With Brandon Roy and Eric Gordon reportedly verbally agreeing to deals elsewhere it's time to get down to the remaining free agents that the Pacers are pursuing.
First on the list is Memphis Grizzlies' guard OJ Mayo. Mayo, an unrestricted free agent, has recently put Indiana at the top of his list of possible destinations. The feeling is mutual between the Pacers and OJ as Indiana has tried to acquire the guard Via trade at each of the past two seasons' trade deadlines but couldn't get a deal done. Is the third time the charm? I'd say so as sources report the two parties are growing closer to a deal to bring Mayo to Indiana.
Next on the list is Houston Rockets guard Courtney Lee. Lee, an Indianapolis native, has expressed interest in coming home to play for his hometown Pacers. As you remember the Pacers brought in another hometown kid on draft night last year by the name of George Hill and that seemed to workout pretty well for both Hill and the Pacers. Hill recently took to twitter to try 'recruiting' the Rockets guard to come home by posting this tweet, "@George_Hill3: #PacerNation Let's Try to get another hometown guy Courtney Lee home in that #Blue&Gold What y'all think". I could definitely see Lee in the Blue and Gold next season with the Pacers need for another scorer on the wing. Lee is a 6'5 200 lb. shooting guard who would not only provide another scoring threat to the team but also bring with him a terrific ability to play perimeter defense on quick guards/slashers, an area in which the Pacers need improvement in. So how close are the two parties on a deal? Talks have just begun and Lee has drawn interest from multiple teams so we'll just have to wait and see if things heat up with the young guard.
Another name that has been popping up with the Pacers is Clippers' guard Nick Young. Young flat out has a knack for scoring, from anywhere on the floor. He can shoot the three with good enough efficiency to keep his defenders honest which often times opens up a path for him to penetrate into the lane and finish or set up another teammate for an easy bucket. Young would be a great addition to the Pacers, but like Courtney Lee and OJ Mayo, he has drawn interest from other teams as well. Current Pacers' guard/forward Paul George is good friends with young so maybe he can put a good word in his ear about joining the team.
A name that has just recently surfaced with talks of the Pacers is Nets' forward Gerald Green. The Pacers have had their eye on Green since his high school days and thought about taking him in the 2005 NBA draft but Bird did not want to add that kind of youth to the roster at that time. Green's salary last season was only $150,000 so the Pacers could pick up a quality scorer at a very good price.
Now on to possible Roy Hibbert replacements, if the Pacers' don't resign the all-star center. One name that has popped up to the Pacers in previous seasons as a backup option off the bench is now being targeted as a possible starter, and that is Hornets big man Chris Kaman. Kaman may be the best available option to replace Hibbert because unlike the other available free agent centers, Kaman can use some pretty impressive post moves to finish around the rim. A lot of people forget that Kaman was an all-star for a season when he was a Clipper, but at the same time he has had his fair share of injury issues over the past couple seasons. The last thing the Pacers want to do is spend money on a guy who will miss more games than he will play in. The other big man the Pacers have reportedly been talking with is Nuggets center JaVale McGee. McGee is a tremendous defender but his lack of offensive skills and overall basketball IQ makes him a bit of a scary option when looking to replace Hibbert. McGee is also a restricted free agent so the Nuggets may not even let him go. For most, it may seem like a no-brainer for the Pacers to resign Roy Hibbert but as of right now the front office still hasn't decided on if they're going to match Portland's max offer or if they're going to let the all-star center walk. With that being said, we have to have other options lined up should Hibbert be let go.
This is the most updated list of free agents that the Pacers are in talks with and as updates come in I will keep you informed.
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