NBA: 15 potential ‘under-the-radar’ free agent moves

Ian Mahinmi, C (Indiana Pacers)

On one hand, Ian Mahinmi sometimes does this.

He’s gonna get paid in 2016. Mahinmi is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, where he will undoubtedly get a raise from his $4 mil/yr he previously earned.

On the other hand, Mahinmi was a part of the problem for the Pacers offense. The Pacers pushed the series to seven games thanks to (a) the mysterious disappearances of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan and (b) the malevolent willpower of Paul George, who “hero-balled” his way to giving Indiana an offense. As the Pacers starting center, Mahinmi gives the Pacers very little in terms of offensive production, encouraging with his presence the sluggish, clogged offense Indiana routinely trotted out.

Granted, as the center, the onus is not on Mahinmi so much as it is on Ty Lawson and Rodney Stuckey and C.J. Miles. Still, anyone who signs the 6’11” center is going to get a limited player, one with no range and a slight post game.

He would be perfect as the defensive specialist for a team in need of rebounding and low-post defense. A team like Portland, which has no trouble spacing the floor and creating shots, could use a low-post presence on defense who can protect the rim and clean up on the boards.

The problem is someone may be overpaying for those services. Frank Vogel’s firing might put Mahinmi’s future with the Pacers in jeopardy, and it’s easy to see another team give him big money.

Next: Big Al