Pacers offer perfect template for OKC Thunder to emulate in new era restructuring
The theft of TJ Warren:
Similarly, Presti can learn from the Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard who also snuck in to steal T.J. Warren for a song.
With the Phoenix Suns needing to clear cap space to make free agent moves (Ricky Rubio, Aron Baynes) the Pacers got Warren for a price (quite literally) that feels well below his worth.
Suns will send the No. 32 pick to Pacers too, source tells ESPN. Pacers are taking Warren into salary cap space. https://t.co/NN0gxs4e8L
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2019
The OKC Thunder witnessed first hand how vital Warren is to the Pacers rotation in their two matches versus Indiana this season.
Game 1, November 12: 23 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, one block and plus +31 differential in 31 minutes of play. He shot 10 of 14 from the field (71.4 percent), 50 percent from deep (1 of 2) and hit both his free throw attempts.
Game 2, December 4: 24 points, four rebounds, an assist on 9 of 15 from the field.
This isn’t an Andrew Wiggins type of showing from Warren either. He’s been producing all season for the Pacers with averages of 18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.1 steals.
He isn’t a 3-point sniper, rather he’s a smart perimeter shooter who only takes wide-open shots from above the arc and that’s parlayed into Warren shooting 39.3 percent on the season taking 3.2 attempts per game. And he’s shooting a robust 50.7 percent from the field and 81.3 percent from the stripe.
| Season | G | FGA | FG% | 3PA | 3P% | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FTA | FT% | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 26 | 14.4 | .507 | 3.2 | .393 | 11.2 | .540 | .551 | 2.9 | .813 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 18.2 |
| Career | 287 | 12.3 | .498 | 1.9 | .348 | 10.4 | .526 | .525 | 2.4 | .771 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 14.7 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/15/2019.
This season the just turned 26-year old will earn $10,810,000 and he’s locked in for two more seasons at an economical $11,750,000 in 2020-21 and $12,690,000 in 2021-22.
That fact is mind boggling – a starter who consistently scores between 18 and 25 points per game and contributes to all aspects of the game. Yet, the best part for the Pacers is the price Pritchard paid to get Warren. He got him for CASH!!! That’s it.
In fact, Pritchard also pried the 32nd pick from Phoenix which became KZ Okpala who was traded to Miami for the Heats 2022, 2025 and 2026 second-round draft picks. That might seem like a throwaway but remember by the time those picks are made high school players will be draft eligible again.
Then reconsider what the Bucks are paying Khris Middleton and what the Pacers are paying Warren given what each is delivering and their ages.
Every time I look at this I can’t help but think Prichard pulled the best under the radar move this offseason for a bundle of cash!
Jeremy Lamb:
Likewise, Pritchard stepped in to pick up former OKC Thunder player Jeremy Lamb who found his footing with the Charlotte Hornets last season as the secondary scoring option behind Kemba Walker.
Free agent Jeremy Lamb agreed to a three-year, $31.5M deal with Indiana, agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management says.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2019
But when Mitch Kupchak put the majority of his focus on Walker (offering a deal Walker deemed unworthy) Lamb elected to test the free agent waters and Pritchard again snuck in and picked him up.
Yet another economical signing by the Pacers. Lamb is producing in the Pacers lineup and while his 3-point shooting has regressed it will be interesting how much the floor opens up for him once Oladipo is back and more attention gets paid to him.
Brogdon, Sabonis and Warren will all likely get more attention than Lamb so while his numbers through the quarter pole are pedestrian let’s see how much they climb once the full lineup is on the court.