Last season, the Indiana Pacers entered the NBA Playoffs as the No. 6 seed. Despite their standing, the Pacers made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a decade. Along the way, the Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games and the New York Knicks in seven games before getting swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
Despite falling just short of an appearance in the NBA Finals, the Pacers showed they are not a team to sleep on. In 2023-24, Indiana averaged a league-leading 123.3 points per game. Additionally, their 121 ORTG ranked the second-highest behind just the Celtics (123.2).
At this point, it is no secret that their defense needs work and is likely what will hold them back from serious title contention until it improves. However, after their successful playoff run, it is easy to consider the Pacers a potential threat in the Eastern Conference.
If the Pacers want to build a sustainable contender for the long run, though, it is essential that they spend money to improve their roster and add talent when needed. The roster is good, but it is a competitive league. And with teams like the Celtics, Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers in the way in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers must do whatever it takes to become a perennial playoff contender.
The Indiana Pacers appear content with running it back again next season
So far this offseason, the Pacers have kept it relatively quiet. The team drafted Johnny Furphy in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft and signed center James Wiseman to a two-year deal, including a team option for the second season. However, these are the only external moves the Pacers have made up to this point.
Additionally, Indiana re-signed Pascal Siakam to a four-year, $188.9 million contract and Obi Toppin to a four-year, $58 million contract. The Pacers brought out the checkbooks for these two forwards to stay with the team for the long run, and rightfully so.
The Pacers are a young team and should only continue to naturally get better in the future. Whether their roster as currently constructed is good enough to become serious title contenders, however, is unclear.