Indiana Pacers 2024 free agency preview: Center position

Indiana Pacers 2024 free agency preview: Center position

it’s time to wrap up the positional free agency Series today we’re going to dive into the center market for the Pacers is there any reason they would want to Center if so who how much should they be willing to spend what is their matters about their current roster we’ll get to all of it today on the lockdown Pacers podcast you are locked on Pacers your daily Indiana Pacers podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day what up y’all happy Monday hope you had a great weekend and welcome into another edition of The Loon Pacers podcast where we of course talk about the Indiana Pacers as always my name’s Tony East I cover the team for Forbes and Si and today we are finishing up the free agency previews by position for the Pacers we’ve run through the first four positions we’ve run through the offseason rumor so far we’ve caught up on the draft what the Pacers could look at what their pick situation is we reviewed all the player Seasons from last year there’s one thing left to do ahead of this chaotic week that’s coming let’s talk about centers the last position we have not talked about for the Pacers why they would pursue one if at all what resources they should use on the position if any the best players available the realistic fits you know the deal if you list to the first four of these going through the other positions we just did power forwards with Ethan cre last week I thought that was the most interesting one small forwards also with Alex golden was fascinating centers and the two guard positions I’m doing by myself because they’re less intriguing than the forwards of course but still valuable and this is the last one of the serieses of the offseason usually there’s a lot more offseason stuff to cover not as much time this year after the Conference Finals run because the draft is Wednesday the free agency starts on Sunday it’s all coming so fast Pacers don’t pick till Thursday but that means after today the rest of this week will be rumors and draft stuff and more draft stuff and how it relates to FR agency and the team is changing and the teams are changing oh my goodness so today we do our last preview talking centers and the center position has been the most disgusted position for the Pacers in the Kevin Pritchard era for many reasons Miles Turner sabonis turbon three centers four centers Here Comes Goa Here Comes these other young guys oh my gosh Daniel Ty is on the team now it’s been crazy to track their centers and all of a sudden for the first time ever they might actually have to think about the center spot in free agency because Jaylen Smith has a player option and that’s the headline of the discussion on why they could turn to this spot look we can go through the entire Kevin Pritchard era right the first the second excuse me full season he was in charge when sabonis was still a backup they went and got KY o Quinn right they had a third Center they had Alice Johnson ready and TJ Leaf ready to be fourth and fifth centers if need be the following year TJ Leaf jakar Samson still on the team and goa’s in the mix now instead of kylo Quinn and the following following year that was the same kind of deal I me AB brma comes in as their break glass in case of emergency center then Isaiah Jackson gets into the mix and Jaylen Smith gets into the mix as sabonis goes out then Ty gets into the mix right I bring all up the history of the position to say they have always had three centers minimum and I actually think that makes sense like that is a position where if you don’t have the necessary Talent night tonight in the regular season you’re in trouble the difference is some you can cover it up as your four option or or fifth option with not a center you don’t need more than three right obviously the year they entered the season with Ty an Turner and Jackson and Smith that was too much right um that’s just too many bigs and Goa I think was in that mix too I can’t remember how much overlap there was so that’s too many but two let’s just pretend for the sake of this argument for a second if Jaylen Smith just Ops out and then chooses another team and underr for agency then it’s Miles Turner and Isaiah Jackson that’s it that’s too few right so there is some debate to do they actually need another one because maybe it’ll be toin back and yakum has already you know agreed to terms like could you just go small and just say you know what we’re happy with we’re happy with Turner and Isaiah Jackson and if we need an emergency big we’ll turn to top and if we have them or sakam or jarus Walker or something like that so the the no Center discussion would be that and yet I feel like given the the history of the Pacers they would keep someone in there whether that’s on a two-way like they had Oscar Shea on a tway last year another Center or if they actually wanted to use their final roster spot on like a depth big to bring in that is the strongest argument in favor of it to me and I actually think you you need like a guy like a real fivan to anchor down that spot if sticks leaves maybe they could draft that guy maybe this is an a FR agency thing maybe they use the 36th pick on a center knowing that maybe they would lose Isaiah Jackson at some point with his free agency coming up Turner’s a free agent after this year too maybe you want someone you’re developing in that Pipeline on your team or maybe you get a big on a two-year deal for the same reasons just described even knowing they’d be your third big this year but you want that person to know your scheme know your system know they fit there are lots of reasons to actually purs pursue someone even beyond the just we’ve seen in the Kevin perched era they want three centers so that alone is a good starting point for for this is if they lose Jaylen Smith they would want a center I think especially one that can play multiple positions who can also play the four that sounds very specific and Niche this is similar to the point guard free agency discussion where