Pacers Close To Adding Backcourt Relief With Addition of Gal Makel

Hit hard by injuries to their backcourt, the Indiana Pacers are close to adding needed depth by the addition of former Dallas Mavericks guard Gal Mekel

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While not as bad as the state of the Oklahoma City Thunder (really, who is?), the Indiana Pacers have been hammered with injuries in the early portion of the regular season, as starting guard George Hill and combo guard Rodney Stuckey have both been sidelined. To solve the lack of depth in the backcourt, the team is close to adding former Dallas Mavericks guard Gal Makel to the roster.

Makel became available when the Mavericks released him in order to pounce on the chance to re-sign point guard J.J. Barea to a minimum salary deal. Barea had spent the past three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves after he played a key role off the bench for the Mavs’ 2011 NBA title squad.

Entering his second year, Makel appeared in just 31 games for the Mavericks last season, averaging 2.4 points and 2.0 assists per game.

The 1-3 Pacers have used a starting backcourt of Donald Sloan and C.J. Miles thus far, as Hill (knee), Stuckey (foot) and C.J. Watson (foot) have been slowed down. Hill and Watson have yet to play this season, while Stuckey has seen his minutes limited due to his injury. Coach Frank Vogel said that Hill is a “ways away” from returning to the roster.

Indiana’s backcourt woes stem back to the summer, when All-Star shooting guard Paul George suffered a devastating compound leg fracture prior to the FIBA World Cup.

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