The Pacers have a logjam on the roster (and why that might be a good thing)
By Scott Conrad
Pacers' probables (potentially): Tristen Newton, Kendall Brown, and Quenton Jackson
With Haliburton, McConnell, Nembhard, Nesmith, Mathurin, Sheppard, Siakam, Turner, and Obi Toppin pretty much-guaranteed roster spots, that makes nine spots filled on the 12-man roster. Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman figure to be #10 and #11 respectively, which means that only one, maybe two spots are up for grabs depending on Carlisle's decision(s).
Newton is a second-round pick by the Pacers from this summer's draft. He averaged 21 minutes a game and was able to record close to nine points a contest.
His shooting averages were not stellar from the floor or behind the arc, but the former UConn Huskie made just shy of 90% of his free-throw attempts.
Brown also averaged just shy of 10 points a game during the five Summer League appearances he played in. Boasting a 41.5% field goal percentage, he snagged 3.2 boards and a pair of dimes a game while collecting multiple blocks in the month of July.
Essentially a rookie this year, Jackson has only played 12 total games in the NBA the past two seasons, nine with the Washington Wizards and three for the Indiana Pacers. Jackson had a strong showing in his five-game sample size during the Pacers' Summer League.
He registered averages of 11 points, almost 2.5 rebounds, and 4 assists a game while averaging 21 minutes a game. Jackson's game perhaps stood out more than the other two potential roster invites. Either way, the Indiana Pacers have a good problem here: a surplus of swingmen.
Between Newton, Brown, and Jackson, whoever Carlisle picks will be a third-string player essentially. However, for any or all three, they could benefit from more playing time in the G League for the Indiana Mad Ants just like another Pacers rookie, Furphy.
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