Which Indiana Pacers could take home some hardware in 2021-22?
The Indiana Pacers have some good talent on the roster but typically do not rack up the individual awards. Next season, that could change as a handful of players have what it takes to be the best at what they do.
Basketball, as we all know, requires a team effort and that’s what we have grown to expect from Indiana over the years. The lack of a star player who wants to be here often forces Indiana to try and win with several key contributors rather than a star and some help.
That lack of a superstar, which they have not had since Paul George left, makes it difficult for Indiana to be represented at the annual NBA Awards. This season, with so many exciting players set to return, I think there is a chance the Pacers could take home some hardware.
No, these awards are not the most important things in the world but they do give credit where it is due and show just how hard these guys work each night. It is reasonable to expect certain players to work for their respect and be excited when they get recognition from their peers.
Which current Indiana Pacers have a chance to take home an award at the end of next season?
Chris Duarte (Rookie of the Year)
Every player drafted in the lottery has a chance to make an immediate impact and win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. For Chris Duarte, the journey will be a bit tougher since he will likely come off the bench while other rookies will play a ton of minutes.
Duarte has been stellar so far in the Summer League and while that does not automatically mean he will translate, it is a good sign of what to expect from him moving forward. Indiana can be a strong team next season and if Duarte helps elevate them back into the playoffs, he has a chance to get some recognition.
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green are the early frontrunners to take home the trophy following next season but we have seen some unexpected guys sneak into the mix in recent years. Indiana’s Malcolm Brogdon, a second-round selection with the Bucks, won the award in 2017.
If Chris Duarte can come in and add perimeter scoring and defending, he will make his stamp on the Pacers. It is reasonable to expect Duarte to add 12-14 points off the bench and be an efficient three-point scorer.
The Pacers will have to give Duarte the minutes he needs to take home the trophy but they should be confident that he can handle the load.
Myles Turner (Defensive Player of the Year)
Once again, we have to mention Myles Turner as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Last season, Turner led the NBA in blocks per game and was on a tear whenever he was on the floor. In 47 games, Myles racked up 3.4 blocked shots per game while adding another 0.9 steals.
If he had stayed healthy all season, he would have been right in the mix for the award but his absence down the stretch cost him. Indiana’s defense was horrendous at times without Turner on the floor. They needed him under the basket if they wanted any chance of keeping the game close.
There is also this notion out there that Myles is just a shot-blocking big man but his defensive impact extends beyond the paint. He has shown that he can defend on the perimeter and pick up switches with ease, something that is not all that common for bigs. His steal numbers last season also show his improvement in reading passing lanes and staying aggressive.
Now that T.J. Warren and Chris Duarte are joining the roster to help out on the perimeter, there should be less pressure on Turner to carry the defensive workload. The Pacers should drastically improve their points allowed per game next season, a good statistic for helping Turner’s case in the DPOY race.
T.J. Warren (Most Improved Player)
T.J. Warren missed most of last season after averaging nearly 20 points per game the year before. His absence was a killer for Indiana as they wound up missing the playoffs despite a lot of preseason hype.
Warren returning to the lineup is good news for the Pacers. He can easily be the team’s leading scorer and a quality perimeter defender that they lacked last season. Indiana is looking to get back into the playoffs with T.J. Warren leading the way on offense.
Entering the final year of his contract, Warren has to come out on fire to earn a huge payday next summer. If he comes back and puts up 24 points per game while being the efficient shooter that we saw in 2019, he should be in the conversation for Most Improved Player.
This is a tricky award given how players can jump from bench or role players to big-time starters, much like Julius Randle did last season with the Knicks. For Warren to win the award, he is going to have to really impress all season long and be Indiana’s go-to guy on offense, which can be difficult with Sabonis and LeVert sharing the rock.
I would really like to see Warren become one of the league’s best scorers in 2021-22. Can he reasonably do that without missing too much time due to injuries?