Which Pacers assistants could find a new home next season

Though the Pacers' season is not over yet, it may not hurt to look ahead at what Rick Carlisle's coaching staff could like next year. There are three potential assistants underneath him that could find another home or be promoted to a new gig in another city.

Two candidates have prior head coaching experience while one is a former player in his fifth year as an assistant. With only three current openings in the league, the Lakers, Wizards, and now the Cavaliers are looking for new coaches to take over.

Here are the three most likely candidates from Carlisle's current staff with the Pacers who could be working with a different team for the 2024-2025 season.

3. Jannero Pargo

The former dual point and shooting guard, Pargo is in his third season as an assistant coach and player development for the Indiana Pacers. He spent his first two years on the bench with the Portland Trailblazers. Then, they had one of the best one-two tandems at the guard position in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

Pargo is an experienced guard on the bench himself. As a player, he appeared in 499 games averaging 6.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and a pair of assists in those contests. He played for seven different teams, nine if you can't the Charlotte Bobcats and Hornets as well as the New Orleans Hornets and New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.

Some injuries plagued Pargo in his career, he played 82 games just once and 80 games the next season. Otherwise, he would go on to miss at least 20 games or more due to various reasons throughout his playing career.

Pargo has helped extend the philosophies that Carlisle has instilled in his young Pacers squad. They led the league in total offensive points per game, field goal percentage, and assists a game this regular season. They also boasted the NBA's highest-scoring bench, something Pargo can relate to from his days as a role player on many teams in the league.

The Chicago native is only 45 years old. He could remain under contract with Indiana and stay put next to Carlisle. Otherwise, Pargo could be one of three names from the Pacers' coaching staff to find a new home in the offseason.

2. Llyod Pierce

The lead assistant coach for the Pacers, Pierce has held a head coaching position before. He was announced as the 13th full-time coach for the Atlanta Hawks on his 42nd birthday.

Prior to accepting the position, Pierce was a part of player development with the Cavaliers from 2007-2010. He also went on to become an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2014-2018.

In the 183 games he was the coach for the Hawks, he went just 63-120. The Santa Clara graduate (and former college teammate of Steve Nash) was relieved of duties just 34 games into the 2020-2021 season. His replacement was former Indiana Pacers head coach, Nate McMillan.

After being fired, Pierce joined the Pacers' coaching staff as an assistant coach. The past two seasons, he has been elevated to the lead assistant coach.

The Eastern Conference finalists qualified for the finals of the first ever In-Season Tournament. That feat along with the previously mentioned accolades the Pacers achieved during the 2023-2024 campaign make Pierce a lucrative commodity in the coaching discussions for any team looking for a new regime.

Despite his previous ties to Cleveland, the Cavaliers may be looking for a more seasoned head coach as they won their first playoff series since Lebron James left for the Lakers. The Lakers also have championship aspirations.

Thus, a team like the Washington Wizards might give Pierce another shot at a head coaching position. This Southeast division franchise finished only one game better than the last-place team in the league. The Wizards are expected to explore a full rebuild and Pierce could be a part of those plans.

1. Jim Boylen

The most experienced assistant coach may be the answer for not only the Wizards but also the Cavaliers or Lakers. Boylen started out as an assistant with the Houston Rockets. During his thirteen-year tenure, he was a part of back-to-back NBA titles in the mid-90s.

Boylen would take the same position with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2004-2005 season. Following a six-season hiatus, he returned to the league as an assistant coach for the Pacers. His first stint with the organization would only last one season before he took another year off.

In 2013, Boylen began his first of two seasons as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. He worked under one of the all-time greatest coaches in the NBA, Greg Popovich. The Spurs would go on to win their most recent NBA title in 2014.

On December 3rd, 2018, Boylen would be appointed to his first Head Coach position with the Chicago Bulls. He spent three full seasons as an associate head coach with the organization before being promoted during the regular season. In total, Boylen coached 123 games going 39-84 in those contests.

Three years removed from the NBA, the University of Maine product is in his first year under Carlisle's staff and second term with the Pacers franchise. If any one of those three teams is looking for a head coach with championship experience, Boylen checks that box. He could very well leave Indiana for a new residence and position in the league.