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5 Pacers Training Camp Battles to Watch Out For

By Jordan Yant

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Myles Turner (Texas) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number eleven overall pick to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Myles Turner (Texas) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number eleven overall pick to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Shayne Whittington vs. Toney Douglas

Feb 11, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jimmer Fredette (32) and Indiana Pacers forward Shayne Whittington (42) scramble for a loose ball during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pacers defeated the Pelicans 106-93.Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jimmer Fredette (32) and Indiana Pacers forward Shayne Whittington (42) scramble for a loose ball during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pacers defeated the Pelicans 106-93.Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

The above picture is why the Indiana Pacers like Shayne Whittington. He is the overstated hustle guy who will try to effort his way on to the final roster this season. Looking at the roster layout there is really one glaring issue: the lack of point guards on the roster.

After bringing in numerous big men (Jordan Hill, Rakeem Christmas, Myles Turner) the front-court rotation is starting to get a little full. He did show flashes in the Orlando Summer League (12.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg), but he also only shot 39% from the field.

Overall, there are concerns with his athleticism and his long-term potential that make it hard to include him on a roster over an established pro. This probably wouldn’t have been an issue until the Pacers decided to sign Toney Douglas. But they did. So while it is rare for players at two completely different positions to be fighting it out for a spot, that appears to be the case here.

Right now, Douglas is the outsider looking in. If he wants a spot on the team he will need to completely overachieve at training camp to earn it. Over his six-year career he has averaged 7.6 ppg and 2.2 apg on 41% shooting from the floor and 35% shooting from 3-point range.

He offers a steady hand at the back-up point guard if Joe Young struggles early and Rodney Stuckey proves more beneficial at the 2 (more on that later). Having a lot of size is never a bad thing, but having more than one back-up point guard is also a good thing.

Chances are that both Glenn Robinson III and Rakim Christmas make the team, which leaves the battle for the last roster spot between these two. It is really not a huge loss either way and, who knows, maybe bringing in Toney Douglas to camp puts enough pressure on others to step up.

Whether it be a motivational tool or a legitimate chance at a roster spot, this roster battle will be one to watch extremely closely throughout the duration of camp.

Next: Joseph Young vs. Inexperience

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