Indiana Pacers Depth Chart: Who Backs Up Thaddeus Young?

The Indiana Pacers potentially have a litany of guys who could back up Thaddeus Young at the power forward spot. Who gets the minutes?

The Indiana Pacers bench looks mostly settled with about a month before the season begins.

Aaron Brooks will man backup point guard, Rodney (and, hopefully, occasionally, GODNEY) Stuckey at “shooting” guard, C.J. Miles at the small forward, and big Al Jefferson at center.

However, despite Lavoy Allen being the incumbent backup power forward, it would seem that there’s quite a bit of competition at that spot.

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The Pacers have added or signed multiple guys who could fit the role: Kevin Seraphin, Jeremy Evans, and Georges Niang join a roster that already has Rakeem Christmas, C.J. Miles, and perhaps even Glenn Robinson III on the roster to play some backup forward. (The Pacers also signed Alex Poythress, a project forward out of Kentucky, but it’s a near certainty he’ll be with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants this year).

I do not think we’ll see Glenn Robinson III at the 4 this year, but I’ve listed him there because I think he could play it in spot situations in this version of the NBA. He wouldn’t really be a 4. Rather, he would be more the guy-alongside-Paul-George-willing-to-be-called-a-4 if the two of them share the perimeter with, say, Jeff Teague and Monta Ellis.

If we rule out Poythress and GRIII, that leaves the Pacers with Allen, Evans, Niang, Seraphin, Christmas, and Miles to chose from. It’s likely that one of these guys won’t make the roster. (Indiana, with 16 players under contract, is currently over the maximum roster size of 15 and needs to cut that down before opening night.)

We’re going to take a look at what each guy brings to the table (and takes off of it), as well as guessing their eventual role.

Lavoy Allen: The Incumbent

Strengths: Allen is an excellent offensive rebounder and a guy who won’t directly cause problems on either end. He is a solid defender against traditional bigs and can be counted on to be in the right place at the right time. He was also a +/- monster for most of last season, though this was likely a direct result of the Pacers being a better team when playing big, regardless of the specific player.

Weaknesses: Outside of offensive rebounding, you’d be hard pressed to say Allen does anything at an above-average level. His offensive game comes and goes, as his jumper is spotty and he struggles to finish around the rim. He does pass pretty well. On the other end, small-ball power forwards can feast on his lack of foot speed, and bigger players can move him and rebound over him.

Prediction: Allen should probably make the roster and will probably soak up at least some minutes throughout the season as a guy who can back up either the 4 or the 5 spot.

Jeremy Evans: The Athlete

Strengths: Jeremy Evans can jump straight out of the gym. He’s got the size and the athleticism to theoretically be able to guard either forward position successfully. Advanced numbers, such as PER, have been kind to Evans for the bulk of his career, despite his lack of real playing time for most of it.

Weaknesses: Everything with Evans is theoretical. There’s no evidence that he’s necessarily a good NBA player. He has the tools but has only averaged more than 10 minutes per game in one season of his career.

Prediction: Evans might make the roster. But were I a betting man, I’d bet he’s looking for a new team in the next month.

Georges Niang: The Well Rounded

Strengths: In the summer league, Georges Niang flashed a highly skilled offensive game, shooting the ball well, attacking when defenders closed out without discipline, and moving the ball. Niang is probably the best option to space the floor with size, and it definitely seems that his shooting will translate.

Weaknesses: There’s no indication that Niang can guard a post. Not guard someone in the post, a literal post. OK, rhetoric aside, he has a concerning lack of both foot speed and strength, and there are no indicators that he can rebound at the 4. Giving him minutes at the 4 would be truly going all in on offense.

Prediction: Niang makes the roster, maybe sees some time in Fort Wayne, but only sees garbage minutes with the Pacers (outside of potential injuries).

Rakeem Christmas: The D-League Call-up

Strengths: Rakeem Christmas performed well with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants last year, averaging 30 minutes per game, and putting up 13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks pr game, leading the Mad Ants in the last two categories. He’s spent time with the Pacers team, and is on a multi-year, partially guaranteed deal.

Weaknesses: There’s no evidence that Christmas is an NBA player. He’s yet to face that level of competition outside of practice. He doesn’t stretch the floor as a shooter and will likely struggle to keep up with small-ball power forwards.

Prediction: It’s Christmas in Fort Wayne, all season long.

Kevin Seraphin: The Default

Strengths: Kevin Seraphin is probably the best NBA big man of this group. He is certainly the most accomplished. He has never averaged less than 10 minutes per game in his six-year career, and has averaged over 20 twice. He’s a lifetime 48.3% shooter, and he provided valuable contributions in his time with the Washington Wizards

Weaknesses: Seraphin is a power forward/center combo, and probably lacks the foot speed to keep up with small-ball power forwards, as well as lacking 3-point range on his jumper. (He has never attempted a 3 in his NBA career). He was also not particularly good last year in a Knicks uniform.

Prediction: Seraphin earns a roster spot, but as the fifth “big” and doesn’t see much time.

C.J. Miles: The Shooter

Strengths: C.J. Miles played the power forward spot last year for the Indiana Pacers and gave opponents matchup nightmares early in the season, as they had to match their power forward against either Miles or Paul George. Miles’ quick release and Ray Allen-style running off screens is a nightmare for bigs, and he found open shots with good regularity.

Weaknesses: C.J. Miles is a lot of things, and power forward is none of them. He can’t rebound for the position, can’t defend opposing bruisers in the post, and his body wore down badly last year, leading to nagging injuries that caused a plummet in his productivity and shooting accuracy for months.

Prediction: Miles will see some minutes as the nominal “power forward” this season, though probably not anywhere near what he saw last year.

Next: Healthy Jeff Teague Set to Bounce Back for the Indiana Pacers

The Final Verdict

We’ll see several players get a bit of playing time as the backup power forward, but C.J. Miles and Lavoy Allen will split the duties for the bulk of the year, with Lavoy Allen playing against bigger forwards, and C.J. Miles matching up against “stretch” forwards.

Kevin Seraphin may emerge to beat out both, becoming the most-trusted and dynamic option in the paint after Myles Turner, Thaddeus Young, and Al Jefferson.

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Indiana Pacers Depth Chart: Who Backs Up Thad Young?

By William Furr | Sep 23, 2016