The Indiana Pacers are going to be a very intriguing team to keep an eye on throughout the NBA offseason. With a high draft pick, a ton of young talent, and some cap space to work with, Kevin Pritchard and company will have quite a few avenues to choose from to improve. One player who could hit free agency to keep an eye on is Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis.
Pritchard and the Pacers will have a tough decision to make on veteran forward TJ Warren. He missed the entire 2021-22 NBA season due to a foot injury and will become a free agent this offseason. Indiana could decide to bring him back, but that is a big risk.
In a recent article from Eight Points, Nine Seconds, Portis was mentioned as a potential free agency target for the Pacers.
Prospectively, Portis could function as a starter or a super-sub, playing next to Turner and Jackson as a floor-spacing big man who can rebound tenaciously while doubling as a key defensive cog. He’s not as good as Turner or even his own teammate Brook Lopez in deterring shots, but he’s easily a more tenable option in defending in space with his mobility.
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During the 2021-22 season with the Bucks, Portis ended up 14.6 points per game to go along with 9.1 rebounds. He shot 47.9 percent from the floor overall and knocked down 39.3 percent of his three-point looks. Those numbers would fit in nicely with the Pacers.
At 27 years of age, Portis would fit into the long-term picture for the Pacers as well. He would be a nice power forward option in the starting lineup, as the article suggested. If Indiana does move on from Warren, taking a chance on a guy like Portis would make a ton of sense.
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All of this would obviously depend on what kind of contract Bobby Portis will be looking for in free agency. The Pacers have room to make a move or two and should be able to afford him, but they may also have other plans. However, this is a possibility worth mentioning.
Expect to hear a ton of rumors about the Pacers this offseason. Pritchard and the front office will be active in trade discussions and in the free agency market. Portis may not end up being a target, but it makes sense.
