Breaking News: Kam Jones continues major Pacers trend that should terrify the rest of the league

The Indiana Pacers have developed a reputation for always finding hidden gems and developing them into key players. It is way too early to know for sure, but as it stands, they may have done it again with rookie guard Kam Jones.

Last month, the Pacers acquired Jones with the 38th pick in the NBA Draft. The Marquette alum is likely in for a relatively big role during his rookie year as the Pacers aim to navigate life without Tyrese Haliburton, at least for one season. It is a small sample size, and it is important to remember that it is just summer league. However, Jones overall had some incredibly promising performances, and he might be able to exceed expectations if all goes right for him during his first year in Indiana.

Especially recently, the Pacers have been fantastic at buying low on certain players or finding hidden gems in the draft. It was a major reason they had so much success across the last couple of seasons. Most of their team consisted of castaways from other teams or prospects who did not garner much attention. Whether it was because of their system, their coaching, or a combination of both, Indiana has done a great job of turning nothing into something. As they look to re-establish themselves as title contenders, that should terrify the rest of their rivals, especially in the Eastern Conference. While it has yet to be seen if he will be the next on the list, it is looking good for Jones up to this point. After an uneventful first two games in his summer league career, Jones broke out a bit in his final two games, particularly during Thursday’s game against the New York Knicks, where he recorded a 21-point, 11-assist double-double.

There is a lot to like about the 23-year-old’s game. He is solid on both sides of the ball and is proving he might turn into a legitimate offensive weapon. Jones is a versatile scorer who can create his own shot, but he is also a good playmaker, which might be crucial for him as he will be tasked to help replace Haliburton (and potentially T.J. McConnell down the road). With next season looking like a gap year for Indiana, they will likely use this as an opportunity to experiment a little bit and see what sticks for them in the future. On top of being without their star guard, the team will also have to figure out how to run things without Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this offseason.

There are probably going to be a lot of rough patches for Indiana next season. Regardless, they also have a unique opportunity to showcase their young talents in a way they otherwise would not have. This includes Jones.

MumAs the Pacers prepare for next season, there will be a lot of young prospects to keep an eye on. As it stands, Jones is going to be one of them. If his latest summer league performances were any indication, he should become a big contributor for the Pacers and could help them make some noise and shock the basketball world once again.