Indiana Pacers: Way-too-early starting lineup predictions for 2021-22

Indiana Pacers 2021-22 Starting C: Domantas Sabonis

Ultimately, it will be the Texas native Myles Turner who goes home. The Indiana Pacers’ two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis will be the one remaining in the Circle City.

It’s hard to fathom trading the league’s best shot blocker and one of its best defenders overall, but breaking up the Turbonis duo will be the main igniter of change for the Pacers. And in a league that is becoming a lot more inclined to offense, Sabonis will be the benefactor of keeping his extraordinary skillset in Indianapolis.

A European big-man pairing of Porzingis and Sabonis will have a lot of fans drooling, especially with their potential on offense. Whereas Turner is a part-time stretch big, Porzingis is a bona fide and ultimate stretch big who will give Domas every room he needs to operate and utilize his graceful post scoring and unique court vision.

Defense will not be a strength of the duo, but the Pacers’ scheme involves a lot of ball pressure anyway, and Porzingis is still a potent shot blocker. Alas, Sabonis’ astronomical 20.3/12.0/6.7 stat line is Jokic territory and Indiana will certainly balk at the idea of letting him go given that he is only 25 and still improving.

With this pairing, look for the Indiana Pacers to double down on offense and deploy one of the league’s most versatile scoring attacks in the league while they rely on their army of defensive perimeter stoppers and Porzingis’ instinctive shot swatting to lift them up on D. This starting lineup absolutely have what it takes to crack the East’s top tier. But whether this prediction comes to fruition depends on the willingness of the front office to go big this offseason.