Indiana Pacers: Way-too-early predictions for Rick Carlisle next season
The Indiana Pacers mortgage their young players for veteran pieces
If anything, hiring Rick Carlisle solidifies as well that this team is armed to win now as a veteran team. The team’s starting lineup is not old, but all are entering their primes and to maximize the team’s window to win, the patience that comes with development may not be there for the Indiana Pacers.
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Young players who are missing out on ampler opportunities such as Aaron Holiday, Edmond Sumner and Goga Bitadze may soon find themselves at the center of trade talks, of which the primary target of the Pacers will be to seek veteran pieces who can immediately fill a need or two. After all, these players aren’t necessarily indispensable pieces that can anchor the team even in a farfetched rebuild.
It also doesn’t play into the cards of the team’s youngsters that Rick Carlisle has always favored veterans on the court. The exception of course would be his recent Dallas team which fielded few experienced players, but the point remains that developing young pieces is not his forte and this habit cannot be unlearned anymore.