This season hasn't gone exactly as the Indiana Pacers had hoped. Even under the circumstances of Tyrese Haliburton's injury and Myles Turner's departure, they have been incredibly disappointing (though a lot of that can be attributed to the plethora of injuries they've dealt with all season).
Indiana is 13-38 and owns the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Additionally, only the Sacramento Kings (12-40) and New Orleans Pelicans (13-40) rank below them in the standings.
Regardless, the future is bright in Indiana, and that's especially true after the team's blockbuster trade for Ivica Zubac just before this year's deadline.
The Pacers were just one win away from an NBA championship not even a year ago, and they are in a great spot to get back next season, especially in a wide-open conference. And in a recent episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast," The Ringer's Zach Lowe sent a crucial reminder that fans (and rival teams) need to remember.
"And look out for the Pacers, man. They're sort of sight unseen, out of sight, out of mind. The one thing is their young guys have not really developed the way you would want, but they've had so many injuries," Lowe said.
"This is a huge get and a reminder, a very important reminder, to the Cavs, Knicks, the Pistons ... There's one powerhouse that's been absent the whole year, and they're already loading up for next year."
The Pacers can re-enter the title picture next season
Better days are clearly ahead for the Pacers, and fans should see that as soon as next season. A lot will still need to go their way, but as it stands, there are reasons to be optimistic about their immediate outlook.
For starters, the Pacers finally found their new starting center (who is probably an upgrade over Turner anyway) who will provide a ton of value in every area of the game.
Zubac is an elite paint presence on both sides of the ball. He finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, and while he's not much of a shot-blocker, he is still elite at protecting the paint and contesting shots. Additionally, he is a career 61.6% shooter from the field, and his 11 rebounds per game this season would lead the team.
The 28-year-old is also an elite screen-setter, which should open up a lot more pick-and-roll opportunities for Haliburton once he returns.
Speaking of Haliburton, remains to be seen exactly how close to his pre-injury self he'll be right away, but the Pacers should expect to see him back next season. And to say this will be a huge boost for them is an understatement.
The Wisconsin native is one of the best playmakers in the NBA, and he is the entire engine of Indiana's offense. Having him back on the court should elevate the rest of the team and help them get back to playing their elite brand of basketball.
Plus, the Pacers still have a chance to land one of the top four players in this year's draft: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, or Caleb Wilson. They did include this year's first-round pick in the Zubac deal, but it's 1-4 and 10-30 protected, meaning they still have a chance to secure a high draft pick and land a potential franchise guy to pair up with Haliburton.
All in all, even if it looks bleak in Indiana right now, the future is as bright as it has ever been. And sooner than later, the Pacers will have an opportunity to remind the basketball world exactly how dangerous they can be.