The Indiana Pacers currently have four centers on the roster, but they must move on from one of them and add an extra point guard to the mix if they want to compete this season.
As it stands, the Pacers have 15 players on standard contracts. This includes the four centers on the roster (Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, James Wiseman, and Tony Bradley). Additionally, while Indiana was granted a Disabled Player Exception following his Achilles injury, Tyrese Haliburton still takes up a roster spot.
Keeping four centers on the roster heading into the regular season would be unorthodox. However, it could make sense for the Pacers as they look to fill the Myles Turner-sized void he left after joining the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency.
Regardless, the Pacers have a bigger problem on their hands in their point guard situation.
Not only is Haliburton going to be out for the season, but the Pacers will also be without backup point guard T.J. McConnell for at least a month due to a hamstring injury. Currently, Andrew Nembhard (and technically Kam Jones, though what his position will be is still uncertain) is the only point guard on a standard contract for Indiana.
As the Pacers prepare to re-establish themselves as contenders this season, they will need to construct the best roster possible, and that includes getting rid of one of their centers to open up a spot.
The Pacers must add another point guard to the team
They were already in need of another point guard even before McConnell's injury, but this problem just became even more urgent for the Pacers, given the circumstances.
The easy solution for Indiana would be to move on from one of its centers, whether it be Wiseman or Bradley. Neither player is on a fully guaranteed contract, and they are clearly the odd men out in the committee behind Jackson and Huff. They each provide value, but in a four-center rotation, one of them is going to take a major backseat anyway.
Furthermore, the Pacers need to use that roster spot on another point guard. Indiana's depth at the position is a major problem, and given how important ball movement and facilitating are in its system, it needs another point guard way more than it needs four centers.
The Pacers do have some options here. They recently signed Cam Payne to a training camp contract, and they also have Quenton Jackson and RayJ Dennis on two-way deals. Plus, if they decide to, they can look for external options and maybe even have some fun with it by signing a guy like Russell Westbrook, who is still on the market.
Additionally, what the Pacers have going for them is that they have multiple players who can play center, even if it's not their traditional position.
This season, Indiana will likely utilize players like Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker more as small-ball centers. They have each proven that they are more than capable of playing this role, especially Toppin, who has experience being the Pacers' center in clutch minutes.
Because of this, the Pacers have the freedom to move on from one of their centers while not necessarily losing their depth at the position.
The Pacers have a bit of a roster dilemma heading into the season, but their decision shouldn't be too difficult. Keeping a third point guard on the roster will pay dividends for the team as they look to exceed expectations yet again.