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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 Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images /

Damien Wilkins, SG/SF

Acquired: Via free agency (D-League)

Damien Wilkins arrives in Indiana with a strong NBA pedigree. He is the son of Gerald Wilkins, who played 13 years in the NBA (with a career scoring average of 13 points per game). Damien is also the nephew of former Atlanta Hawks superstar Dominique Wilkins.

Damien Wilkins hasn’t played in the NBA for over four years, but he’s had success playing overseas and in the D-League, most recently playing for the Greensboro Swarm in 2016-17 and leading the team in points scored.

The Pacers signed Wilkins to a non-guaranteed veteran minimum contract, so the risk for the team is essentially zero. Wilkins probably won’t do much for Indiana on the basketball floor, but there are other reasons he was signed.

The Pacers are moving toward a younger squad with untapped potential, and they could use a mature, veteran influence in training camp — enter Damien Wilkins.

Wilkins was brought in to be a good locker room presence and a reliable mentor for the team’s younger players; if he provides that in camp and then makes his exit, Wilkins will have done his job.

However, Wilkins does have some game left, even at the age of 37. If he is able to defy the odds and make the team as a 15th man, he could provide not only the aforementioned leadership, but also give the team a good “emergency” option if he is pressed into game action.

Interestingly, Wilkins may have impressed Kevin Pritchard during the recent NBA Leadership Development Program in which both were participants.

The Undefeated shares details from the program, including a “speed dating” session in which Wilkins had three minutes to sell himself to Pritchard and others; Indiana signed Wilkins a few days later.

Adding Damien Wilkins to the training camp roster certainly can’t be considered anything but a very minor move, but it’s a no-risk proposition that should add some experience and leadership when the team begins practicing in late September.

Grade: C+

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