiseman, but that's how fast things change in the NBA.
This isn't a bad signing for Indiana either. This is a very low-risk signing that could turn out very well for them. Wiseman still has a lot of pure talent. Whether or not he can get that talent out and put it all together remains to be seen considering this is his third team already.
Wiseman is not guaranteed playing time next season. He will be fighting Isaiah Jackson for the backup center minutes now that Jalen Smith is in Chicago. Wiseman likely won't get another shot after this if he can't find his way into the rotation at some point.
Wiseman was bad on both ends of the floor in Detroit, although it was hard for anyone to play well individually on that team. It was a horrible team in each of the last two seasons that he was there. Maybe a winning environment now that he has some experience will be good for him.