Pacers Should Consider Late Free Agency Move for Familiar Player
· Yahoo Sports
With just a couple of weeks remaining until the Indiana Pacers open up training camp, there is still one roster spot open. Kevin Pritchard and the front office could choose to keep that roster spot for future flexibility, but there are still a few available players who could make sense.
One of those available players could make a lot of sense. He also has a brief history playing for the Pacers.
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Bruce Brown Jr. remains a free agent. If Indiana wants to add some quality veteran depth, Brown could be worth taking a look at.
Back in the 2023-24 NBA season, the veteran guard played in 33 games with Indiana. He averaged 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, three assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
After signing a two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers during the NBA offseason, he was quickly moved before the NBA trade deadline. Brown was the key contract sent to the Toronto Raptors to pull off the Pascal Siakam trade.
Bleacher Report's Dan Favale named Brown one of the best free agents available who could help a team for cheap.
"None of Brown's other connective skills are a mirage," Favale wrote. "He keeps the ball moving. He can reach the basket on or off the rock. He knows how to cut and relocate in the half-court. And he keeps defenses guessing from short-roll territory."
Last season, Brown played for the Denver Nuggets. He appeared in 82 games and made four starts. In the time he received, Brown averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a steal per game, while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from three-point range.
Looking at the roster, Indiana could use more depth on the wing. Adding Brown would give the Pacers flexibility to play Kelly Oubre Jr. at small forward. Jarace Walker is primed to be the backup small forward, but he could be turned into a valuable trade chip.
At the very least, Brown could be quality depth deeper on the bench in case of injury. Indiana dealt with numerous injury problems last season.
More than likely, the Pacers will pass on the chance to sign Brown. There is a good chance that he wouldn't want to return to Indiana after things seemingly ended poorly between the two sides during his last stint with the team.
Expect to hear more rumors about Indiana's final roster spot as the regular season draws closer.