5 things the Indiana Pacers should wish for this holiday season

Gift No. 3: A clear direction with Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.

Going into this season, many fans and media individuals were wondering what the Pacers were going to do with their veteran stars. Myles Turner was all but replaced this summer, and the Pacers seemed ready to move on from the young center that has spent his career with the Pacers. Buddy Hield seemed like a trade throw-in that many contenders would come calling for.

Early in the season, both of these players have been playing at a high level contributing to a significant portion of the Indiana offense. Turner looks like a bona fide top center with a capable point guard on the team. In addition, the chemistry between Hield and Haliburton is undeniable, and Hield has been shooting at an elite level.

This leaves the Pacers in a precarious position. Do they roll with these two veteran players and see how far it can take them? This could potentially leave the Pacers topping out as a play-in team unable to reach championship-level heights. Do they move them before the deadline? That could set the rebuild back years if the returning draft capital is not properly utilized.

In either case, the Pacers should be hoping a clear direction emerges for their veteran stars. If they are playing at an elite level in the coming weeks, the two players may prove to be invaluable in the long term. If they start to falter, perhaps the Pacers’ management will start to look forward to the draft next summer.