The Pacers have a logjam on the roster (and why that might be a good thing)

Having a deep team proved to be a viable asset for the Indiana Pacers. The team saw injuries take time on the court away from the likes of Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin amongst others. That didn't prevent the team from qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in four years and making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pretty much every guard and forward is returning for another season with the Pacers. The only notable departure affected the big man rotation with Jalen Smith leaving in free agency. The squad also wrapped up backup point guard TJ McConnell with a four-year extension and approximately $45 million.

With the current youth movement on the Pacers' current depth chart, there is a surplus of shooting guards and small forwards. Not everyone on the roster may be with the team come the regular season opener on Wednesday, October 23rd at Detroit.

Let's take a look at who's in and who could be out for Indiana come next month.

The slated starters: Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith

Haliburton was not the only member of the Indiana Pacers to represent their country in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Nembhard played for the Canadian National Team but saw limited action. That was not the case, however, for the two-year youngster, in regards to last season in the NBA.

In his first two years in the league, the former Gonzaga Bulldog averaged at least 25 minutes and at least nine points and a steal while playing at least 68 games in each of those seasons. Nembhard backed up Haliburton and McConnell some but also checked in as the starting shooting guard more once Buddy Hield was eventually traded last February.

He shoots above 45% from the floor and about 35% from behind the arc. Nembhard scored 20 points or more just once during the regular season and three times last season (all in March 2023). He had four such games in the postseason including Games 3 and 4 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Nembhard put up a season-high of 32 points and followed up that performance with 24 more in the Pacers' final two games of the playoffs. His teammate, Aaron Nesmith, scored at least 20 points eight times and was in double digits in 11 out of the first 12 games in the month of December this past season.

Nesmith averaged about 12 points and nearly four boards a game during the regular season. In his four seasons as an NBA player, he has split his time evenly now between his first team (the Celtics) and the Pacers.

The four year-veteran still has age on his side, just like Nembhard. Haliburton has two strong wing players in the starting five with him. Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner help round out the starting lineup as this could be the best first unit head coach Rick Carlisle has to put on the floor.