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Indiana Pacers: Complete 2017 offseason grades

By Adrian Lawhorn

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 07: President of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard and Head Coach, Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers introduce Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Darren Collison during a press conference at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on July 7, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 07: President of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard and Head Coach, Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers introduce Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Darren Collison during a press conference at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on July 7, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images /

Victor Oladipo, SG and Domantas Sabonis, PF

Acquired: Via trade (Oklahoma City Thunder)

After finalizing the Paul George deal with the Thunder, Kevin Pritchard shared that he’s had his eye on Victor Oladipo for quite some time, and that the team targeted Oladipo while trade talks were ongoing.

Victor Oladipo is an exceptional athlete, and he utilizes that talent on both ends of the court. He drives to the basket very well and he routinely makes spectacular plays in the open court. “Dipo” is also a good rebounder and passer for a shooting guard.

Oladipo is arguably one of the best defensive guards in the NBA, which will be a huge plus for a Pacers team that struggled on that end of the floor last season.

Intangibles are also a strength for Oladipo, as he is a high-character guy who is dedicated and works hard to improve his game; he should be an asset in the locker room and in the community.

Oladipo is only an average shooter, but he has shown steady improvement in that area as a pro. He doesn’t get to the free throw line enough for a slasher, and his assist-to-turnover ratio is not very good (a career mark of 1.48).

Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images /

Domantas Sabonis also came to Indiana in the Paul George trade, and while he was not the primary player in that deal, the Pacers love his potential and made a point of acquiring him from the Thunder.

“Domas” came to the NBA from Gonzaga with a solid all-around game for a young player. He has good post-up skills and can shoot with range. He is also savvy when it comes to driving the lane and finding ways to finish inside.

Sabonis is considered an excellent rebounder and he has already proven to be a good defensive player at the NBA level. On the surface, there is a lot to like about the 6’11” second-year power forward.

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When examining Sabonis’ rookie season in Oklahoma City, however, there are some possible red flags. Sabonis is not a top-flight athlete, so his ceiling is somewhat limited in that respect.

Also, he struggled shooting the ball in 2016-17, posting shooting splits of .399/.321/.657. Playing with a ball-dominant player like Russell Westbrook may have had a negative impact on Sabonis’ development as a first-year pro, but his erratic shooting does raise some questions.

Under the circumstances, the Pacers were never going to get equal trade value for Paul George. However, Kevin Pritchard weighed his options and decided that this was the best deal for the franchise.

Indiana is high on the futures of Oladipo and Sabonis, and if they can continue their growth and begin to fulfill their potential as NBA players, this trade will in essence have minimized the damage done by Paul George’s forced exodus.

Grade: B-

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