The Pacers have agreed to sign undrafted rookie free agent Darius McGhee to an Exhibit 10 contract, he tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link).
McGhee is an undersized guard at 5’9″, but he became one of the most dangerous outside shooters in the NCAA during his five college seasons at Liberty. Over the last three years, he made 4.1 three-pointers per game at a 39.6% clip, averaging 21.3 PPG in 98 games (32.0 MPG) during that time.
A three-time ASUN Player of the Year, McGhee caught on with Indiana’s Summer League team last month. Although he logged just 12.8 MPG in a pair of appearances in Las Vegas, the Pacers apparently want to see more from the 24-year-old.
An Exhibit 10 contract can be converted into a two-way deal before the season, but all three of the Pacers’ two-way slots are currently full. That means the likeliest next step for McGhee may be joining the Fort Wayne Mad Ants as a G League affiliate player. His Exhibit 10 contract would put him in line for a bonus worth up to $75K if he’s waived by Indiana and then spends at least 60 days with the Mad Ants.
Indiana currently has 18 players under contract — 15 on guaranteed standard deal and three on two-way pacts.
He looked overmatched in the Summer League. Either that or overexcited. 2-11 and 0-5 from three in his only extended action don’t look good. Almost certainly needs time in the G-league or D-league to get actual pro reps.