Indiana Pacers: Which Free Agents Should Stay?

Ian Mahinmi

The biggest free agent that the Pacers will have to decide on is Ian Mahinmi, who started 71 games for them last season.

Mahinmi did the most he could with the uptick in minutes after taking over for Roy Hibbert once he was traded to the Lakers, racking up 9.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 58.9 percent from the field. Mahinmi also filled Hibbert’s role as the team’s designated rim protector.

According to Basketball-Reference.com‘s on/off court stats, the Pacers defense was 3.8 points per 100 possessions better with Mahinmi on the floor compared to when he was off it.

Mahinmi is a valuable player as a true rim protector despite giving little on the offensive end.

Keep Him Or Let Him Go?

Let him go. As with every player, it depends on how much the player will ultimately cost. I believe Mahinmi’s cost over the length of his contract will be more than the Pacers should spend. Myles Turner is the center of the future for Indiana.

More hoops habit: Space Jam 2: Whose Talent Should The Monstars Steal?

If Larry Bird wants to go small, as he’s hinted, there won’t be enough minutes for both Turner and Mahinmi if Mahinmi is to be paid as if he’s a starting center. Also, Mahinmi has to know that Turner will likely be the starting center if not next year, then the year after. Mahinmi will probably be valued more somewhere else.