NBA Rumors: Pacers May Need To Skim Free Agency To Buy Oladipo Time

Like most NBA teams, the Indiana Pacers are eager to start planning for next season. That includes aggressively targeting free agents in the summer per general manager Kevin Pritchard. And from the looks of it, looking for someone to fill up the slack for a recovering Victor Oladipo may be needed.

In an article from NBA.com, Pritchard said that Oladipo is progressing following a season-ending right knee injury although there is no timetable on when he can practice. The 26-year-old guard suffered the injury last January 23. Originally, the 6-foot-4 player needed 12 to 13 weeks before he could start physical therapy. As of writing, the second overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft is only beginning the second phase.

At any rate, there is no telling how long Oladipo will need to get back on the court. Pritchard added that he hopes to provide another update come free agency and revealed that the star guard vowed to return as a better player.

The injury placed the rising career of Oladipo on pause. Before the Pacers, he also played for the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has been selected as an NBA All-Star twice and earned the nod as the NBA Most Improved Player back in 2018. Picking up from that run will depend on how well he returns from his knee injury.

As for the Pacers, Pritchard and Nate McMillan are expected to have a busy NBA offseason. Looking at what they have right now, it may be a matter of minor tweaks. They have at least $43 million in cap space and own the 18th pick in the coming NBA Draft. Seven of their 13 players will be free agents. With those facts broken down, the Pacers are expected to fill up key spots with the right personnel and maximize the team budget so that they can improve on their performance this past NBA season, NBA.com reported.

Pritchard knows he has to aim for the stars, needing at least another NBA superstar to play alongside Oladipo once he is back in harness. He is likely to prioritize someone up front and look for a guard who can fill in for the two-time NBA All-Star guard.

"We'll make the pitches. We're not afraid. We're willing to think big,” said Pritchard when he met the media to wrap up the 2018-19 NBA season of Indiana.