PACERS CENTER TO DECLINE OPTION AFTER PUTTING IN CAREER YEAR
Pacers big man Jalen Smith has decided not to pick up his player option for the 2024-25 season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Declining that $5.42M option will make Smith an unrestricted free agent on Sunday.
Smith, one of Myles Turner‘s backups at center, was among the beneficiaries of the Pacers’ high-flying offense led by Tyrese Haliburton, setting new career highs in points per game (9.9), field-goal percentage (59.2%), and three-point percentage (42.4%) in 2023-24. He also contributed 5.5 rebounds per game in his part-time role (17.2 MPG).
Teams with interest in Smith may be wary of his leap in efficiency – he was a 48.5% career shooter, including 29.7% on three-pointers – prior to the 2023-24 campaign, but he’s a versatile forward/center who should get a look from teams in need of frontcourt depth.
A new deal with Indiana remains a possibility, since the team will hold his Bird rights and can go over the cap to sign him. However, Indiana has already committed to Pascal Siakam on a four-year, maximum-salary contract and will have to deal with Obi Toppin‘s restricted free agency as well.
With the luxury-tax line to consider and Isaiah Jackson a candidate to take on a larger role at the five, the Pacers will have to be cautious about how high they go to retain Smith, who came in at No. 42 on our list of this year’s top 50 free agents.
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