Too much of something is rarely a problem when it is something good. Just ask the Indiana Pacers as they courted one of the best benches in the league last season.
During the offseason, the roster has not changed drastically. Jalen Smith is now a member of the Chicago Bulls, and the Pacers inked James Wiseman on a one-year deal. The Pacers' 2023 first-round pick, Jarace Walker, also expects to see more minutes in the rotation after a strong summer league showing.
But not every current Pacers big man may be playing for the team when the NBA season starts for Indiana on the road against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, October 23rd. Let us take a look at your probable starters, bench players, and potential cut candidates.
The Starters: Pascal Siakam (PF) & Myles Turner (C)
It's no surprise that the Indiana Pacers will be suiting up both Siakam and Turner in the starting five. After all, both were the starters last season and the pair of big men had solid postseason performances during all three series in the playoffs.
Siakam just inked his new deal to remain with the Pacers for another four years and roughly $190 million. The former NBA Champion has won a ring with the Toronto Raptors. His experience and resume were far from lackluster when Indiana struck the swap midseason last year, sending a first-round pick and Bruce Brown up north for the talented power forward.
The eight-year veteran finished the regular season with averages of 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game. Siakam also showed his range as he finished the 2023-24 season shooting 34.6% from behind the arc.
His first two playoff games with the Pacers resulted in a pair of double-doubles. Siakam secured 24 rebounds and 73 points combined in Games 1 and 2 against the Milwaukee Bucks. In his next two games, at home in Indianapolis, he was only a rebound shy in each of recording two more double-doubles.
In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, Siakam registered two more double-doubles in Games 1 and 4. He averaged just over 23 points and hauled in 8.5 rebounds a game during the eventual four-game sweep.
His teammate, Turner, also had two contests during the same series in which he scored at least 22 points and collected at least 10 rebounds. Aside from his shaky game in Game 2 against the New York Knicks, Turner scored at least 13 points in the other six outings of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
While averaging 17 points and seven rebounds a game during the regular season, Turner's roster status survived more trade speculation. As he could still be moved with one year left on his current deal, Turner is slated to be starting center again. This will make the tenth season as a member of the Indiana Pacers for former Texas Longhorn.
The next big man up for the Pacers: Obi Toppin (F)
The former New York Knick came to Indiana last season and was often inserted into the starting lineup prior to the team acquiring Siakam. In his first year, Toppin's field goal percentage (57.3%) was in the top 15 across the league.
He scored more than 10 points while pulling in about four boards a game. Toppin is a 6' 9'' forward who helped spread the floor for Tyrese Haliburton and company. He connected on 40% of his attempts from three-point land and about 35% during the playoffs.
During the opening round of the playoffs against the Bucks, Toppin struggled in the first two games on the road. He only shot the ball 40% and missed eight of his nine attempts from deep in Games 1 & 2 in Milwaukee.
The same trend occurred during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks, Toppin's productivity was inconsistent at times. In four games out of the seven, he scored 10 points or more while shooting at least 50% from the floor. If he shot less than that, his numbers dropped as he scored no more than seven points in such contests.
Toppin's game is not as strong as Siakam or Turner's and that is okay. While many other teams would want a player like Toppin in their starting lineup, he gives the Pacers a formidable asset in the second unit alongside backup point guard TJ McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin.
The hopeful hoopers for Indiana: Isaiah Jackson (F/C) and James Wiseman (C)
The other players for the Pacers listed at the four or five spots in the lineup are Jackson and the newly signed Wiseman. Rookie Johnny Furphy and veteran James Johnson are also on the roster, too.
Jackson's best performance of the postseason last year came in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals when he scored 10 points and snagged six rebounds in the 121-89 blowout win at home. He only averaged 6.4 points and 4 rebounds a game during the regular season.
Like Toppin, the former Kentucky Wildcat is listed at 6'9'' tall. Prior to Siakam joining the Pacers, Jackson had a huge month in December. He scored at least 10 points in more than half of their games that month and four more games like that in the first half of January.
In the March 20th game against the Detroit Pistons, Jackson showed he can be a tenacious athlete off the bench. He collected 11 boards (three of which were offensive rebounds), six assists, and three steals. Jackson's 10 points on 4-of-7 from the field helped the Pacers claim victory over their fellow Central Division foe.
A season and a half ago, the former second overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft was traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Detroit Pistons. With Smith leaving the Pacers, a roster spot to back up Turner became open. Insert Wiseman.
In his first full season with the Pistons last year, he shot the ball effectively, connecting on 61.3% of his shots from the floor. Wiseman won't turn 24 until late in the season. Thus, age is on his side as he continues to find the right fit and home for his game.
Wiseman's former team did not make the playoffs last year. In fact, they were the worst team in the league for the second year in a row. However, he still found ways to light up the scoreboard.
The former Memphis Wildcat scored at least eight points in 10 of the 16 games during the month of March. He also had seven games where he pulled in at least nine rebounds. This is the type of production that head coach Rick Carlisle hopes to experience while Turner is on the bench.
The most likely cut candidates: James Johnson (F) and rookie Johnny Furphy (F)
Re-signed after being waived originally, Johnson is back. The 37-year-old's better playing days are behind him now. The Pacers are the 11th different uniform he has worn.
Johnson has only appeared in 27 games over the past two seasons for Indiana. Considering the roster is fairly young, Johnson brings experience and leadership to a locker room that is looking for their first NBA Finals berth since 2000.
However, he may be the most likely candidate cut since he already has been once before by the Pacers' front office.
Last but not least, after an impressive showing during the 2024 NBA Summer League, rookie Furphy displayed his skill set. The second-round pick from the University of Kansas, the six-foot, eight-inch athlete gives the Pacers an option at both the small forward and power forward positions.
Much like Walker, the pair of players added to the spotlight of youthful talent within the Indiana Pacers organization. Furphy showed he can rebound, assist, and shoot the ball well (and far).
Last year for the Kansas Jayhawks, Furphy shot about 45% from the field and 35% from behind the arc while registering nearly five rebounds a contest. While he may not be a guarantee to crack the 12-man roster for the Pacers, an invite to play for their G-League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, should give Furphy the platform to develop and grow.
After all, we saw last year how injuries to Haliburton, Mathurin, and others affected this team throughout the season. Furphy's day to suit up for the Pacers will come sooner than later, though.