1:55pm: Freeman’s two-way deal is now official, the Pacers introduced in a press launch. Cole Swider‘s non-guaranteed customary contract can also be official, per the staff.
12:40pm: The Pacers are signing Enrique Freeman to a two-way contract, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter hyperlink). Freeman was the No. 50 general choose of June’s draft.
Freeman is a local of Cleveland, Ohio, who performed 5 years of school basketball at Akron, the place he had extremely embellished profession. The 24-year-old ahead made the MAC All-Defensive staff 4 consecutive occasions, was a three-time All-Convention honoree, was MAC Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 2021/22 and the convention’s Participant of the 12 months in ’23/24.
As a senior final season for the Zips, Freeman averaged 18.6 factors, 12.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on .584/.370/.728 capturing in 35 video games (32.5 minutes per contest).
Freeman had been one among a handful of 2024 draft picks who remained unsigned. Now that he’s inking a two-way deal, that listing is down to 3 gamers: Duke massive man Kyle Filipowski, the No. 32 choose (Jazz); Serbian guard Nikola Djurisic, the No. 43 choose (Hawks) who not too long ago underwent surgical procedure for a damaged foot; and Dutch massive man Quinten Publish, the No. 52 choose (Warriors) who performed school basketball at Mississippi State and Boston School.
As for Indiana, Freeman will fill the staff’s third and closing two-way spot, with guards Quenton Jackson and Tristen Newton additionally on two-way contracts.
The Pacers nonetheless have a two-way qualifying provide out to Oscar Tshiebwe as effectively, however since two-way offers might be swapped out and in and don’t depend in opposition to the wage cap, they might probably launch him if he accepts the QO and isn’t of their long-term plans. Newton and Freeman’s roster spots are most likely a little bit safer than Jackson’s since they have been simply chosen within the second spherical (Newton was the No. 49 choose).
