The Pacers could be one of the more interesting, and unpredictable, teams in the league this upcoming season.
Fresh off signing a rookie scale extension and enjoying an impressive summer with Team USA, Tyrese Haliburton is the undisputed franchise player. Numerous teams are still kicking themselves for letting a potentially longtime All-Star point guard drop to the No. 12 pick of the 2020 draft.
Of course, he was playing in Sacramento until he was dealt to Indiana in a blockbuster 2022 trade. Both sides won, as Domantas Sabonis was just what the Kings needed to end their long playoff drought.
Haliburton’s longtime backcourt partner was seemingly secured in last year’s draft. Bennedict Mathurin, the sixth overall pick in 2022, averaged 16.7 points per game while mainly coming off the bench in his rookie year. Indiana has a solid veteran backup for Haliburton in T.J. McConnell.
Buddy Hield, entering his walk year, remains one of the league’s steadiest 3-point threats. The Pacers made a big splash in free agency by signing Bruce Brown, a key component in Denver’s drive to the championship. A high-level defender with a much improved offensive game, Brown will play major minutes at the wing and perhaps see some action at the point as well.
The Pacers have also got a high-scoring center and premier shot-blocker in Myles Turner. They traded for Obi Toppin, who could blossom after serving as Julius Randle‘s backup in New York. Toppin will battle for minutes at power forward with this year’s lottery selection, Jarace Walker.
There are also a number of young, hungry reserves on the roster, including Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson.
On paper, they look like a pretty solid group and they have one of the best and most experienced coaches in the league, Rick Carlisle, running the show.
Yet no one is talking about the Pacers as being a legitimate contender. They are mostly considered a middle-of-the-pack club that could challenge for a spot in the play-in tournament.
That brings us to today’s topic: How do you think the Pacers will fare this season? Are they underrated or do you think they’re destined for another trip to the lottery? What do you think their ceiling is, given their current roster?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
The Indiana Pacers have gone nowhere in the last 10 years, and they’re probably going nowhere in the next 10 years. Prove me wrong.
The Glory Days of Reggie Miller Mark Jackson and who was that forward.., Danny Granger !! They were good but when was that? 30 years ago?
Until this year almost like the Sacramento kings. 20 years since relevance.
Why are so many teams in this same boat? In an effort to create evenness across the league and one or two stars in each city, they’ve not succeeded. They’ve handicapped teams like the Blazers and the Nets and the Mavericks and the knicks.
You spend up to the cap and even over it and you’re done. You’re an eight seed.
It’s hopefully successful only when you have an owner who’s absolutely loaded and doesn’t siphon off profits to provide a nice lifestyle.
All this to say broken system. Unless you throw 500 million at a roster like the Lakers Warriors Clippers or get lucky and draft the best player in the world in the second round like the Bucks and the nuggets then what do you got? No chance.
Again with the pacers, good coach, pretty good players, picked up a better roster with a couple trades Halliburton Etc resigned your free agents Myles Turner. And what do you have? Mediocrity. Eight seed if you’re lucky.
End of rant. Oh and the Red Sox suck !! Last place again.
Completely correct. They need to keep building. Get one good player in a draft and all of a sudden everyone is ready to compete
Pacers have the talent, leader, identity, and energy to contend for the 5/6 seed in the East…unfortunately they don’t have the defense to climb higher, and I’m expecting Mathurin to take a half step back as the holes in his game get exposed (chiefly his low basketball IQ, poor decision-making, shot selection)…he really is the key, and I have little confidence in him being the cornerstone the Pacers needed to find with that pick. Buddy is actually a better fit, especially with the first unit…but I expect the Pacers to force the issue and find out the bad news.
Play-in team.
I agree
Pacers are doing all the things that a small market team can and should do. They have a player to build around who wants to be there, a talented young group and a couple of vets in brown and McConnell who can actually be a positive influence on the young guys. Being so young, they could finish anywhere between 6 and 12 I reckon.
One piece short of…. Top tier team.
Very solid B level team.
Definitely be better than the retirement home Bulls
They should be a lower seed playoff team or play in team as long as Haliburton & Turner have healthy seasons for the most part. The success of this team really hinges on improved defense. Bruce Brown should help, but the big question for me is how Mathurin improves. If he starts does he take a step forward defensively? Offensively he need to at least improve his shooting or passing. Then you have a couple wild cards in Obi Toppin & Jarace Walker. They didn’t have any PF size on last years team, so if you get Obi to shine on offense with Tyrese and Jarace being a switching machine on defense they could be a very good team.
so close on your last name.
The Pacers are legit to be a 45 to 50 win team and will the one of the surprise teams this season.
Could very well be. It would be nice to see.
Pacers are a playoff team. Still young and growing. Imo they will trade Turner this yr. Their core is young.