The Indiana Pacers have a bit of a backup point guard problem brewing. That isn't to say that it's an imminent problem, as they still have TJ McConnell, who, despite being 34 years old, has been defying Father Time and continues to be a valuable and useful veteran. However, McConnell is nearing the end of his career, and it doesn't seem like the Pacers have a successor plan lined up.
Indiana just spent a high second-round pick on Braden Smith, but he has shown little in the way of NBA traits and even failed to hit a game-winning layup against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
However, luckily for the Pacers, they don't need to rely on an unheralded second-round pick becoming a difference-maker or hope for a mid-30s, six-foot-flat point guard to continue to survive his own regression. All they need is for their star two-guard to go back to his roots at Gonzaga and show that he can once again run an offense.
The underspoken Andrew Nembhard breakout
So far in preseason, Andrew Nembhard has shown an incredibly important focus. He has been taking on a higher amount of playmaking responsibilities and, with the help of Jarace Walker's preseason breakout, the bench unit has been able to create a decent-flowing offense out of nearly nothing.
While Nembhard is a capable scorer off the dribble, returning to his roots as a point guard could add much-needed versatility to the roster. His fit with Tyrese Haliburton is already strong, but adding another element of on-ball creation could solve many of the problems that fans would like to solve with a big trade for a star player.
Many had tabbed Nembhard for a mid-season breakout during the Pacers' gap year last season, only for the guard to improve marginally in every category. Maybe he is simply not built to be the number one option, even on a bad team.
The better question is why that was ever the priority. The Pacers are hoping they will never be that bad of a team again in this era, instead opting to return to their winning ways behind the trio of Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac.
If Nembhard can go back to being a three-tool player between his shooting, playmaking, and on-ball scoring, then that trio becomes a quartet of versatile, intelligent, and overly capable players, each of whom is without the ego to be an anchor on the offense on an off night.
No, any amount of playmaking that Nembhard can add gives the Pacers the push they need to no longer rely on lesser players to simply play a needed role in the rotation.
Additionally, this growth could push the Pacers to use TJ McConnell's contract as a trade piece. Considering the only movable contracts on the team are McConnell and forward Obi Toppin, this could be a prime opportunity to add another long-term rotation piece instead of holding on to a veteran that the Pacers simply can't go without.
If Andrew Nembhard can simply fill in the gaps in the Pacers' plans going forward, then the team will be paid back tenfold. Any extension Indiana can give out now would probably be a good choice to make for a player who is seemingly only at the start of his NBA journey.
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