3 reasons the Indiana Pacers will miss the playoffs next season

Indiana Pacers - Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana Pacers - Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indiana Pacers, Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine – Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Eastern Conference is getting better

Looking around the Eastern Conference, the squads that were close to Indiana last season have all made some strides in getting better. The Wizards, who knocked Indiana out of the play-in tournament, turned Russell Westbrook into Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, and Aaron Holiday.

While Westbrook was a Pacers killer and is a star in his own right, the Wizards are still working to make Bradley Beal happy. Adding more talent at the expense of Westbrook was probably their best option this summer.

The Hornets were close to a playoff berth last season thanks to LaMelo Ball and the rest of the young core. They let Cody Zeller leave in free agency and replaced him in the draft with Kai Jones, the perfect running mate for Ball. Their youth and athleticism will be exciting to watch moving forward.

Chicago made moves as well, adding Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan in free agency sign-and-trades. Their starting lineup and early bench group is very exciting on paper but the fit will be worth monitoring. If they can click, they have the talent to challenge for a playoff spot next season.

The Raptors, Magic, Cavaliers, and Pistons were all near the top of the draft and were able to add plenty of upside as well. The Magic, who added Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner in the top 10, have a very fun team for the future. Could they be another threat to the playoffs? It’s unlikely this season but their time is coming.