Indiana Pacers depth chart at the small forward position
Starter: TJ Warren
After missing all but four games last season, TJ Warren should be back and in the running next season as one of the Indiana Pacers’ leaders on the court to mount a more competitive bid in the East. After all, his almost season-long absence was one of the biggest reasons for the team’s decline in the previous campaign.
How durable he will be post-injury remains to be seen, but Warren should regain his footing as the team’s primary bailout option with his efficient isolation scoring all over the floor. Also, his underrated growth as a defender, another area which the Pacers solely missed, will allow Indiana to play more small-ball without big concessions as a defensive unit.
Primary Backup: Justin Holiday
The Pacers’ iron man and their oldest player remains a critical component on the roster. Justin Holiday, the only player on the team with a championship to his name, will once again assume a key role off the bench as a volume three-point shooter and reliable perimeter defender, especially when one of the starters is shelved with an injury.
Secondary Backup: Kelan Martin
Kelan Martin played sparingly last season, but the upcoming third-year wing’s great stretch in the latter portions of the previous campaign showcased his spot-up shooting skills, speed in the open floor and good individual defense—all of which are wonderful to find in a third-stringer.