Age: 23
Years pro: 1
Status: Has two seasons remaining on his contract. Next season is partially guaranteed and a team option, while the third season is a player option.
Key stats: Totaled 21 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three steals over four minutes while playing in 23 games.
Analyzing Georges Niang's rookie season with the Pacers would be like taking a close look at the performance of the bit player in a television series, the one who only appeared in occasional episodes for minutes or seconds at a time, and rarely had a line.
The second-round draft choice out of Iowa State played in just 23 games, for about an hour-and-a-half of combined minutes. His stats in all but two appearances came in brief garbage time situations, and are therefore unfair indicators of what he can or cannot do.
It's more relevant to evaluate his play in Summer League, exhibition games and the Development League, where the competition was lesser but the minutes greater and he at least was able to drop some hints about what he might be able to achieve in the NBA.
Gallery: Niang's 2016-17 Season in Photos »
Niang came to the Pacers billed, by himself even, as having a high basketball IQ that would overcome his limited athleticism. He backed that up immediately in Summer League play in Orlando, scoring 17 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and passing out five assists. He dove for loose balls, made quick decisions with the ball, saw the floor well and found ways to score.
That turned out to be the highlight of his summer, but he still turned in a solid showing in league play with averages of 10.2 points and 6.8 rebounds.
"He's a guy that finds a way to help his team win, whether he's scoring or passing or playing defense or diving on the floor for loose balls," said assistant coach Popeye Jones, who coached the Pacers' Summer League entry.
He followed up with more solid showings in the preseason. He finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in the first game against New Orleans and had 16 fourth-quarter points and hit 6-of-8 shots, including 4-of-6 3-point attempts.
2016-17 Player Reviews: More Reviews, Highlights, and Photos »
At that time it appeared Niang would find a place in the Pacers' rotation and get consistent minutes as a "stretch four" in their planned floor-stretching, uptempo offense. It didn't work out that way. He got significant playing time in just two games -- four points in just under 16 minutes in the third game of the season in Chicago, and two points in 16 minutes, 45 seconds against Phoenix on Nov. 18.
A shift in style toward a slower, more defensive-oriented style worked against him, as did the solid play of some bigger and/or more athletic teammates. His playing time became random and limited, but he did keep up a positive attitude. It was obvious from his locker room and practice court interactions he had no problem fitting in with teammates, but he had no meaningful opportunities to fit in with them during games.
Most of Young's playing time came in Fort Wayne with the D League Mad Ants. Playing in six late regular season games, he averaged 19 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals. That included a 21-point, 16-rebound effort in the final regular season game. He went on to average 15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists in Fort Wayne's three playoff games.
He enters next season just slightly less a mystery than a year ago. He's proven he can contribute, even excel, in the off-Broadway productions that surround the NBA, but has yet to prove himself under the bright lights.
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