It's going to be a tall task without Tyrese Haliburton or Myles Turner, but all signs point to the Indiana Pacers wanting to make it back to the playoffs next year. Fortunately for them, they are in a wide-open Eastern Conference, which, combined with their reputation for always exceeding expectations, could be a recipe for success.
After being one win away from an NBA Championship last season, the Pacers now find themselves in a tough spot. They want to make it back and go on another deep playoff run, but they may have too much adversity to overcome. Additionally, given how different their team is going to look next season, chances are they will go through numerous rough patches.
Regardless, the Pacers have shocked the basketball world before, and they will look to do so again next year. With no clear top contender in the East and the fact that everybody is already counting them out, Indiana will have a great opportunity to make some magic happen. Again.
A deep playoff run in still unlikely for the Pacers
Currently, nobody knows who the top team in the East is.
The Pacers represented the conference in the NBA Finals last season, but given their current roster situation, it is likely going to take at least one more year for them to potentially make it back. Furthermore, the Boston Celtics, who won it all in 2024, will also look completely different next season due to Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury and their roster turnover, likely removing them from the equation as well.
As it stands, there are plenty of teams that could make some noise in the East next season. The Cleveland Cavaliers had the best record in the conference last season, the New York Knicks just made it back to the conference finals, and teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Orlando Magic all had busy offseasons.
Though it might not matter much in the end, the Pacers playing in a wide-open conference could bode well for them as they look to re-establish themselves as title contenders. However, even if they make it back to the playoffs, another deep run is highly unlikely.
The Pacers have a talented roster and one of the best head coaches in the league in Rick Carlisle. Even so, it might not be enough for them to be considered legitimate contenders next season.
Indiana will have plenty of questions they need to answer, and they will have all of next season to do so. While winning games and having a solid record would be huge for the team, that shouldn't be their main focus, or at least not the deciding factor in how successful their season was. Instead, they need to prioritize internal growth and see exactly how much of an impact some of their younger guys can make in expanded roles.
Regardless, the Pacers have a bright future, and their outlook for next season will not change that. However, they will still have a unique opportunity next season, and how they perform could make a long-term impact.