The five biggest things the Pacers learned during Summer League

We gothrough the biggest takeaways that we had from the NBA 2K24 summer league:

1. TJ McConnell is expendable.

Andrew Nembhard only played two summer league games, but the way he controlled the floor and dictated the pace of the game in each of them proved that he’s a legit NBA guard. It’s unclear whether he’ll run the bench unit or start games at the 2-guard spot, but it’s safe to assume he’s earned a significant amount of minutes in the rotation. Two-way guard Isaiah Wong also had a strong summer league showing, averaging 11.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 rebounds in 5 games.

The Pacers’ roster is brimming with guards worthy of rotational minutes, but only Haliburton, Nembhard, and McConnell are true point guards. With Isaiah Wong on a two-way contract, the Pacers don’t need to have a third full-time point guard riding the bench. TJ McConnell is a talented guard and could have more value as a backup on a contending team if the Pacers wanted to explore trading him. Although he’s a strong veteran leader, it may be in the best interest of both parties to work on a trade.

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2. Jarace Walker is exactly what this roster needed. 

Jarace Walker is an enforcer on the defensive end. His offense is raw and needs development, but the feel on defense is evident and will be most impactful on this Pacers’ roster. His nose for the ball is impressive, and he uses his athleticism to magnify it. He’ll cover up a multitude of perimeter mistakes when paired with Myles Turner in the Pacers’ frontcourt.

Walker averaged 13.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists along with 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals in 4 games of summer league action. He has a knack for poking the ball free and rotating back for help-side blocks on defense, but his playmaking ability is an underrated aspect of his game. He had a behind-the-back pass to Isaiah Jackson and an impressive touch pass to Bennedict Mathurin in his first summer league game alone. Walker’s playmaking skill at the power forward spot will allow the Pacers to run some creative sets.

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3. Kendall Brown is an NBA player.

Kendall Brown spent last season on a two-way contract and was injured in December, so tape on his game is limited. He was a raw prospect coming out of Baylor in 2022, but the Pacers liked his size and athleticism at 6’8″. Brown showed a lot of growth in his summer league minutes. His defense was stout–he had 5 total blocks in his first summer league game. He also showed hints of his developing outside shot, going 3 for 7 from 3-point range over the five-game stretch.

The Pacers have not filled their final two-way slot for the upcoming season, and it’s likely Kendall Brown will get the nod. However, there is an avenue to open a roster spot and give Brown a standard deal instead of signing him to a two-way contract. He fills a position of need and is a good player to have rostered for wing depth. His growth is encouraging and he has all the tools to eventually play meaningful minutes on an NBA floor. The Pacers will have to decide if they’d rather have Brown get more reps in the G-League or develop with the NBA squad full-time.

4. Mojave King will be worth monitoring overseas. 

Mojave King, drafted 47th overall, will be a draft and stash player for the upcoming season. This means he’ll go overseas to play for an organization in which he can develop more quickly than he would in the G-League or with the Pacers. It gives King the opportunity to receive more attention from coaches and trainers while the Pacers retain his draft rights. King showed flashes of potential throughout summer league and should be a fun player to keep tabs on while he develops overseas. He played for the G-League Ignite before being drafted by the Pacers, so he’s somewhat familiar with NBA structure and gameplay.

King is a crafty wing capable of playmaking for his teammates. He’s also a willing defender that has enough size to compete with heavier opponents. He rebounded well in summer league, notching 5 against Oklahoma City and 3 against Orlando. His offense fared well when playing with a facilitating lead guard, but he struggled to create his own shot when Nembhard rested. He gives good effort and has the potential to blossom into an impactful wing player, but he needs reps and time to develop. His situation will be worth watching as he ventures overseas to work on his game.

5. Jannero Pargo will play a big part in filling Ronald Nored’s shoes.

The departure of Ron Nored is a big deal in regards to the Pacers’ coaching staff. Nored was a lead assistant to head coach Rick Carlisle and worked extensively on the Pacers’ defense last season. Nored’s relationship with the players was great–he coached last year’s summer league team and reviewed film with Tyrese Haliburton before every game last season. Nored’s move to the Atlanta Hawks left some sizable shoes to fill on the Pacers’ bench.

Jannero Pargo, coach of this year’s summer league squad, is an assistant coach in player development. Pargo has been with the team since 2021 and has mainly been a player development guy until this summer. The opportunity to lead the summer league team could indicate an expanded role in the coaching web for Pargo. Pargo, like Nored, cultivates good relationships with the players. He, along with Jenny Boucek and newly hired Jim Boylen, will be a critical piece in filling Ron Nored’s seat on the Pacers’ bench.

Stats and measurements via ESPN.

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