In a strategic move to shake up their roster, the Indiana Pacers are set to say goodbye to veteran guard Monte Morris and hello to a fresh two-year contract with their rising forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. According to IndyStar, the Pacers have decided to secure the 25-year-old Robinson-Earl with a non-guaranteed deal, which also includes a team option for next season.
Robinson-Earl's transition to a standard contract comes after the player managed to quickly prove his worth during two back-to-back 10-day hardship exception contracts. His performance evidently convinced team executives to not only keep him in the mix but also to waive Morris, as reported by Forbes. The Pacers were essentially forced to make room on their roster after hitting the maximum allowed 10-day contracts with Robinson-Earl, prompting them to have to cut ties with Morris in a bid to legally retain the young forward.
A closer look at Robinson-Earl's stats shows why the Pacers are keen to keep him on board. The former Villanova standout averaged 5.2 points and 6.2 rebounds over his short tenure under hardship deals, making his stay worthwhile for a Pacers team that's been riddled with injuries. Meanwhile, Morris, who joined the team amidst an injury crisis, has seen his role shrink dramatically with his playtime dropping significantly as injured players made their way back onto the court, as noted by BasketNews.
With Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith out with a left knee sprain and other forwards sidelined, Robinson-Earl's abilities to contribute especially on defense and grab rebounds couldn't go unnoticed. Though his scoring averages might appear modest, his 6.2 rebounds per game and six steals in the ten games he played demonstrate his utility in a Pacers squad that's been desperately seeking to turn their poor season around. Morris, on the other hand, could not maintain his place on the court, averaging 3.0 points and 1.5 assists per game in six appearances, as per IndyStar.
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