Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan discusses Pacers offseason during ESPN Summer League broadcast
Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan joined the broadcast team during a Summer League battle between the Pacers and Dallas Mavericks on ESPN, and he shared several details about Indiana's offseason so far.
The Pacers have been busy this summer, adding a quartet of new players to the roster via both the draft and free agency. They have improved their short-term and long-term outlook. But the most important thing they did this summer was negotiate a new deal with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton is now under contract with the blue and gold for the next six seasons, and he inked a deal that could be worth up to $260 million in new money. Having a 23-year old with talent and potential under contract for that long is a blessing for any franchise, and the Pacers are set up well going forward as a result.
"He's about the right things," Buchanan said of Haliburton. "He's the leader of our team moving forward. He's our franchise point guard and we made a commitment to him. We're excited to have him in Indiana for a long, long time."
Haliburton averaged 20.7 points and 10.4 assists per game this past season while shooting just over 40% from deep. He has a unique offensive skill set, and very few players in the league can pass and shoot like he can.
With Haliburton on the court this past season, Indiana had a -1.02 net rating. That number tumbled to -4.79 without him, per pbpstats. His impact was enormous for the 35-47 Pacers.
The reason both numbers are negative, though, is because the blue and gold struggled on the less glamorous end of the floor last season. They finished the season ranked 26th in defensive rating, and the whole team knew that its defense needed to be a focus going forward.
Buchanan echoed those comments. He said that the team stressed the need for improvement on defense during the summer, and that will be vital to the team's progress.
That side of the ball was important in the Pacers agreeing to a deal with Bruce Brown, their splashy free agent addition. They signed the guard/wing hybrid to a two-year, $45 million deal, and his abilities on defense will be critical for Indiana.
"Bruce brings a lot of that element (defense) to our team. He can guard almost three to four positions every night on the floor," Buchanan said. Others within the team think Brown will fit well in transition and on offense in general, but his defense will be perhaps the biggest boost to the team. "He can play at multiple positions. He's just a guy that you can plug into any team in the NBA and he's going to contribute and help you win," Buchanan added.
The Pacers' other significant non-draft addition was forward Obi Toppin. They sent two second-round draft picks to the New York Knicks to bring in the 25-year old.
He averaged 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game this past season, his third in the league. Toppin has never received consistent opportunities in the NBA, and moving to Indiana could change that. There should be minutes for him every night in the lineup.
While his defense may not be at the level the Pacers want just yet, he is a brilliant transition player and a strong finisher around the basket. That will make him a great fit, and he is a solid acquisition for a small price.
"Obi is another guy that has got some experience under his belt. I think he's ready for a new opportunity," Buchanan said. "He can obviously get up and down the floor, he's a phenomenal athlete and finisher. We play fast with Tyrese [Haliburton], and I think those two guys can really have some good chemistry together."
Haliburton tweeted about throwing lobs to Toppin right after it was reported that the team would be acquiring the forward in a deal. They will fit well together on the court, as Buchanan said.
Between Toppin and the Pacers two draft picks, Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard, Indiana added some youth to their team. Brown is on the younger side, too, he will only be 27 when the season starts. The Pacers balanced experience and youth this summer and were opportunistic with their additions.
Buchanan addressed that balance on ESPN. "Coach [Rick] Carlisle is probably going to be a hall of fame coach. He's got a championship under his belt and is great at developing and teaching players," he said. He added that the franchise wants to take another step forward this season and get into the 40s, or higher, in wins. Defensive growth, and an increase in talent, will go a long way toward making that possible.
You can see and listen to all of Buchanan's comments here.
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