There are only 240 minutes per game to go around an NBA rotation. No matter how many good options you have, you must play a minimum of five players and must divide those 240 minutes however you so please.
The Indiana Pacers have a problem with that limit, however. They have five starters who will easily need 35 minutes or more each. If we assume Tyrese Haliburton, despite being at that level, will ease into his injury rehab playing 20 or so minutes per contest, that leaves the Pacers with only 80 minutes for the entirety of the bench.
That leaves us with the ultimate question: who gets minutes and who doesn't?
TJ McConnell has been at 17 minutes per game for each of the past few seasons. New acquisition Kelly Oubre Jr. was at 31.5 minutes for the Philadelphia 76ers last year. With Obi Toppin factored in, that leaves just 15 total minutes beyond the expected top eight players in the lineup.
And that is simply not enough for the hungry, hungry mouths to feed.
A pair of soon-to-be free agents fighting to make the rotation
Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard have both the most to gain and the most to lose from a good season in 2026-27. Both of the 2023 draftees are set to be restricted free agents this coming summer. While their breakouts could push the Pacers to new levels, it could also ruin their chances at resigning them.
With only 15 minutes to go between the two forwards, who are both gunning for similar roles at similar positions, it seems impossible for both to get their chance. Even if that playing time probably isn't enough to strive for a breakout, you need to start somewhere. It's bad for either of them.
While that forward battle is the biggest question mark within the rotation, there are also questions remaining about who Indiana will invest in lower down the bench.
Between young and old options, Indiana will have to decide who fits their identity best.
Gap year GOATs who need to stick around
Jalen Slawson spent the summer league being Indiana's best player. The recent two-way contract signee had a quiet breakout in the G-League last year before finally making his place in the NBA more secure with a late-season showing.
Jay Huff has been a more than serviceable backup center for the Memphis Grizzlies and LA Lakers before finding his way on the Pacers' roster and trying to be the replacement for Myles Turner in what rapidly turned into a miserable 19-win season.
Johnny Furphy was showing real moments of impact before an ACL tear stole his opportunities and sent him on the long road to recovery. While he cannot shoot for anything, his athleticism, if it is still at all present, could make him a valuable floor runner in transition.
Larry Nance Jr., Quenton Jackson, Braden Smith, and Kobe Brown are all either clinging to their careers or hoping they can get off the ground at all.
It is more than likely that none of those players get an opportunity, and yet they will surely be pushing for it in any way possible.
There is no way for this to work out well for everyone involved. This is the definition of a dog-eat-dog situation, with no way to satisfy everyone. The Oubre signing has pushed the entirety of the bench from hopefully optimistic to praying for answers.
This question will likely be answered quickly, but it will also follow the roster all year long.
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