NBA Free Agents 2011: Indiana Pacers Need to Go After Nick Young

The Indiana Pacers finally have cap space, though this year's free-agent class lacks the superstar power of a LeBron James or Dwight Howard.

This class does, however, include several players who can be of immediate help and fill some roster holes for ball clubs.

Recently, the Pacers have been linked to free agents like Marc Gasol, who will most likely remain in Memphis, Nene, who's headed to New Jersey, and Jamal Crawford, possibly the Chicago Bulls' new shooting guard. 

With several big-name free agents off the market, or about to be off the market, the Pacers should attempt to reel in Washington Wizards guard Nick Young.

He's a restricted free agent, meaning Washington can match any offer, but with the Pacers so far under the cap, they can offer him a deal the Wizards may not be able to, or want, to match.

Let's face it: there's nothing all that glamorous about the city of Indianapolis. With that said, the only way a quality player would want to relocate there is with tremendous monetary compensation.

The 26-year-old Young would be an ideal addition to the Pacers roster. He isn't an elite defender by any stretch of the imagination, but he could come in and take quite a bit of the scoring burden off of Danny Granger, which is something the team could definitely use. 

Last season, Young achieved career highs in both scoring (17.4 points per game) and three-point field goals made (105). He also shot .441 from the field, .387 from beyond the arc, and .816 from the free-throw line.

In addition, the former USC standout reached the 30-point plateau eight times last season, including a career-best 43 versus the Sacramento Kings and 38 against the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.

Adding Young to the mix would instantly give the Pacers an insanely deep backcourt. The team could start Young at shooting guard, Darren Collison at the point, and then bring George Hill and Brandon Rush off the bench.   

Throw in a frontcourt of Granger, Tyler Hansbrough, Paul George and the ever improving Roy Hibbert, and the Pacers would have the talent to greatly improve on last season's No. 8 playoff seed.

President Larry Bird and the Pacers are going to have to shell out a boatload of cash if they want to bring Young to the Circle City, but it could prove to be an exceptional transaction.