Which current Indiana Pacers will be impacted the most by Chris Duarte?
Taken with the 13th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, Chris Duarte will be expected to make an immediate impact on the Indiana Pacers. His arrival sparks a new flame in the Circle City as the newest prize for Rick Carlisle as he takes over the team. In order to make room for Duarte, other players will be forced to take a lesser role.
The 2020-21 Indiana Pacers were not good. Their struggles a season ago were the leading cause in landing Duarte in Indiana this summer, a player that many teams coveted in the first round according to several reports. The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers were both very interested in the Oregon product and have even pitched trade offers to the Pacers since the draft.
Duarte was a proven star in his final season at Oregon, earning All-Pac 12 nods as the Player of the Year and a spot on the All-Defense team. Given Indiana’s struggles on defense and with a lack of a shooting threat on the perimeter aside from Doug McDermott, it seems as if Duarte has a spot in the rotation from the jump.
Golden State, league sources tell @IndyStarSports , is trying to get the #Pacers to part with Duarte. Offering Moody + other assets. They're not budging right now. Duarte was the pick they wanted, too, apparently. Top of their board
— J. Michael (@ThisIsJMichael) July 30, 2021
As the team’s first lottery pick in six years, Duarte will need to step up and play meaningful minutes right away. Which players will have to sacrifice their playing time to make room for the rookie?