Despite missing the postseason last season, the Indiana Pacers remained relatively the same heading into the 2021-22 campaign. Banking on a cleaner bill of health bannered by the return of the team’s injured key players, sticking to their guns in the offseason wasn’t at all surprising, but even that scenario is now off the table.
Following news of TJ Warren’s slower than anticipated recovery from a foot injury that sidelined him for most of last season derailing his status to begin the year, the Pacers will once again kick off their campaign with bandages and then some. While the scoring forward is far from an All-Star, he’s one of the league’s better small forwards and most efficient scorers. Combine that with his improved defense, and you’ll see why absence last season was a big factor why the team stumbled in the East.
What options do the Indiana Pacers have to fill Warren’s hole?
Barring an 11th hour trade, which seems very unlikely at this point, the Indiana Pacers appear to be quite thin in the tweener role, an important position in today’s game. However, the Blue and Gold is better equipped to mend Warren’s absence from the starting unit than last season, especially with new coach Rick Carlisle bringing his proven mettle to the team.
Fortunately, the Pacers will trot out one of the better second units in the league next season, supplying them with a unique cushion to absorb seemingly inevitable injuries here and there. Without further ado, here are the three best candidates to replace the injured TJ Warren’s spot in the starting lineup.
Rookie Chris Duarte could be an intriguing option as a nominal starter for the Indiana Pacers to begin the year
I know, coach Rick Carlisle is not the most congenial coach when it comes to rookies, but new face Chris Duarte is not you typical first-timer. Sporting one of the most NBA-ready skillsets among his peers, he could be in line for a bigger role than anticipated to begin the season in light of TJ Warren’s absence.
He’s more of a shooting guard than a small forward, but promoting him right from the get-go has its own set of pros. Duarte’s proficiency from the perimeter, secondary playmaking and impressive defensive instincts make him an ideal complement next to the Pacers’ abundance of scorers in the starting five. Easing him into the league with a streamlined role on offense should pay off.
His 6’6 frame makes him a viable option to defend both guards and smaller wings. While he may struggle against bigger and taller counterparts at his position, ramping up his growth on defense in addition to his solid shot creation could end up being a worth gamble, even if only as a patchwork.
Justin Holiday, the Indiana Pacers’ resident 3-and-D veteran, is a tried and tested option to replace TJ Warren
The easy answer to replace TJ Warren in the starting five, to put it simply, is Justin Holiday. While he is not better than Duarte from a physical standpoint, he is loaded with experience and smarts as a low-usage, defensive wing with a much improved three-point stroke. Better yet, he’s one of the league’s most invincible players, almost never missing a game.
However, the thing holding Holiday back from easily clinching the starting role is his acuity with the bench unit. The departure of Doug McDermott in free agency makes his spot on the bench even more pressing, especially with him being the Pacers’ lone reliable motion three-point shooter, a necessity in the second unit’s up-tempo and motion offense.
Still, if Rick Carlisle opts for the safest route, inserting Justin Holiday in the starting lineup to hold down the fort until TJ Warren returns will always be a good choice, though his more paramount importance in the bench unit may make him second fiddle as to who’s best equipped to assume the starting role.
Free agency addition Torrey Craig gives the Indiana Pacers another defensive enforcer in the starting unit
After last season’s collapse for the Indiana Pacers as a defensive unit, the front office quickly snagged defensive stalwart Torrey Craig in the offseason following Doug McDermott’s exit from the Circle City. Tabbed as a luxury addition to ease TJ Warren back, the bulky tweener should be in line for a major role in the rotation given the latter’s indefinite absence.
Craig is not necessarily a substantial needle mover for the Pacers, but they won’t need him to be one. As an ideal replacement for Warren in the opening group, he could help bring Indiana back to the upper echelon on defense with his physical and versatile profile as a defender. Against the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, among others, he could very well be the team’s best bet to slow them down.
On the secondary, his steady three-point shot should be enough to keep defenders honest while his low-usage will provide for more clarity for the Pacers’ pecking order on offense. Combine that with his intangibles and defense, and you’re looking at an alternative who may eventually turn out to be a staple in the rotation down the road.