The Indiana Pacers saw Doug McDermott come through with a massive breakout season in 2020-21 and it was perfect timing for the sharpshooter as he is set to hit NBA free agency. Plenty of teams will come calling for a player with his kind of shooting and offensive firepower. Among them appear to be the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks.
According to a source, the Lakers and Knicks are both planning to pursue McDermott this offseason when free agency opens up. The source also stated that the Pacers remain interested in re-signing McDermott.
McDermott would be a very nice addition for either team. Both teams need more three-point shooting, which is something that the veteran forward is among the elite in providing. However, they face stiff competition from the Pacers for his services, as McDermott has enjoyed his time in Indiana over the past three years.
During the 2020-21 NBA season with the Pacers, McDermott ended up averaging 13.6 points per game to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He shot 53.2 percent from the floor overall and knocked down 38.8 percent of his three-point attempts. His production makes it obvious why the Lakers and Knicks would have interest in him.
Those numbers show just how good McDermott can be on the offensive end of the court. He is not a very good defender, but no one would be signing him to be. Like he has throughout his entire NBA career, McDermott would be signed to be a three-point shooter and improve off-ball movement.
At 29 years of age, Doug McDermott will look to cash in on his impressive play. This could be his last chance to get a big deal. That could hurt the Pacers’ chances of retaining him, as they are strapped for cash.
It will be interesting to see what kind of market develops for the veteran sharpshooter. McDermott would be a huge addition for the Knicks and Lakers and would also be able to compete for an NBA Finals appearance with either team. Staying in Indiana would not give him as much of that opportunity, although the Pacers do have a lot of talent on their roster.
Expect to see quite a few teams come forward with interest in signing McDermott this offseason. He is a mid-tier target, but anyone that needs shooting should be aggressive in their pursuit of him.