the Pacers don’t need a point guard but if they do get one one that can play more than just the one is the things that make sense to them I I’ll bring this guy up later but Kevin Love right he has a player option with the heat I bet he stays in Miami but if he does become available and Jaylen Smith Ops out Kevin Love is a third big who can maybe play the for pinch that’s a great idea but he probably wants to play wherever he goes and he would not play on the Pacers but I bring him up to say that kind of guy who can play the five who can play the four that makes sense to me if the Pacers are going to pursue someone at this position but the trouble is this could all be for nothing if Jaylen Smith Ops in they don’t need a center they have Miles Turner they have Jaylen Smith they have Isaiah Jackson now the problem is and what the Pacers would rightfully think about is all those guys would enter this season the coming season on an expiring contract two of them would be entering unrestricted free agency next summer right so who knows if they would be back but that would give them a lot of flux at this position and they might already have that entering the season they can’t extend Turners contract they can extend Isaiah Jackson they cannot extend Turners so maybe they’re willing to go small for that reason explore their other options at the center position beyond what they have but I still think you need someone I still think you need size night to night in the regular season in the playoffs Niche lineups skill lineups they matter a lot they’re very helpful but the teams that were just in the finals had 48 minutes of Center depth right Derek Lively Daniel gford sometimes Dwight Powell on the other side Al Horford and porzingis and if they needed to they went to Silman or cornette or whoever right they wanted a big out there no matter what for various reasons sometimes it’s because those guys match up well sometimes it’s because having a center is valuable you go back around earlier similar things for the Conference Finals so the the Pacers uniquely tried no Center late in game four against the Celtics couldn’t get stops right it’s it’s hard to to do this perfectly but like the nuggets have always had a backup for yic and you know the Wolves obviously were huge like you need size at some point and specifically skilled size and so if stick Ops out there’s a good argument to the Pacers actually looking to the free agent Center Market that said they should not spend a lot of money on it because they have toppen or they could have toppen excuse me have toppin rights they have seum agreed to they have jerus Walker right these are resources that they should be ex putting to the five at times but they do need someone who can actually play the position in a pinch if jayen Smith is not on the team next year that’s a reasonable possibility it’s been reported that he’s leaning towards opting out right now by Michael Scott on hoopsy we’ll talk more about these reports in the future and so the as they look at the center market right now they should not at this moment be looking so hard at centers but if they lose J they should be and it should be something they look at with their 15th roster spot using whatever resources they deem fit which shouldn’t be a very strong one unless they can get an awesome player who could be a center of the future which seems very unlikely but in order to talk about that we’d have to look at the top of the market the best centers available is there anyone good enough to actually like make them think about their future at this spot but can they even get that player these players it’s kind of a weak year but we’ve got to run through the top centers available and if they make any sense for the Pacers before we get to any of that though let’s talk about eBay Motors passion drive and patience the formula for winning championships is also what keeps your ride or eye alive eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to Peak Performance superchargers roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights and more whether you’re into speed power or style eBay Motors has you covered with over 122 million parts for your number one Rider ey you will always find exactly what you’re looking for and with eBay’s guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to fit you all right every time you get your money back because with eBay Motors your burning rubber not cash with all the parts you need at the prices you want it’s easy to make your car the MVP and bring home huge wins keep your red eye alive at ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit only available to Us customer we are back here on lockdown Pacers thanks for making us your first listen today on this lovely Monday second listen should be locked on women’s basketball could be any variety of things any day over there but I was just at fever sky in Chicago on Sunday awesome game Sky squeaked it out uh but women’s basketball awesome moment they’re having W’s been awesome this season check it out uh and I’ll be on there every so often including last Monday if you want to catch up on the fever as their season progresses we’re talking Pacers here and their Center position which could be the same could be two years in a row of Turner Smith Jackson but Jaylen Smith has the power to change that he can go the player option he’s unrestricted for agency see if he Ops out for the that’s a lot of options for him and the Pacers have no say over any of it but they do have front Court depth they do have front Court pieces if they get to that point that’s said if they have to turn to the free agency market what does the top of this group look like well this is a good year for the Pacers not to need a center and even if they keep Obi top and they already have low resources in general but uh using significant resources on a center if it’s not a starting center is bad in the NBA it’s not something that that happens very often right even the very very best backup centers make less than $10 million Al Horford made less than 10 million this year