Indiana Pacers: 4 goals for TJ Warren in the 2021-22 season

The Indiana Pacers will benefit from TJ Warren’s continuous improvement on defense

One thing that many Indiana Pacers fans can take away from the front office is their high regard for TJ Warren. Kevin Pritchard specifically pinpointed to his season-long absence last season as one of the biggest factors which exacerbated the team’s drastic decline as a defensive unit (subscription required).

While no one should peg Warren as a premiere stopper who can routinely shut down the league’s most dangerous scorers, he has the makings of a player who can be a solid one-on-one defender. With a 6’8, 220-lb frame to boot, the forward possesses the apt physical tools to be highly effective on defense.

Considering the Pacers’ moves in free agency, a return to the team’s longtime defensive identity is certainly achievable, especially if the Blue and Gold has a cleaner bill of health next season. Still, Warren must assert himself as a defensive piece. Luckily, he’s been much-improved on that department in his last full season.

In the 2019-20 season, Warren ranked 19th among all forwards in defensive win shares, ahead of guys like Paul George and Jimmy Butler. Finetuning his defense and improving on it will be pivotal for Indiana’s success, especially with the East boasting tremendous scorers like Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum, among many others.