Indiana Pacers Team Review

2021-22 Finish: 21-61

At the start of 2021 the Pacers looked a potential playoff team. They had a star (KAT) and a number of capable veterans and upside guys that seemed destined for at the very least an above .500 record and a look at the play-in tournament with a ceiling of a 5-6 finish. The fans came in with high expectations for their organisation but were destined to be disappointed as GM Spud set his sights on the long game, building for the future.

 

Season Highlight/ Season Lowlight:

The Draft Lottery

After a long and disappointing season filled with minimal highlights, the Pacers finished with the 6^th worst record coming into a draft with a �Big-4�. Any pick just outside the top 4 would require a reach to hit value and once outside of pick 5 there really wasn�t a clear number 6 standout. If the balls were to fall where they were predicted the Pacers would�ve had a fruitless season reward them with a big question mark, which is not an ideal outcome.

On lottery night there was something magical in the air for a number of teams. The Knicks climbed (again) into the top 2 and the under-the-radar Pacers hit with their pick. They would be selecting at position number 4! Pick 4 was always going to be a terrific spot to draft from. Zero pressure with a free hit on the player left over from the top 4. Banchero, Chet, Ivey or Jabari Smith. And if one of those potential stars don�t tickle your fancy, guess what, Benedict Mathurin would be available as well, who projects as a potential star wing.

�With the fourth pick in the NSL draft, GM Spud and the Pacers select� Jabari Smith!� After weeks of rumours, hearsay and whispers of the Pacers wanting Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith was the one who fell to Indiana in one of the steals of the draft. Smith was atop many mock in the lead up to the draft as his NBA roots, maturity, skillset and versatility made him a stand out amongst all draft hopefuls.

Though he isn�t a perfect fit next to Karl Anthony Towns, Jabari Smith looks, at worst a long-term NBA starter with all-star potential. He has the ability to stretch the floor, defend multiple positions and protect the rim at a high level. A sensational outcome for a team predicted to pick at 6.    

 

Trading:

GM Spud is no stranger to a deal, whether it be a blockbuster, involving stars, or small gradual gains towards a long-term destination. 2021-22 was filled with both, some small meticulous trades and a couple of league stoppers, including one that sent their franchise star Joel Embiid packing.

Best Trade:

Pacers send: Bojan Bogdanovic and Derrick Rose
Pacers receive: Lonzo Ball and Terrence Ross

A pretty even deal saw the Pacers depart with two handy veterans for a useful scorer/ 2k guy in Ross and a young, potential star in Lonzo Ball. In 2k, Ball is exactly what you want in your starting PG, he is a terrific passer, can shoot from downtown but most importantly he is a disrupter defensively and one of the league leaders in steals.

Ball�s future is a little bit up in the air at the moment as he remains sidelined with a knee injury that seems almost chronic, however if he can return, he will be a key to the future of the Pacers franchise.

 

Worst Trade:

Pacers send: Joel Embiid
Pacers receive: Karl-Anthony Towns and 15gm points

There�s no doubt that both big men are stars and to some it might come down to what your personal preference is. Only one of these guys is an MVP contender in the NBA and NSL though and that is Joel Embiid. Embiid separates himself from Towns in his ability to monster the opposition on both ends. He scores at will inside and outside and protects the rim as good as anyone in the league.

While Towns is a tremendous scorer, his ability to defend if inferior to Embiid. He still has room for growth in his basketball IQ and ability to be a �winner� but at this stage he shows no indication of being as talented as the man he was traded for.

 

Other Notable Trades:

Pacers send: Zeke Nnaji and Denver 2025 second round pick
Pacers receive: Pick 18- Dalen Terry

Looking to bolster their future assets, the Pacers sent Zeke Nnaji to the Cleveland Cavs for a mid-round pick where there was quite a lot of value still on the board. With pick 18 the Pacers selected Dalen Terry, a versatile PG/SG/SF who was drafted by the NBA Chicago Bulls. In a deep NBA team, Terry will have to wait for opportunities, however in the long run he could prove to a useful piece in the Indiana movement.