and he’s probably the best backup center in the NBA who would start for like every other team and I bring that up to say the Pacers should not be using their mid level exception on a backup center when they already have Isaiah Jackson and Miles Turner under contract for next season as of right now so the best guys available don’t really matter to the Pacers unless they view that guy as one of the following someone who can play not just the five so they would play with Turner at times or they could play with the second unit in various spots or whatever or someone who would in theory be their starter in a few years right so it’s a strange spot though because that player would not be their starter over Miles Turner this year I don’t think any free agent center is better than Miles Turner this year that is the the status of this free agency class at this position there’s one player that some could debate we’ll get to that in a second but it’s not a good top end class and so there’s not a a lot of of value in using high-end resources to be clear only two centers got more than the non-tax pyramid level exception last summer in free agency that was yako purle great starter good Defender and Brook Lopez who both got between 20 and 25 million per year I think a little less than 20 for peral everybody else got eight million or less average annual value right so unless you’re a stud Center you’re not getting paid very much and so it’s kind of unique looking at the top of the market to see what’s even out there and can the Pacers even get him so to me the best available free agent at this position is Nick Claxton Nick Claxton is very good I think he’s going to get close to if not more than Brook Lopez money from someone the Nets should make themselves that team uh and yet I think a lot of teams OKC Orlando lots of teams would be much better with Nick Laxon on their team right a 12- 10 guy finishes well around the rim led the league in two-point percentage two years ago and effective field goal percentage top tened defensive player that year voting two years ago very good player very impactful Defender very mobile can switch out he can guard fours and I only say that to say that you could play you you don’t want to play Nick claxon at the four right that would be bad for your offense but you could get away with like a couple utility possessions of him defending at the four very good player he’s gonna get a lot of money in theory if you would take a four-year mle I would I would obviously offer it as the Pacers even though it’d be clunky he might start in the future depending on what happens with Miles Turner um I I Turner’s better than him to me right now to be clear but Nick claxon’s the best free agent center um wonderful season the last two years has clearly become an established starter in the league and that’s why the Pacers probably can’t afford him and after that everyone else I I think everyone else is going to be mlow except for one guy who just does not make sense for the Pacers because he can’t play the four but I think everyone else is ml or lower the only other no doubt starter is Isaiah hartenstein who is an early bird free agent likely uh the Knicks are going to be hoping that their early bird offer can keep him and if not he could you know OKC’s been floated around for him too uh Beast I mean the Pacers just saw what he can do in the postseason you know he would be a great at some point starter for the Pacers but not better than Turner um he will probably make more than the Pacers can offer everyone else is not worth it you want valent chunis rashan Holmes could be a FR agent if he opts out but that would be stupid of him you know that those are the two who made the most last year they were both over 10 million year on their last deal everyone else was below that and so it’s just not a very strong class of centers I still like see some stuff in James wisman that I’m like maybe that’s interesting but clearly not a good player yet and a player like him who made almost 10 million last year what he probably just wants to play he would not play on the Pacers right Mo Vagner is a good player he he might be playing for the Pacers he’s definitely going to be with the magic he’s a team option and everyone else is a pretty ke clear deep Reserve Daniel Ty he’s probably you know he was with the Pacers last year obviously for a time that makes no like it’s not a good top end group Andre Drummond’s a good player so to be clear there’s a lot of guys who like would make good backups on the Pacers they might be a little better than Isaiah Jackson but is that worth investing to pay to have a third Center better than Isaiah Jackson probably not that does not seem like good asset and cap management to me unless it’s like the No Doubt awesomest best backup center best fit of all time kind of player but I don’t see that player on this Market unless Nick claxon’s willing to be a backup five he he is not to be clear so that’s where this is really tricky the best players on the market make no sense for the Pacers and would not have a role and aren’t worth very much to most teams they’re incumbent teams where they make a lot of sense and then the young guys who You’ in theory squint and say oh they could throw a flyer at Tristan vich or moamba who’s not that young anymore or Jackson Hayes you know interesting guys Moses Brown I love even though he’s not that awesome am IAS Ki kind of like you know these young guys but they wouldn’t play why would they take the Pacers money right what what is their incentive to come to Indiana unless it’s the only guaranteed money they get so it’s it’s tough to find find the right best players on the market for the Pacers because the best best players on the market claxon and hartstein just aren’t going to be available they’re going to hit the market and they’re already out of the Pacers price range and they wouldn’t start anyway and they just make no sense so the best players are are not options for the Pacers the best players that are options for the Pacers are in a unique spot where they probably wouldn’t