The Indiana Pacers are expected to compete despite many anticipating a "gap year," and this is 100% the right call.
With Tyrese Haliburton out for the year and Myles Turner gone, many are expecting the Pacers to take a backseat next season. So much so that there have been some conversations about whether the team should tank or aim to compete. While it is fair to believe the Pacers won't be in the title picture next season, calling for them to tank isn't the move.
Even without Haliburton and Turner, the Pacers are still a talented team. They might not be legitimate championship contenders, but they are still too good to tank. Additionally, if they can at least make it back to the playoffs, that experience will only pay dividends for the team for a long time.
Next season looks bleak for Indiana, but they still have an opportunity to make some noise in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers have a lot to prove next season
One of the biggest reasons Indiana shouldn't tank is that they simply have too many players who have something to prove and are playing with a chip on their shoulder.
Andrew Nembhard is going to be the full-time point guard for the first (and potentially only) season of his career. This will be the best time for him to showcase exactly how good he can be as the lead guy in Indiana, and it is only fair that he takes advantage of that.
While Nembhard's long-term role with the Pacers is solidified, the same can't be said about his new backcourt partner and fellow Canadian native, Bennedict Mathurin, who will be the team's starting shooting guard next season.
Mathurin is currently eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this summer, but it doesn't seem like he's going to get it. Instead, the Pacers will give him an opportunity to showcase his value next season and earn a new contract for himself. Like Nembhard, this will be his best opportunity to showcase exactly what he can do as he looks to establish himself as an asset in Indiana.
There are also a plethora of other players on the Pacers who are looking to make a name for themselves in new roles. This includes guys like Jarace Walker, Isaiah Jackson, and Obi Toppin. All of these players, for one reason or another, have a lot to prove next season, and they will aim to contribute to winning basketball.
The Pacers' hunt for an NBA Championship will have to wait another year, but that doesn't mean they should just sit out next season. There is still a lot to look forward to, and they should become even stronger once they get their star guard back.