 

Free Agency:

The Pacers will be pretty quiet in the Free Agency period as it looks at this stage. They have 66 GM points to play with and no key players who will explore free agency.

C.J Elleby RFA � Elleby will likely be retained as an RFA. He isn�t the most polarising prospect however he saw opportunity with NBA Portland towards the back end of last season and produced some terrific games. With no risk to retain, I�d imagine Spud flicks the switch and keeps him on a minimal deal.

James Johnson UFA � Johnson will probably be allowed to walk. The Pacers have no need for a 35-year-old roster filler and will likely keep their GMs to have a swing at a key target.

66 Gms- With no clear option at Point Guard without Lonzo, the Pacers could throw a big bid at one player. They won�t be well placed with the algorithm, but if GM Spud selects his target wisely, could add another asset to the ever growing stable.

Potential Targets:

Gary Payton II
Ricky Rubio
Malik Monk
Delon Wright

 

Star:

Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns was the guy in Indiana this season after arriving via trade from Washington. After becoming a Pacer, Towns assumed the go-to scorer role for the young team and averaged a double-double for the season. He was an asset on both ends but wasn�t able to lead the Pacers to a winning record.

19.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.8 blocks, 0.9 steals, 56% FG and 91% FT.

With the further development of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma, as well as the arrival of Jabari Smith, hopefully some of the pressure to create offense can come off Towns and he can get the open looks required to be amongst the truly elite in the league.

 

Flop:

Kyle Kuzma

Kuz took a leap in the NBA in a new situation in Washington, but his NSL counterpart was the opposite. Seeming to not find his spot or to get his touches, Kuz averaged less than 10 points per game in a team with minimal mouths to feed. He averaged just 7.9 points on inefficient shooting- 41% FG and a tad over 60% FT with 8 rebounds. His numbers and overall effectiveness were a big concern for the Pacers and they will be expecting a big off-season from their versatile wing with more time spent on the basketball court and less on the catwalk.

 

Draft Grades:

#4 PF- Jabari Smith, #18 PG/SF- Dalen Terry � A

Draft night was a big success for the Pacers. Though they didn�t fulfil position of need with their top pick, they targeted a huge point at pick 18 to cover Ball if he sits on the long-term injury list.

Smith was a walk-up home run. Simply pick the leftover from the top 4 and you receive an A grade. Smith could be a star in the league, many believe he will take a little longer than Banchero, but he has all the tools you could possibly want from a young PF- size, athleticism, shooting and rim protecting ability. He�s a truly exciting prospect and will be in the mix for NSL rookie of the year this season.

 

The Future:

It�s Spud�s favourite F-word. Future. They will continue to build through trades and the draft until they assemble the pieces required to contend. Towns is a terrific Franchise Star with a long and bright future ahead. Poole will come on this coming season and form a terrific duo with the star big man. Spud will be hoping Kuz or Levert step-up in the NBA and become more than role players which could immediately propel the Pacers into play-in contention.

 

Lonzo Ball is the biggest question mark. If he�s out, they�re out another season. Though he�s not a superstar, Ball is crucial to bring Towns and Poole into the game by setting them up with his floor general qualities.

The league will be watching on to see the fit between Towns and Smith in the early weeks of the season. It seems there are more mouths to feed this coming season and the Pacers should be aiming to improve on a miserable 2021-22 season.

Projected Line Up

C: Karl-Anthony Towns
PF: Jabari Smith
SF: Kyle Kuzma
SG: Jordan Poole
PG: Lonzo Ball (if he returns)/ Free Agent
Bench: Caris Levert, Terrence Ross, Torrey Craig

Another year ends for the Pacers and probably one they will look back at as a bit of a waste, with a couple of silver linings. There�s no doubt that hope is alive in Indiana and they will be aiming to bounce back next season with some exciting new signings. All the best to Spud and his boys for the coming season.