The Indiana Pacers may not be finished yet in the offseason, but the team clearly has a key core group to bank on in the upcoming 2022-23 NBA season. On the first year of an actual rebuild, all eyes will be on the development of the young Pacers as they seek to climb the league ranks.
Barring any franchise-tilting moves, which is extremely unlikely at this juncture, Indiana could go with the starting unit of Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte, Bennedict Mathurin, Jalen Smith, and Isaiah Jackson. With existing position overlaps thereon, nothing is set in stone, but this unit makes the most sense to start games for the Pacers.
With that out of the way, here are bold predictions for each starter next season.
Indiana Pacers starting PG: Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton averages 20-10 and makes strong All-Star case
Tyrese Haliburton is easily the Indiana Pacers’ best player as currently constructed. Now projected to be the head of the snake for the team next season, his numbers will easily shoot up once more in his third season.
However, with Haliburton handling the rock for the most part, he cold viably average a double-double next season. In fact, in 26 contests with the Pacers so far, he flirted with the threshold, averaging 17.5 points and 9.6 assists per game.
Both marks should improve further with the young playmaker cudgeled into a more domineering role, a mold which coach Rick Carlisle has always preferred for his point guards. Haliburton averaging 20-10 may not be as bold of a prediction as the season comes, but he should make a bold case for an All-Star berth, even in an ever-improving Eastern Conference.
Indiana Pacers starting SG: Chris Duarte
Duarte emerges as the best non-Cunningham backcourt scorer among sophomores
Chris Duarte may have been understated lately in light of the Indiana Pacers’ new rookies, but the incoming sophomore is slated for a bigger role next season. After spending his rookie year jumping in and out of the starting unit, he should have a more cemented presence on the squad as one of the team’s primary scorers.
In fact, as long as his health permits, Duarte could end up being the best backcourt scorer among his peers, save for Detroit’s Cade Cunningham. The 25-year-old’s impeccably mature game is too much to overlook. Combine that with his solid shooting stroke and deep bag of moves, and the Pacers could have an electric shooting guard next to Haliburton.
For the number watchers, expecting Duarte to average 17-19 points per game on good volume should be reasonable. After all, despite shifting through different roles last season while missing time due to injury, he still managed to log 13.1 points in just 28 minutes per contest.
Indiana Pacers starting SF: Bennedict Mathurin
Mathurin starts the season off the bench, usurps Oshae Brissett in the starting unit
This is essentially a double prediction. For the sake of easing the rookie into the league and to wage a better fight against teams with big time scorers, coach Carlisle may opt to go with Oshae Brissett to man the starting small forward spot to begin the season.
That, however, could very well be temporary. Carlisle has always preferred having 3-and-D types on the opening group, but rookie Bennedict Mathurin is the more well-rounded player. Oozing both offensive and defensive potential, he should be able to supplant his fellow Canadian and start games at some point.
By starting Mathurin, Indiana solves its problem of a lack of playmaking in the forward spots. It should also prompt the team to play even faster, using the rookie as a “glue” that binds smaller lineups together with his defensive malleability and acuity as a shot creator.
Oh, and we need that LeBron-Mathurin matchup right from the opening toss.
Indiana Pacers starting PF: Jalen Smith
Smith leads all big men in three-point field goals made
Jalen Smith’s return to the Pacers was perhaps the best thing to happen to the franchise in free agency. Now, the team will have him in the fold in a much bigger role, with Carlisle having already appointed him as the starting power forward next season.
Smith’s versatility as an offensive-minded big man who can play both inside and outside makes him a perfect fit for Indiana’s new high-motor attack. However, it is the three-point shot that makes him such a good, modern frontcourt prospect, and with a more robust role, that could be a point of emphasis for him.
Kevin Love led all big men last season in three-pointer made, finishing with 187 makes. Karl-Anthony Towns followed him with 150. Smith drained just 31 in the previous campaign, but that was in just 22 games and 24.7 minutes per outing. This is perhaps the boldest prediction here, but with the Pacers maximizing his offensive upside, it is definitely not impossible.
Indiana Pacers starting C: Isaiah Jackson
Jackson finishes as the league leader in blocks per game
Yes, Myles Turner is still on the roster. However, for all intents and purposes, starting Isaiah Jackson at center is the best option for the Indiana Pacers next season, not only for youth movement reasons, but also for actual basketball ones.
Jackson is undeniably the better rim runner than his veteran counterpart, which makes him a better pick-and-roll weapon for the team. However, this prediction will zoom in more on his other eye-popping skill: shot blocking.
In just 15 minutes per game last season, the springy big man averaged 1.4 swats per outing. That number balloons to 3.5 when adjusted to per-36 minutes scaling, a mark that would have led the league last season (a tenth over the second one, Turner). I-Jax may not average that extensive serving of court time next season, but given the Pacers’ quick pace and his natural leaping ability, him leading the league in the blocks department is a sound expectation.