After the Indiana Pacers missed the playoffs last season, most signs pointed to a gradual retooling for the following campaign. Headlined by the hiring of a new coach in Rick Carlisle, the Blue and Gold were expected by many to make changes on the fly, especially with the Eastern Conference getting a lot deeper and tougher over the summer.
However, as usual, the Pacers look mostly the same, at least for now. Entering the final hurrah of the 2021 NBA Free Agency, Indiana’s roster is full—setting the stage for their recent culture of continuity to emphasize an offseason of relative inactivity for the most part.
How do the Indiana Pacers look as free agency slows down?
Still, Indiana made moves in free agency, re-signing backup floor general TJ McConnell to a four-year, 35.2 million deal and prying away forward Torrey Craig from the market with a two-year, 10 million contract. However, Doug McDermott was a key subtraction, with the sharpshooter heading to the Spurs on a lucrative three-year, 42 million deal.
With these moves in the picture, how do the Indiana Pacers look like as the free agency period goes into its final chapter? Barring possible and subsequent (or wished for, anyone?) moves, here is an updated look at the team’s current depth chart.
Indiana Pacers depth chart at the point guard position
Starter: Malcolm Brogdon
No surprises here. After a statistical career year for Brogdon, he should be penciled in as the team’s starting point guard for next season. With solid nightly outputs mounting to All-Star-like numbers, there’s no better player to man the point other than him.
Brogdon may not be an ideal first or second scoring option, as his decreased shooting efficiency from his Milwaukee days entails, but his heady playmaking which includes an avoidance for turnovers and subtle scoring predicated on smart reads and timely outside shooting is great. His versatility on defense which allows him to guard backcourt players and wings is also his strong suit.
Primary Backup: TJ McConnell
Indiana was wise to quickly re-sign TJ McConnell, who enjoyed his best season in the previous campaign. After setting bench records last season with his playmaking and penchant for steals, the sneaky floor general will not only be the Pacers’ primary backup point guard, but also probably their de facto sixth man who can play in long stretches.
Secondary Backup: Edmond Sumner
Most people may not think of Sumner as a natural point guard, and I totally agree, but he has some passing chops to his game which makes him a viable floor general, even if only nominal. While he solely focused on scoring last season, the 25-year-old averaged nearly two assists per outing two seasons ago despite playing only in garbage duty.
Indiana Pacers depth chart at the shooting guard position
Starter: Caris LeVert
After a shaky entrance to Indiana last season due to a scary medical discovery, Caris LeVert finished the season with a career-high scoring average of 20.7 points per game. Operating as the Pacers’ primary scoring option on the perimeter, LeVert managed to turn heads with his reliable shot creation while showing great touch as a passer.
While Indy will feature a lot of scoring options with a healthy roster next season, pegging LeVert as a candidate for the team’s leading scorer is not farfetched. Aside from his prowess as a scorer, he also proved to be a switchable and active defender, averaging nearly a block per game and 1.5 steal per outing last season.
Primary Backup: Chris Duarte
The Pacers’ 13th selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, Duarte raised a lot of eyebrows among fans with his limited ceiling as a 24-year-old rookie. However, that a lot of teams tried to angle in the draft to acquire him is very telling of his NBA-ready skillset. Aside from his excellent three-point marksmanship, he is an electric shot creator who can pester perimeter players on defense with his great instincts.
Secondary Backup: Jeremy Lamb
By all accounts, Lamb is an ideal scoring option off the bench. However, his placement here is indicative of his status as one of the players most likely to be dealt before the season. Even if he’s on the roster come training camp, he should be an attractive option for teams in need of scoring and shooting with his expiring contract.
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.
Indiana Pacers depth chart at the power forward position
Starter: Domantas Sabonis
Indiana’s lone All-Star in the past two seasons is a shoo-in for the starting lineup. Domantas Sabonis is literally the engine that runs the Pacers’ offense with his slick and efficient post scoring and passing from the big man position—only MVP Nikola Jokic edges him in that department. While his defense leaves a lot to be desired, subsequent adjustments will revolve around keeping the Lithuanian in the foremost lineup.
Aside from his defense, another area where the Pacers can benefit from if he improves in that area id three-point shooting. Sabonis hoisted substantially more triples last season than before, but he could certainly do a lot better than the 32.1 percent clip he registered in the previous campaign.
Primary Backup: Oshae Brissett
Last season’s bright spot and incredible late-season addition should continue to assume a major role in the following campaign. While he currently projects as a high-minutes bench player, Oshae Brissett’s impressive growth could eventually catapult him to a more featured role if the Pacers resolve their dilemma in the frontcourt.
Secondary Backup: Torrey Craig
Torrey Craig, Indiana’s newest free agency addition, is currently slotted in a secondary backup role. However, if Rick Carlisle attempts to downsize, the tough 6’7 tweener could be his main option to facilitate this shapeshifting with his physical defense and spot-up shooting, especially with Sabonis and Turner playing in staggered sets anyway.
Indiana Pacers depth chart at the center position
Starter: Myles Turner
The widely expected Turbonis breakup is still yet to transpire, and given all the indications, it may not happen at all, at least until the trade deadline. As a result, Myles Turner will continue to primarily man the center position, which is no surprise given his tremendous and unique niche as a three-and-D rim protector.
While there has been noise about Rick Carlisle’s openness to utilize him in a Ginobilian bench role (subscription required), building on the three-year-long tradition of staggering him and Sabonis on the court makes more sense. Still, while Turner is a standout at his role, a tad more assertiveness on offense will go a long way towards making the team’s scoring attack less predictable.
Primary Backup: Goga Bitadze
While the start to his NBA career has been quite shaky, Bitadze still possesses enough intrigue to expect a bigger role for him in year three. His unique mix of perimeter offense, post passing and rim protection will be highly valued by Rick Carlisle, who loves versatile big men to shake the offense up tactically.
Secondary Backup: Isaiah Jackson
Indiana’s acquisition on draft night, Isaiah Jackson, will likely ride the bench in his rookie year. However, the Pacers can afford to be patient with him given their abundance of frontcourt options. Watch out for his shot blocking prowess and finishing coming along in spurts next season, though.