The Indiana Pacers have resigned their starting shooting guard from last year. The organization and Rodney Stuckey agreed to a three year deal worth $21 million. Stuckey played a key role for them and was one of their go to scorers due to the gruesome leg injury of superstar Paul George. Stuckey put up solid averages of 12.6 points to go along with 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his first season with Indiana. The deal has Stuckey making $7 million annually, a fair price for the role he’ll play next season in Indiana.
Rodney Stuckey really has no shot of starting next season after the recent acquisition of Ex-Maverick guard Monta Ellis. However, Stuckey will still be a major part of their failure or success as he’ll likely fit the crucial mold of the sixth man combo guard, similar to Lou Williams in Toronto or Jamal Crawford in Los Angeles.
Locking up Stuckey for the forseeable future was a good move but Larry Bird and the Pacers should be concerned with the gaping hold they currently have at the center position. They are in dire need of a rim protecting big man after the departure of Roy Hibbert via trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. The looming loss of forward David West also won’t help so they can use all the frontcourt help they can get. At this moment of time their starting big men consist of Luis Scola and Ian Mahinmi. Lottery draft pick Myles Turner should eventually overtake one of them to earn a starting nod but he needs to get accustomed to the NBA game first. However based purely off their wings and guards, Indiana should find themselves comfortably in the playoff picture in the weaker Eastern Conference.
