The Indiana Pacers are not making the playoffs this season, but they must let things play out instead of attempting to turn it around.
Unless they know it will be worth it for the future (or if it's so minor that it won't impact much anyway), the Pacers should not make any trades this season. This season is a wash, and it's in their best interest to just let their players run with this opportunity and sink or swim. They are all on the roster for a reason, and either they'll stick around for the long haul, or they will play themselves out of Indiana.
This season could be an important one for the Pacers long term
The Pacers were just one win away from winning their first NBA championship in franchise history in June. However, one Achilles tear to Tyrese Haliburton and a Myles Turner departure later, they are in a completely different spot this season. Indiana's 107.5 offensive rating is the second-worst in the NBA, and its 119.5 defensive rating is the eighth-worst, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Despite their disappointing season, the Pacers still have a bright future. Outside of Turner, everybody from last season's finals team will be back, they are still young and hungry, and Rick Carlisle is still one of the best head coaches in the league.
It won't happen this season, but the Pacers will be able to re-establish themselves as title contenders soon enough. And that's exactly why this season is so important.
There are numerous players on this year's roster looking to either take that next step or make a name for themselves in Indiana. Guys like Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam are just looking to prove they can still be successful without Haliburton on the court, whereas players like Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, and Isaiah Jackson are looking to prove they can help the team re-enter the title picture.
And this may be their only chance to do exactly that.
At this point, a playoff appearance this season is borderline impossible for the Pacers. But that's okay. That likely wasn't their true main goal, and it doesn't make their long-term outlook any worse.
From here on out, it's all about experimenting with the roster and seeing who can or can't stick around for the long run. While guys like Mathurin are stepping up, players like Walker, Jay Huff, and Ben Sheppard are still leaving a little to be desired on the court. Fortunately for them, they should have plenty more opportunities to prove their worth for the rest of the season and maybe, just maybe, showcase that they can play a key role for the Pacers once they are ready to remind the basketball world just how dominant they can be.