5 things the Indiana Pacers should wish for this holiday season

Gift No. 1: A forward capable of guarding large imposing power forwards.

For years now, one of the biggest glaring holes has been the power forward position, specifically one that is versatile enough to be out on the perimeter, while also dealing with some of the big power forwards the Pacers will see over the course of the season.

For a while, the Pacers tried to fill this need with the famous “Turbonis” lineup, which put Myles Turner in the power forward spot on offense and Domantas Sabonis in the power forward spot on defense. However, this often didn’t work out as planned, as quick power forwards with strong shooting often were able to take advantage of the converted center on both offense and defense.

Currently, on the roster, Jalen Smith has looked relatively solid in the role of the power forward position. There is still some concern around mobility at the perimeter and how much of a converted center we are still playing in the position. While this helps us against teams such as the Timberwolves, who also play multiple big centers in their starting lineup, we may still struggle against fast stretch fours with size.

There are many power forwards that are headed for free agency this summer, and the Pacers should look to see if any will be available to them in the near future.