Heading into the offseason, there was a lot of talk surrounding the Indiana Pacers not wanting to pay the luxury tax, and it resulted in Myles Turner's departure after 10 years. While it may not have entirely been Indiana's decision, they now have to determine whether this will become a trend or if they are going to commit to the roster they have.
The Pacers have enjoyed a lot of recent success. They are fresh off back-to-back conference finals appearances and went on an NBA Finals run earlier this year. However, while they should be happy with the team they have, it is fair to wonder if more drastic changes are coming to Indiana in the future.
Indiana's decision will decide their championship window
With Tyrese Haliburton on the shelf next season, the Pacers are in an interesting spot. Even so, they will still need to make a major decision soon.
The first player to keep an eye on is Bennedict Mathurin. Mathurin's long-term future in Indiana is still up in the air. He is eligible for a contract extension this summer, but it seems like the Pacers are choosing to let him play next season out before making a long-term commitment.
There is a lot to like about the Canadian native, but the Pacers do have a tough choice ahead of them. Either they can sign him to a new deal, even though he remains a questionable fit in Indiana's system, or they can opt to move on from him and avoid going into the luxury tax but lose a valuable player in doing so.
In addition to Mathurin, most of the Pacers' key players are due for new contracts over the next few years. This includes Aaron Nesmith, who has just one year left on his deal after this season.
The Vanderbilt alum played a huge role in Indiana's NBA Finals run, and it is fair to assume he will remain with the team past next season. However, it is also safe to say he is going to demand a much bigger salary than his current $11 million AAV. Bringing him back would be a no-brainer for Indiana, but it would bring them much closer to the luxury tax, and that is before having to make decisions on players like Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, and Pascal Siakam the following year.
Indiana has an incredibly talented team, and they should be in title contention for a long time. Being without Haliburton next season will be tough, but they have a unique opportunity in front of them. However, if the Pacers make the wrong decision in the near future, they may close their championship window before it ever truly opened.