According to BetMGM, the Indiana Pacers' over/under for wins next season is set at 38.5, which is incredibly disrespectful to the team. This would rank them as the 11th-worst team in the NBA and sixth-worst in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers will look different next year without Tyrese Haliburton or Myles Turner, and it is inevitable that they will take a backseat. However, even without the two of them, Indiana should be able to crush this projection. Another deep playoff run is unlikely, and a second straight NBA Finals appearance will be borderline impossible, but the Pacers still have a young and talented team that already has a lot to prove.
Everybody is counting the Pacers out already
Nobody is expecting the Pacers to be competitive next year, and as the team has proven time and time again, rivals may be in for a rude awakening.
There is still a lot to like about the Pacers' roster, even if their outlook for next season is a bit bleak. For starters, they are still going to have Rick Carlisle as their head coach, which should only bode well for them from here on out. Additionally, the Pacers have many players who have something to prove and should be able to show out next season.
Most notably, the Pacers will rely heavily on Andrew Nembhard, who is expected to take over the full-time point guard role next season. While he is no Haliburton, the Canadian native is still a natural point guard and should be able to run the show for a year. The offense will play to his strengths, and he should be able to make the most out of this opportunity.
Additionally, Bennedict Mathurin is another player to keep an eye on. In what will be a make-or-break season for his Pacers career, the Arizona alum needs to have a big year in order to solidify himself as a long-term asset in Indiana. Furthermore, if there is anybody else on the team who benefits from having Nembhard as the point guard, it's Mathurin as the new, slower-paced system will give him a better opportunity to showcase his talents.
The Pacers are also expected to utilize guys like Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith a lot more, and both of them could be in line for their best seasons with the team up to this point.
Will Indiana be back in the NBA Finals next season? Unlikely. Will they still be a team to keep an eye on in the East? Absolutely. They likely won't make too much noise, but everybody is already counting them out. And if there is one thing the Pacers have proven, it is that this is exactly when they do their most damage.