play for the Pacers because this is a weak free agency class or guys that are looking for a role that is super obvious and sign if and maybe demanding of money and the Pacers can’t offer that unless they somehow trade Isaiah Jackson and lose Jaylen Smith so this is a a very very peculiar spot for the Pacers to be in and this kind of is similar to some other positions we’ve talked about and speaks to the Pacers depth because at that point if you’re the Pacers if this is your reality why would you sign someone other than just like a vet who knows they’re not going to play that is a valuable player to have to be clear like we’ll we’ll talk about like for example DeAndre Jordan he’s probably not the perfect example Thomas Bryant with the heat last year right he’s not a vet per se but has been around the block has won a championship like is a fine player and yet doesn’t play he only played 38 games for the Heat last year but if they had to play him that’s fine they can live with that he shot 65% from on twos last year he takes some threes he’s a fine player right that’s that’s like a third big that’s what you want someone in that situation who’s comfortable not playing but if they play you feel good about it so what are those realistic targets for the Pacers since the top end guys are impossible and since their situation with Turner and Jackson as it currently stands does not permit them to add a third big what would be available to them what makes sense let’s run through some names that make sense some names I like that could actually fit this spilling or could do that two positional stuff we talked about earlier with Kevin Love before we get to any of that though we’ve got to talk about FanDuel I love sports I love them so much I never want him to stop but as the playoffs wind down in the NBA and the NHL we get fewer games baseball rolling we gotta wait for football to come back the WNBA Is Still rocking though so the sports are not sportsing as much right now and yet FanDuel keeps the sports going whenever you want all you got to do is open the app and dream up bets anytime you’re in the mood this summer FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily that’s right there’s something for everyone every single day all summer long to sign up and get those daily boost or bonuses head to.com lockdown start making the most out of your summer on FanDuel official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball back here on lockon Pacers let’s wrap up our chat about centers realistic Targets on the free agency market thanks for making us your first listen today and every single day your second listen should be locked on Kings Matt George will have the latest on the second player to agree to terms in free agency under the new rules Pascal sakam was first that was fun for you guys listening to this and for me to dive in for an hour of me talking to myself about sakam agreeing to terms early Malik monk to the Kings early bird three plus one Malik monk good stuff to get a three plus one King’s good stuff to keep a guy that you were limited on offers for that’s a win-win for everybody they move on the Kings need to make a bigger move now not bigger moves Pacers Center in free agency there this is a very this speaks to the Pacers depth of their team right after agreeing to se yakum as of right the second including Kendall Brown’s non- guarantee Pacers have 12 players under contract that includes Jaylen Smith even if Smith Ops out they still have halber seum Turner N Smith McConnell maen Walker Jackson Shepard nard those are all guys who could slash should play there’s not a lot of depth opportunity available and so that’s what’s made these so interesting and why a lot of these discussions end up at this point where it’s who if the Pacers needed someone at at any position including Center who would be the fit of would want to come to the Pacers and accept the role they have to offer isn’t too good to demand minutes isn’t too young to want more money and and would actually help if they played right because like James Johnson is a wonderful for the Pacers in that he’s an awesome vet right that they love him so much they’ve given him five I maybe more than that contracts in the last two seasons like they want him around all the time he does not fit the playing Bill and that’s fine but at the center spot specifically they do want someone if Jaylen Smith Ops out in particular they would want someone that can play that can actually hit the hardwood every so often in play they need remember when they needed to meet a brma in the rotation they were so injured a few years ago like that can happen at Center that can happen in a lot of positions but that can really happen at Center and so finding someone who meets all the sweet spots is hard because to find the Pacers I’m not using my exceptions on a center right this is not a good Center Market this year I can get somebody for the minimum I’m probably gonna try to if I have to for the Pacers so who makes sense who fits this bill of you know is would take guaranteed money would not suck if called upon but would be okay with not playing every game that’s kind of Tristan Thompson former Pacer just had for the Cavs except he ended up playing the playoffs kind of well right does that make sense javil McGee former gold medalist does that make sense he’s probably in that spot now because he was behind not only simus but also Alex Len who’s also free agent he’s 31 but he probably thinks he should play somewhere right and that’s where this gets hard Daniel Ty Mason plumble only one of you can be the backup center with the Clippers I don’t know if Ty would come back to Indiana Plumley though ties to the state maybe that one right there’s a lot of names I could throw around and so the trouble is finding the exact Perfect Fit of of all of these factors ason P might want to be an rotation he was entering last season so we’re already at a tricky part like Andre Drummond too good he wants to play he’s a good player so who who makes sense Tristan Thompson kind of makes sense another halberton