Pre-Draft Outlook
It’s a little difficult to reconcile where the Pacers will be drafting or that they even were in the lottery at all given their start last season. They were 23-18 at the midpoint with a breakthrough star in Tyrese Haliburton, a Kia Rookie of the Year aspirant in Bennedict Mathurin and veteran Myles Turner making his presence felt in the middle defensively no matter how many trade rumors he heard. The Pacers’ 12-29 finish was just as real, though, so they’ll be plugging holes however they can, whether using or trading one or more of those first-round picks.
The Way To Go
The team’s own Twitter account spread the word, complete with photo, that Larry Bird was back in the Pacers’ gym as “a consultant.” That generated some excitement, but the Hall of Famer’s level of commitment isn’t known. Positionally, Indiana needs a big forward and statistically it needs to tighten its defense (26th in rating last season). So let’s float the name of Houston’s Jarace Walker, who could check two boxes.
— Steve Aschburner
Here’s a quick look at who the Indiana Pacers have under contract, who is a free agent this summer and who they added in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Under Contract
G: Chris Duarte
G: Tyrese Haliburton
G: Buddy Hield
G: T.J. McConnell
G/F: Bennedict Mathurin
G/F: Andrew Nembhard
G/F: Aaron Nesmith
F: Isaiah Jackson
F: Jordan Nwora
F/C: Jalen Smith
F/C: Daniel Theis
C/F: Myles Turner
Free Agents
G: Kendall Brown (two-way)
G: George Hill (unrestricted)
G: Gabe York (unrestricted)
F/G: Oshae Brissett (unrestricted)
F: James Johnson (unrestricted)
> 2023 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2022: Bennedict Mathurin (6), Andrew Nembhard (31), Kendall Brown (48)*, Hugo Besson (58)**
* = acquired via trade
** = traded in draft-night deal
*** = traded in offseason deal