Indiana Pacers forward Shayne Whittington (#42). (Photo : Getty Images)
The Indiana Pacers and veteran free agent point guard Aaron Brooks reached a one-year, $2.5 million agreement on Monday which filled another immediate need for the team at the backup point guard position for next season.
Indiana had acquired former Atlanta Hawks floor general Jeff Teague via a three-team trade that sent George Hill to the Utah Jazz earlier this month and so a backup is right away necessary at the position.
Before Brooks was signed, inexperienced sophomore Joseph Young was the only other point guard in Nate McMillan's roster and so the former Chicago Bulls playmaker is definitely a wise addition to the ballclub.
IndyStar noted that the 31-year-old eight-year pro "fits all the requirements for the style" that team president Larry Bird is preferring for the Pacers. Brooks is said to be "a quick playmaker who can be an efficient scorer in reserve minutes" who also consistently pushes the tempo of the game, which is in line to Bird and McMillan's "plan to outrun their opponents next season".
Brooks played for the Bulls last season mainly as a backup to Derrick Rose, who has now moved to the New York Knicks, and averaged 7.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in only 16.1 minutes of playing time per night.
The numbers seem low as they are the lowest in his career since his second stint with the Houston Rockets in 2013-2014, but at his best and in a thriving environment he can average double figures in points and more than five assists per game even as a substitute.
While snagging Brooks was indeed good news for both player and the team, it is inevitable that other players in the current squad will get affected and may even leave the ballclub sooner or later.
Brooks became the 16th player in the Pacers roster upon his signing and the NBA only allows 15 roster spots per team, which means one player will be waived before the new season begins in October.
At the moment, Glenn Robinson III and Shayne Whittington are not guaranteed with a contract unless they reach the Aug. 1 deadline. One of them is set to be released before the said date and it looks like Whittington is the "more likely" candidate, according to ESPN.
The report said that "Robinson is already guaranteed more than $200,000 of his $1,050,500 for next season and Whittington currently has no salary protection".
Also, the 6-foot-11 former Western Michigan standout was less utilized last season than Robinson III as he only played 5.9 minutes per game as compared to the latter's 11.3.