connection here’s one that will be the thumbnail of this that I kind of like if Jones Smith UPS out Cody Zeller Indiana ties obviously many Indiana ties for Cody Zeller Cody Zeller is certainly at a stage of his career where not not not playing every day not playing many days in fact for the Pelicans last year he played 43 games the year before that with the he he played 15 although he got signed March 1 that year the year before that he played 27 for Portland clearly a kind of late late career stage for Cody Zeller 7.4 minutes per game last year isn’t that exactly what this Pacers team would want that kind of size of a role he even hit 500 minutes last season 320 he’s hit 500 the last two seasons total playing the playoffs for Miami two years ago so that’s misleading but still you get the gist he actually played more playoff minutes for Miami than regular season oh that’s not true but it’s very close like he can I bring that up to say he can give you something he is still kind of that perfect sweet spot of like oh if you have to rely on you know the turns 32 October 5th 32-year-old Cody Zeller for a couple minutes that’s fine that would be because Miles Turner hurt or Isaiah Jackson’s hurt or you don’t want to go small against whatever match up but like that’s the sweet spot that level of player that experience of player that kind of guy is there anyone else like that because there’s a lot of guys who probably are too good for that or think they’re too good and are like hey I should play whever I go I should be in a rotation right or hey I’m trying to chase a title now or whatever right it’s really hard to find guys who who fit that category in every single way that’s why zel is such an interesting fit to me here’s one bismack biombo he might be too good for this but he he got snatched up by a couple teams last year and didn’t end up sticking in Memphis didn’t play very much in OKC if the Pacers keep Oscar sheway I think that could be interesting because shway and bomo have a prior relationship uh 10 games with the Thunder last year bism bomo played right he is kind of in maybe that sweet spot he might might want to play wherever he ends up but there’s a lot of guys who are young and would want minutes you know does Taj Gibson make sense he’s been playing for teams Detroit New York in recent Seasons Mike muscala is probably too good for this I think Mike muscala is actually a good player you know there’s just not a lot of of guys that check every Buck chesi metsu maybe Xavier tman fresh off a title he probably wants to play he’s only 25 right there’s just not a lot of players that check every single box zor does or at least gets pretty close Taj Gibson does or at least gets pretty close you could maybe say javil McGee does or at least gets pretty close it’s kind of it and so if you get to that point if you’re the Pacers you just say n we’ll Play Obie at the five we’ll play jarus we’ll play Pascal or whatever do you draft someone at 36 or 49 or 50 and you’re happy with that do you just promote sheway at that point you just say Oscar sheway you are now the third five congratulations there there are routes to go I would think they’d want a vet uh and someone who can play they’re not in development mode anymore maybe they like she enough to do that he was an off obviously an amazing rebounder in the g- League last year uh but I I’d be very curious what that would look like because this is a position they need they could need someone at if Jaylen Smith Ops out as Michael Scot reported is the early indications we don’t know yet we won’t know till later this week but if Jaylen Smith UPS out they will need a center or they will need to at least look at signing a center but the market stinks and does not have a lot of very obvious this guy fits every box for the Pacers and actually makes sense to somebody who would take that role and take that much money from them so all this to say kind of like point guard not expecting a big big flurry here if the Pacers actually do some sign somebody it’ probably be a minimum deal maybe not even a fully guaranteed minimum deal you try to survive January without a center until the trade deadline has passed and deal with it then there’s lots of ways that this could go the drafts could change everything I said but this position does not not seem like a priority for the Pacers for lots of reasons unless they make a trade which we have no inkling of right this second that is the end of the free agency by position series Wings fours twos ones and now fives are all done and now it’s time for the madness the draft is Wednesday so tomorrow we’ll talk some rumors the latest offseason stuff I alluded to some Jaylen Smith stuff there some TJ McConnell stuff some jarus Obie stuff interesting uh we’ll run through some Ock drafts then Wednesday well prev the draft Wednesday night Thursday we’ll talk about what happened in the first round of how it affects the Pacers best prospects left Thursday we’ll talk about what the Pacers did and Friday meet some prospects and it’ll be time to talk about what it all means for free agency you know the deal there’s so much fun stuff coming here on the lockon Pacers podcast thank you all for listening today I hope you learn something or if you have an idea about a center the Pacers should get let me know I’m at Tony R East on Twitter and the show uh is there at lockon Pacers you can comment Down Below on YouTube lots of people have thoughts on Andre Drummond but I I don’t know would they would they if they do that they should just trade Isaiah Jackson immediately so it’s a very interesting spot let me know what you think back tomorrow talking rumors as the Pacers offseason reaches that point and then it’s draft time hope you all enjoyed Today’s Show have a wonderful day see you very soon

NBA Free agency kicks off this week. What should the Indiana Pacers target or consider at the center position? Host Tony East breaks it all down, including the reasoning, resources, and targets that make sense at the position.

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