OKC Thunder: Victor Oladipo injury showcases how quickly tides can change
There are six Pacers who are in contract years:
- Thaddeus Young, 30 years, 219 days – 2018-19 salary: $13,764,045
- Tyreke Evans, 29 years, 129 days – 2018-19 salary: $12,400,000
- Bojan Bogdanovic, 29 years, 283 days – 2018-19 salary: $10,500,000
- Darren Collison, 31 years, 156 days – 2018-19 salary: $10,000,000
- Cory Joseph, 27 years, 159 days – 2018-19 salary: $7,945,000
- Kyle O’Quinn, 28 years, 306 days – 2018-19 salary: $4,449,000
With perhaps the exception of O’Quinn (who still would offer grit and rebounding as a third center), each of the above players provides very specific and transferable assets and values a contending team could utilize.
In a league which is full of teams comprised of multiple superstars, the Pacers and Oladipo defied logic with a single star and a bevy of quality, talented role players who fit like a glove around Dipo. With the loss of their superstar, Indiana has timely decisions to make. Buckle down and forge ahead with an all for one approach – or elect to start reformating early.
Should Presti target anyone on Indy?
We’ll have to keep an eye out for what the Pacers franchise and Pritchard decide. Presti and the Thunder have a long history of working with this club so could be a favorite trade partner if Indy elects to reformulate early.
Of the expiring contracts, the one which stands out as being of interest for the OKC Thunder would be sharpshooter Bogdanovic. But, given he’ll be seeking a new contract this summer how much should a team already in the luxury be looking to exchange for a three to four month rental?
| Season | GS | MP | FGA | FG% | 3PA | 3P% | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 80 | 30.8 | 10.7 | .474 | 4.8 | .402 | 5.8 | .534 | .565 | .868 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 14.3 |
| 2018-19 | 47 | 31.6 | 11.5 | .491 | 4.4 | .437 | 7.1 | .524 | .574 | .821 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 16.0 |
| Career | 248 | 27.4 | 9.8 | .458 | 4.3 | .386 | 5.4 | .515 | .543 | .855 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 12.6 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/26/2019.
Bogdanovic’s 43.7 percent perimeter shooting would help any team given the current emphasis of the NBA on floor spacing and 3-point shooting. Where he’s grown is in his defensive acumen.
Whether this is tied to McMillan’s coaching or the style the Pacers employ Bogdanovic who was once considered a negative defender has grown substantially in the past two seasons under McMillan. That factor is important particularly come the playoffs because with his improvement on defense they can keep him on the floor. That’s not something you could say about him a few seasons ago.
Anyway, food for thought for Presti if he wants to add a floor spacing big who can hit from outside consistently.