The Indiana Pacers are signing free agent Chris Singleton to a deal to help replace the loss of Paul George and this move likely signals that any Roy Hibbert trade for Goran Dragic or Greg Monroe is off, as Indy feels that is has a deep enough team as constructed to play well in the eastern conference this season despite the loss of George for the year.
Although George is out for the season with that scary leg injury he suffered while playing for Team USA, the Pacers still have their core of Roy Hibbert, David West and George Hill and they have also added Rodney Stuckey on a free agent deal this offseason. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the team is now adding Singleton to that mix and it is likely will be on a minimum salary contract, but this is yet another way the team can try and deal with the loss of George.
Obviously Singleton and Stuckey cannot replace George since he was an All-Star player, but they should be able to help make up some of his production and Singleton is versatile and can play multiple positions. Singleton was previously with the Wizards and he did not have his fourth year option picked up and now he comes in with the chance to contribute. Singleton provides depth and the team already has Hill along with CJ Watson and Stuckey in the backcourt after Lance Stephenson left in free agency.
While Singleton did not end up a star in Washington, he has some upside as the No. 18 pick of the 2011 draft and now he could develop a bit more with time in Indy. The team needs someone to step up with Paul George out and while Singleton is no LeBron James, he can be a major contributor. Singleton has career averaged of just 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game, but with more time on the floor he could be a much bigger factor and that is what the Pacers are hoping for.
Singleton has some size and speed on the outside and he could be a solid low risk, high reward signing for the team. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Pacers looked into the idea of trading Roy Hibbert for Greg Monroe or Goran Dragic, but so far no movement has come on those deals. The injury to George may spark the team to make a move, but it also may put the team in a position where they don't want to blow things up after being one of the best teams in the east over the past few years.
The Pacers had a rough go of it in the playoffs after collapsing down the stretch and Hibbert had a very tough postseason, putting up zero=-zero performances multiple times. The Pacers now have to rally around their core with Hibbert and David West as well as George Hill and they have to keep things positive, as Paul George is expected to make a full return after this season. The Pacers would have been title contenders this year and now they have to battle with the Cavs and the Bulls in the toughest division in the NBA.
