Indiana Pacers: 3 Biggest Potential Offseason Acquisitions

The Indiana Pacers exceeded most expectations by reaching the Eastern Conference Finals defeating Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.

Although the Pacers were forced to end their season by the Boston Celtics, the future looks bright, assuming they can re-sign Siakam. The Indiana front office took the risk of acquiring the former Toronto Raptors forward at the trade deadline on a four-month lease, which proved to be short-lived but now needs to be a long-term success. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the “biggest priority is getting Pascal Siakam back.”

With championship expectations next season, here are the Pacers’ top three potential offseason acquisitions (assuming Siakam returns to Indiana on a max deal).

Gordon Hayward

One of the most disappointing mid-season deals was the addition of Gordon Hayward to the title-challenging Thunder. The talented veteran averaged 5.3 points in 17.2 minutes in 26 regular-season games and did not score a point in 46 minutes in the postseason. Even Thunder general manager Sam Presti called the move a miss.

“I missed it. It’s my fault. But I’m learning…” Presti said. – I guess I didn’t read it perfectly.

Hayward will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and could be a perfect addition to the Pacers’ lineup. Signing Hayward to a team-friendly deal is a low-risk, high-reward move. His performance with the Charlotte Hornets last season was promising, as he averaged 14.5 points and 4.7 rebounds on 46.8% shooting in 25 appearances. Off-the-field influence could also be valuable for Indiana’s relatively young squad. Hayward has been linked to the Pacers for years since he was growing up and attending college, so perhaps this is the offseason when he finally returns home.

Andrew Wiggins

Two seasons removed from a starting spot in the NBA All-Star Game, Andrew Wiggins had arguably the worst year of his career with the Golden State Warriors. His scoring average was a career-low (13.2), paving the way for an attractive asking price for the Pacers.

While Bennedict Mathurin or Jarace Walker may become the Wiggins archetype (two-way athletic wing) in the near future, adding the 29-year-old, who is already in great shape, is an ideal short-term option that can help Indiana win now.

The Warriors may be open to terminating Wiggins’ contract, which would pay him $26,276,786 in 2024-25 and $28,223,215 in 2025-26 (with a player option of $30,169,644 in 2026-27).

Pacome Dadiet

While it seems unlikely that the Pacers will move into the first round of the 2024 NBA draft, Pacome Dadieta’s fit with the team is too intriguing not to discuss. The 180 cm tall French striker is known for his shooting versatility and high dynamics.

In 18 appearances for Ratiopharm Ulm in the Eurocup league, he averaged 6.4 points on 45.2% shooting, but the 18-year-old has huge potential.

Throughout the NBA pre-draft process, Dadiet compares players to Michael Beasley and Wilson Chandler.