Matthes’ Manifesto: The Indiana Pacers comprehensive summer preview
If the dream is for Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner to play more together, more time in the laboratory is needed. There were some kinks that need to be worked out. But, the basic structure is there. Sabonis, easily superior as a five, would be the center and Turner, who moves far better on the perimeter, would be the power forward.
This is a good thing. Indiana has two interchangeable centers that can potentially play with each other because of their complementary strengths.
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One thing should be for certain is this (and remember this for the draft section of this story): the Pacers shouldn’t waste their time trying to find an upgrade a center. If you include rookie Ike Anigbogu — who spent the year either learning from the bench or in the G-League — the Pacers have three centers on the roster that are 22 years-old or younger. Sabonis and Turner have offered decent evidence that they both could be franchise cornerstones.
Remember Jermaine O’Neal averaged 3.9 points and 3.1 rebounds during his first four NBA seasons in Portland. The Blazers traded him, before his age 22 season, to Indiana. O’Neal was an all-star at 23. It never hurts to be able to develop your own talent.