This season will be the biggest role of his career, but even if Andrew Nembhard underperforms, his career with the Indiana Pacers is not in jeopardy, and the team is not likely to move him at any point soon.
With Tyrese Haliburton on the shelf due to an Achilles injury, Nembhard is going to be the Pacers' full-time point guard for the season. He will have big shoes to fill, but there are reasons to believe he can do it. He is a natural point guard, and he has stepped up for Indiana numerous times when the team needed him to before.
Despite being without Haliburton or Myles Turner, who joined the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent, the Pacers have shown no signs that they are going to tank this season. Instead, they are going to aim to re-establish themselves as legitimate contenders in the East, and if recent history has proven anything, it is that this goal is not too far-fetched for the Pacers.
In order for Indiana to make some noise and potentially return to the playoffs, it will need Nembahrd to be on his A-game. Not only will the Canadian native be the team's most important player offensively, but he will also continue his defensive responsibilities of guarding the opposing team's best player every night.
This will be a lot for him to accomplish, but the Pacers clearly have the utmost confidence in him to do this, even if it seems like a tall task. They are already committed to him for the foreseeable future, and no matter how he performs in his new role, this will not change.
Regardless of what happens this season, however, Nembhard's spot in Indiana is safe. Best-case scenario, he can make some game-changing developments that will add to the Pacers' dynamic once Haliburton returns. Worst-case scenario, the Gonzaga alum will just return to his old role, and he will continue to make the same impact he has been able to make for the team for the past few years.
The Pacers will still have some big decisions to make
Though Nembhard's role in Indiana is secure, the same cannot be said for everybody on the roster.
This season, the Pacers are going to experiment with their roster a bit to see who or what works as they look to return to the NBA Finals. In doing so, a lot of players will be given expanded roles (much like Nembhard has), but what they make of them could decide their future in Indiana.
The most notable player to keep an eye on is Bennedict Mathurin. Though he is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension, it looks like the Pacers will opt to let him play the season out, prove his worth, and hit restricted free agency next summer.
Mathurin can be a great player, but his fit in Indiana is questionable since he is more of an iso scorer who creates his own and does not make quick decisions or move the ball often. Plus, it seems that the two sides might not be able to agree on terms for a new contract, which does not bode well for him.
As Indiana's starting shooting guard this season, the 23-year-old will have a big role to fill and a lot of opportunities to prove he belongs with the team for the long run. Playing alongside Nembhard should help, but if he cannot take that next step, Mathurin's time with the Pacers may be nearing its end.