Jalen Slawson has only appeared in five games for the Indiana Pacers since signing a two-way contract in February, but he is quickly making a great impression and is proving he is a player to keep an eye on moving forward.
With the Pacers, the South Carolina native is averaging 7.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks on 37.5% shooting from the field. This includes a fantastic game against the Portland Trail Blazers in his second career start, when he recorded 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and a steal.
Slawson is also very active and plays with a high motor and a ton of energy, which is one of his biggest appeals in Indiana. After his game against Portland, head coach Rick Carlisle praised the 26-year-old because of what he brings to the table (h/t Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star).
"Tonight we started him to try to get some size on Grant who has kind of been a nemesis of ours," Carlisle said. ".... I'm not saying it was all Slaw who kind of kept Grant at bay, but he's just an active guy. He's involved in a lot of things. He's doing a good job on the ball and then off the ball, he came over to block some shots and made some great loose ball plays."
Jalen Slawson can provide value to the Pacers
There are things going against Slawson. He is already 26 years old, doesn't have a ton of upside, and isn't a polished enough offensive player to truly be a good fit in Indiana's system.
But it's clear that he has talent, heart, and a good work ethic, and that alone means you can't count him out, especially on this team, which prioritizes those exact things.
Slawson is a versatile defender who can provide value as a rebounder and can be a legitimate threat to get to the basket anytime he pleases. He has his shortcomings (particularly the fact that he isn't a shot-creator or much of a three-point shooter), but he can realistically carve out a solid role with the Pacers.
Jalen Slawson is a name worth monitoring for the rest of the season
With less than a month left in the season, the Pacers are likely going to continue prioritizing development and experimentation over wins from here on out. And rightfully so.
If that's the case, it will be worth seeing what happens with Slawson. Chances are that he will continue to play some real minutes the rest of the way, and if he can make the most out of that opportunity (which he has been doing so far), it wouldn't be too much of a surprise to see him stick around for a little while longer.