Indiana Pacers: Predicting individual stats for the starting lineup next season

Indiana Pacers Starting SF: TJ Warren

The biggest addition for the Indiana Pacers this season will undoubtedly be TJ Warren. After being limited to just four games this season, the talented scorer is due for a comeback season in his third year with the Blue and Gold.

After leading the team in scoring in the previous campaign, Warren, one of the revelations in the infamous NBA bubble, will be tasked to take on an even bigger role with the team. The 27-year-old will almost certainly be the prime benefactor of the team’s offensive sets, but I can see his improved defense hoist him up as the team’s go-to perimeter defender.

He’s not much of a playmaker or a rebounder, but with Indiana already one of the most disruptive units in the league, leading the association in blocks and fifth in steals, Warren’s addition will fortify their point-preventing schemes while giving the offense some much-needed leeway with his tremendous shot creation. The rust may be there early on, but it’s hard seeing him face a drastic drop-off in efficiency. He’s that good of a scorer.

Projected 2021-22 stats: 32.0 MPG, 19.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.4 SPG on 50.4/37.8/83.6 shooting