Indiana Pacers: How will Doug McDermott fit in next year?

How he affects the current roster

Doug McDermott isn’t one of the best players in the game, nor has he been or probably ever will be an All-Star.

As a specialist, he doesn’t have an ego, understanding his role and what it means to produce in said role. It’s this low-key personality that will allow McDermott to thrive in Indiana.

Bojan Bogdonavic will likely be the starting small forward after proving himself last year, but after him, McDermott is the only other legitimate small forward on the team. There won’t be any position battles or tension within the locker room.

Assuming the Pacers trot out a traditional lineup more often than not, McDermott won’t have to compete with anyone else for consistent minutes. That playing time might not be in the 30 minutes per game range, but playing nearly half the game is within reason.

With a yearly payment of just over $7 million, McDermott’s salary isn’t even a bank-buster, especially in an age where a mid-level talent can earn more than that. Even if McDermott is unable to produce, his salary makes him a low-risk, high-reward type of player for a Pacers squad that could use a guy with his skill-set.