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The Pacers need to decide how to handle the young guns this offseason

The Pacers have several young players who are solid players. They need to figure out what to do with them and figure out who is part of their plans and who isn't.

By Ryan Stano

Mar 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) controls the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) controls the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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The Indiana Pacers find themselves in an interesting space this offseason. No one expected the leap that they made this year. They went from not making the playoffs last season to making the Eastern Conference Finals. It's a huge jump for a young team without much playoff experience.

Now comes the hard part. How do they get to that final level? How can they make the team good enough to make the NBA Finals and win a championship? One of the decisions that has to be made involves the young guys on the team. Who is a building block and who can be used as a piece in a trade?

Jarace Walker is a guy that could be floated in different trades. He was the eighth overall pick in the Draft and didn't get to play a lot. In the spurts we did see him play, he showed some promise. He has some really good traits that could make him into a great player. Indiana may just not have time to wait for him.

The Pacers need to figure out what to do with a young crop of players

Bennedict Mathurin is another guy that the Pacers need to figure out. After two years with the team, it's still a bit unclear what his role is. His injury robbed him of being able to figure out where he best fits into the roster. He's entering his third season and it's still unclear whether he fits better in the starting lineup or off the bench.

Andrew Nembhard showed a lot of growth this season, especially in the playoffs. When Tyrese Haliburton was out for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he showed what he can do as a lead guard in a high-pressure situation. He was fantastic and showed some of that while Haliburton was out in the regular season too.

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Packaging any combination of these players could net the Pacers an extra star. Who they decide to keep will be critical too. Does Nembhard project better as a lead guard? Will Mathurin improve as a defender enough to be that wing they need? Can Walker be that rangy wing? All of these questions need to be answered.

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