The Indiana Pacers exceeded most expectations by reaching the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.
Although the Pacers were swept by the Boston Celtics at the end of their season, the future is bright, assuming they can re-sign Siakam. Indiana’s front office took a chance on acquiring the former Toronto Raptors forward at the trade deadline for a four-month rental, which worked in the short term but now needs to produce large-scale success. The farces of Athletic Charania reported that his “biggest priority is to bring back Pascal Siakam.”
With championship expectations on their shoulders for next season, here’s a look at the Pacers’ top three potential offseason acquisitions (assuming Siakam returns to Indiana on a max deal).
Gordon Hayward
One of the most disappointing midseason deals was Gordon Hayward joining the title-contending Thunder. The accomplished veteran averaged 5.3 points in 17.2 minutes in 26 regular-season games and did not score in 46 minutes of postseason action. Even Thunder general manager Sam Presti described the move as a failure.
“I missed that. It’s on me. But I’m learning…” Presti said. “I don’t think I read it perfectly.”
Hayward will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and could be a perfect addition for the Pacers. Signing Hayward to a team-friendly deal is a low-risk, high-reward move. His time with the Charlotte Hornets last season was promising, as he averaged 14.5 points and 4.7 rebounds on 46.8% shooting in 25 appearances. The off-court impact could also be valuable for a relatively young Indiana team. Hayward has been linked to the Pacers for years since he grew up and attended college, so maybe this will be the offseason when he finally returns home.
Andrew Wiggins
Two seasons away from a starting berth in the NBA All-Star Game, Andrew Wiggins had arguably the worst year of his career with the Golden State Warriors. He averaged a career-low in points (13.2), paving the way for an attractive asking price for the Pacers.
While Bennedict Mathurin or Jarace Walker could become the Wiggins archetype (an athletic two-way wing) in the near future, adding the 29-year-old already in his prime is an ideal short-term option that could help Indiana to win now. .
The Warriors could be open to opting out of Wiggins’ contract, which will pay him $26,276,786 in 2024-25 and $28,223,215 in 2025-26 (with a player option of $30,169,644 in 2026-27).
Pacome Dadiet
While it seems unlikely that the Pacers will move into the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Pacome Dadiet’s fit with the team is too intriguing not to discuss. The 6-foot-8 French forward is known for his shooting versatility and high motor.
He only averaged 6.4 points on 45.2% shooting in 18 appearances for Ratiopharm Ulm at the Euros, but the 18-year-old has great potential.
Throughout the NBA draft process, Dadiet has drawn comparisons to Michael Beasley and Wilson Chandler.
