Pre-Draft Outlook
The Pacers are a young team that got significant on-the-job training, qualifying for the playoffs after a three-year drought and reaching the conference finals for the first time in 10. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton solidified his role as Indiana’s star and leader, and a third-team All-NBA selection boosted his contract extension to super-max range. The team is deep and relatively young, with Bennedict Mathurin due back after shoulder surgery. Free agents Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin are their top priorities.
The Way To Go
When the smoke cleared from various go-for-it transactions, such as sending Buddy Hield to Philadelphia and acquiring Siakam from Toronto, the Pacers found themselves without a pick in the first round but a handful in the second. It’s unlikely players selected at No. 36 or later will provide much bump to a team eyeing big things in 2025 and 2026, so one option is to bundle some or all to trade up to the first round. Flipping them for future second-rounders would make sense, too, as would using one to draft and stash a European player.
— Steve Aschburner
Here’s a quick look at Indiana’s current roster entering the Draft:
Under Contract
G: Kendall Brown
G: Tyrese Haliburton
G: T.J. McConnell
G: Ben Sheppard
G/F: Bennedict Mathurin
G/F: Andrew Nembhard
G/F: Aaron Nesmith
F: Isaiah Jackson
F: Jarace Walker
F/C: Jalen Smith
C/F: Myles Turner
Free Agents
G: Quenton Jackson
G: Isaiah Wong
F: James Johnson
F: Doug McDermott
F: Pascal Siakam
F: Obi Toppin
F/C: Jalen Smith
F/C: Oscar Tshiebwe
> 2024 Free Agent Tracker