Getting waived within three hours of signing is meme material only when you’re on the outside. For Mac McClung, it was another day he had to grit his teeth and stay hopeful. And it paid off! The Pacers made some bold moves to swoop up this point guard from the market. When the news reached the Dunk Contest superstar, he had the most emotional response.

Shams Charania confirmed, “The Indiana Pacers are signing guard Mac McClung to a multiyear contract, Greg Lawrence of Wasserman tells ESPN. The deal marks the first standard NBA contract for McClung, after the dunk contest’s first-ever three-peat champion spent time on camp and two-way deals since 2021.”

If there was any reason to believe this is a rumor, McClung himself requoted Charania’s tweet with a heartfelt addition. “Thank you God!!!” The emotions in those three words are palpable.

The Pacers aren’t just signing him, they’re bringing him out of the G-League rut he’s been exiled to. Since going undrafted in 2021, the Bulls, Lakers, 76ers and Magic have kept him in the development league without any NBA minutes. But he made the most of it becoming the G-League MVP and winning an army of NBA veteran fans through the All Star Weekend’s Slam Dunk Contest. Dunking over Shaquille O’Neal has been his best platform to show his undeniable talent. But of course, nothing beats a real NBA career.

The Pacers are offering McClung his first standard contract. So far it’s confirmed it will be a non-guaranteed multiyear structure. Chances are he’ll not be delegated to the G-League either which finally shows promise for McClung’s career.

Mac McClung solves the Pacers’ biggest problem

The Pacers are extremely strapped on the point guard front. Tyrese Haliburton of course is not an option for months at least till he can recover. Andrew Nembhard suffered a strained shoulder during the NBA’s Terrible Thursday that fans almost turned on him. His backup, TJ McConnell is sidelined by a hamstring strain.

To make it worse, Bennedict Mathurin suffered a mid-game injury. Obi Toppin, Kam Jones, Quenton Jackson, and Johnny Furphy are on the injured list too. The extent of how bad things are in Indiana showed in a blowout 128-103 loss to the just as shorthanded Grizzlies. Maybe they’d learn from Memphis and make a handful of hardship signings.

But that’s a measure for later. Mac McClung became available within three hours of the Chicago Bulls re-signing him just before the regular season began. That created a lot of memes in the moment till it was no longer a joke. Indiana’s mounting injuries in the first week made him the best available option.

The Pacers being top-heavy on the front court, waived 24-year-old center, James Wiseman to clear a roster spot for McClung. Given their situation, we might see McClung get real minutes in the Pacers jersey for the first time. If we’re lucky, some in-game dunks too.

A multi-year contract implies they’re looking at this as a longterm arrangement. Even when Andrew Nembhard returns, McClung could be a viable backup for the team to pace their guards. Now all we need to do is sit back and wait for the Slam Dunk three-peater to make his Pacers debut.