Wins won't matter too much for the Indiana Pacers next season, but if their players fail to take another step in their development, then next season will be a major disaster.
As it stands, many are calling next season a "gap year" for Indiana. They will be without Tyrese Haliburton due to injury and Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, meaning that they are likely not going to contend for a championship.
Regardless of their status, calling next season a "gap year" is not entirely fair. This would indicate that it's just a waste of a season, and fans might as well just skip to the next one, but that's not the case here. Another deep playoff run may not be likely, but this is still a great opportunity for the Pacers to experiment with their roster and learn a thing or two. Additionally, many players will be in line for the biggest roles of their careers, which makes this an exciting time in Indiana.
The Pacers have shown no indication that they will tank next season. So, even if it's unlikely, they will still try to compete and make some noise in the Eastern Conference. Because of their low expectations, if they do happen to be a losing team, it won't be the end of the world, but if their experimentations go wrong and no player makes another jump, then the Pacers will have much bigger problems to deal with.
Next season should help the Pacers in the long haul
Indiana is not in an ideal situation, especially given that they were one win away from a championship back in June. However, there is still a lot to be excited about for next season, especially since what ends up happening should put the team in a better place for when they get their star guard back.
Next season will be the season of opportunity. Most notably, players like Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin, who will be Indiana's starting backcourt, will be given the biggest roles of their careers up to this point. And if they can at least meet expectations, that would give the Pacers more tools to add to their toolbox for the future, whether it be through future lineup or scheme ideas or anything similar. This is especially true for Mathurin, who could be playing for his Pacers future next season.
Beyond these two, the Pacers will also look to get better looks at players like Johnny Furphy, Jarace Walker, and Isaiah Jackson. All three of these players are expected to be given much bigger roles next season, and if they can take that next step, they will be able to establish themselves as long-term contributors in Indiana.
It may not seem like it at the moment, but the Pacers have a lot going for them next season, and they still have a very bright future. Another NBA Finals appearance next year is going to be highly unlikely, but that's not going to make or break the Pacers' season. Instead, it will be all about learning more about what they already have and using that to make them a better team in the future.
The Pacers should be able to re-establish themselves as title contenders soon enough, and next season should help them with that. However, next season will be a big step, and if certain players fail to take that step, then that would prove to be a bigger disaster for the Pacers than fans may anticipate.