As the rest of the NBA recovers from the shock of the Damian Lillard-to-the-Milwaukee Bucks trade and the inevitable Jrue Holiday deal that will follow, the Indiana Pacers training camp is about to begin, and they should keep their focus internal.
While there’s a chance Indiana could get in on the Holiday madness, they don’t necessarily need to. Outside of the Buddy Hield debacle, which GM Chad Buchanan tried to suppress, the Pacers should have no outside noise.
Tyrese Haliburton is at the wheel, Myles Turner is looking to build on a career season, and guys like Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and Jarace Walker will be looking to grow as players.
So, as the Pacers enter training camp, which officially begins on October 3, with the first preseason game on October 8, rather than focusing on trade rumors and drama, here are three Indiana camp battles to keep an eye on.
3 Indiana Pacers training camp battles fans should watch out for: Backup center position
This battle was quite literally called out by GM Chad Buchanan, as he mentioned he’s excited to see Daniel Theis, Isaiah Jackson, and Jalen Smith compete for the majority of the backup center minutes.
Theis’ veteran presence in the middle could give him the edge, especially if the Pacers are looking to compete for a playoff spot next year. He just won a FIBA World Cup with Germany and provides solid screening, interior defense, and leadership.
Jackson, on the other hand, may be the most intriguing big man option of the bunch. At just 21 years old, Jackson has elite athleticism and is a solid shot-blocking presence in need of developmental minutes.
As for Smith, his three-point shooting makes him a nice option for the Pacers to consider based on what he brings to the floor. Plus, he’s also young at just 23 years old.
3 Indiana Pacers training camp battles fans should watch out for: Depth wing minutes
This is a bit of a niche category, but it’s something that Indiana Pacers fans should definitely be keeping an eye on as training camp gets underway for their squad.
With Bruce Brown in town and Bennedict Mathurin primed to take over a starting job, the Pacers’ starting shooting guard and small forward positions should be set. Buddy Hield will make a play for a starting spot, too, if he’s still on the team by the time the season begins. But who gets the minutes after that?
The obvious answer is Aaron Nesmith. After a nice breakout season with the Pacers this past season, Nesmith should have a real chance to build on it next season. He should be one of the Pacers’ first guys off the pine.
The next couple of bench spots are in question, though, and training camp will be a great opportunity for the Pacers to assess some of the other wings on their roster.
Jordan Nwora is the next name that comes to mind. He put up some really solid numbers after getting traded to the Pacers last season and gives them shooting with some size.
Then there’s rookie Ben Sheppard, who the Pacers picked with the 26th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-6 wing is another solid shooter who could vy for minutes.
3 Indiana Pacers training camp battles fans should watch out for: Starting power forward spot
This is easily the most intriguing training camp battle Indiana Pacers fans need to be watching. There are a few different options the Pacers could roll with at the starting power forward position.
While Bruce Brown could slot in at the wing, he’s also fully capable of running the small-ball four. He was great for the NBA champion Denver Nuggets last year and will be looking to bring some of that success to Indiana.
Aaron Nesmith and Buddy Hield both ran a bit of forward last year, with the Pacers running small ball. It seems unlikely they will go that way again, but it’s still a possibility.
The most intriguing possibilities for the starting power forward position, however, are rookie Jarace Walker and the newly acquired Obi Toppin.
Walker is a big body who could help the Pacers on the defensive side of the ball, as well as providing Tyrese Haliburton with another guy to dump the ball to down low.
Toppin, on the other hand, could give Haliburton the best lob threat he’s ever played with. And with more freedom to work, he could blossom into the player most people thought he’d be coming out of college.
A lot of this decision will simply depend on what direction Rick Carlisle wants to go with in terms of playstyle rather than just pure player talent, but it’s still something to watch out for.