30 Teams in 30 Days: Pacers Aim to Improve on Impressive 47-Win Season

Preseason

Re-signing: Quenton Jackson, James Johnson, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Obi ToppinAdditions: James Wiseman (free agent)Draft: Johnny Furphy (No. 35 pick), Tristan Newton (No. 49), Enrique Freeman (No. 50)Departures: Jalen Smith (to Bulls)Unsigned Free Agents: Doug McDermott, Oscar Tshiebwe, Isaiah Wong

Last season

It was one of the better 47-win seasons in recent NBA history if only because the Pacers played in the championship game. Well, let’s clarify — the In-Season Tournament title game. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers but eventually went further than L.A. in the playoffs as Indiana reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

It also served as an arrival for Tyrese Haliburton, who followed in the footsteps of Reggie Miller and Paul George to become this team’s All-NBA player, plus the league’s assists leader and Olympian. A midseason trade that fetched Pascal Siakam gave the Pacers, who had the league’s top-rated offense, an additional anchor and the fun times lasted deep into May, highlighted by a Game 7 win in New York.

Summer summary

It was a relatively quiet summer for a team that chose growth and chemistry over any drastic changes. Therefore, the Pacers followed the status quo by reaching for the checkbook.

The priority was retaining Siakam, who was acquired at midseason. That’s always a tricky situation for a team, to trade for a player approaching free agency, because he holds all the leverage. But Siakam wanted to stay (and $189 million didn’t hurt). There were short extensions for Nembhard and Toppin, too, after those young players showed development.

Spotlight on

Bennedict Mathurin had season-ending surgery in March to repair a torn right labrum, so this represents a bounce-back for him. Much is on the line: Indiana has depth at his position, and the former No. 6 pick will be playing for an extension soon. That said, he’s a solid shot-creator who averaged 16.7 points as a rookie, then 14.5 ppg off the bench in 2023-24. He can be a capable third or fourth scorer.

How far can the Pacers go?

They’re the sneaky small-market team that could pull a surprise for the second straight season, although actually, it would be less of a surprise. Indiana is an established threat in the East that could win 50 games, finish top-five and go a few rounds in the playoffs.

That’s probably their ceiling because other teams (the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers) made offseason improvements. Still, with Haliburton, Siakam, Myles Turner and a solid support cast led by T.J. McConnell, the Pacers can score with anyone. Their defense isn’t championship-worthy, though, and at some point, Indiana must address that — perhaps by the trade deadline.

Up next: Chicago Bulls | Previously: Cleveland Cavaliers

30 Teams in 30 Days: Complete schedule

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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