Indiana Pacers: Predicting Rick Carlisle’s rotations and minutes allocation for 2021-22

Could the Indiana Pacers’ third-stringers crack the Rick Carlisle’s rotation?

With everyone mostly settled on their roles, there won’t be enough minutes to play everyone. As a result of trimming the fat, some players will ride the bench more often than they would prefer. However, they could be called upon by Rick Carlisle who’s known for digging deep into his bench, or when the proverbial injury bug bites the team.

• SG: Edmond Sumner
• SF: Kelan Martin
• C  : Isaiah Jackson
• Possible Two-Way Players: Cassius Stanley, Duane Washington Jr.

Among the players on this list, it’s a safe bet that Sumner will get the most court time next season. If any rotation backcourt player is out with an injury, which is likely considering the Indiana Pacers’ record with ailments, then he could easily slide into one of the backup slots, primarily at shooting guard, though he can also play as the nominal point guard.

Martin, who is still not a lock to make the roster, will find minutes hard to come by next season with the Blue and Gold’s abundance of wing players. The same goes for possible two-way players in Stanley and Washington, who will both be far behind the pecking order in the backcourt rotation.

First-round pick Jackson, however, may pop in and out of the rotation as Carlisle could deploy him as a designated rim runner, which the team lacks among its big man rotation. If he usurps Bitadze for the backup center role later on, do not be surprised.