The Indiana Pacers currently have 15 players signed to contracts on their roster for the 2015-16 season. The problem is that only one of the 15 players is a true point guard, and that would be George Hill. The Pacers have talked about potentially using Rodney Stuckey or Monta Ellis as the backup point guard if they don't bring someone else in, but it seems as though they will be bringing in Toney Douglas, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports.
Douglas was just recently waived by the New Orleans Pelicans and reportedly worked out for the Pacers on Thursday, and a deal is reportedly expected to get done between the two sides. Douglas will become the 16th player on the roster if, and when, a deal is agreed upon, but the 15 players that are already on the roster have guaranteed contracts, according to Paul Garcia of Project Spurs, so it may be a long shot for him to make the team.
While Douglas would be only the second point guard on the roster, his contract will likely not be guaranteed and he will have to outplay someone with a guaranteed contract by a significant margin for the Pacers to eat the money and cut them loose. The Pacers can also potentially trade one of the guys with guaranteed contracts to make room for the former Florida State Seminole.
Douglas is a 29-year-old point guard that stands at 6-foot-2. He has been in the league for six seasons with six different teams but really hasn't had much success since leaving the New York Knicks in 2012. Douglas' best season was his second year in the league with the Knicks, when he averaged 10.6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 24.3 minutes per game while making 37 percent of his threes. Last season with the Pelicans, Douglas only played in 12 games and averaged 4.3 points per game while making just 37 percent of his field goal attempts.
For his career, Douglas makes 35 percent of his three point attempts, so he has the ability to a help a team out. Douglas also isn't a high turnover guy, and while he isn't a great passer, he can still run the show effectively. Douglas will have to show the Pacers he still has what he showed in his Knicks days in him and if he does, he might force the Pacers hand, as they could really use a backup point guard.
