This past off-season for the Indiana Pacers has been a roller-coaster. From getting a new head coach to trade rumors and free agency signings. The Pacers have truly been apart of it all. In reality, what should the Pacers do to become a top tier team in the Eastern Conference in the future?
New Year, Same Result
Welp, for the second year in a row the Pacers got swept in the first round of the playoffs. This year it was in large part due to the injuries of Oladipo and Sabonis. I am not saying that Indiana would have won the series with the two of them in the lineup. The series would have been a lot different if the two of them were healthy.
Indiana thrives off of shooting from mid-range. The mid-range shot is supposedly the worse shot in today’s modern-day basketball. Due to that, the Pacers just looked lost offensively and had no counter to the Heat’s defensive schemes. Myles Turner would never try to take advantage of his mismatches in the post until game four and at that point, the series was pretty much over anyway.
At some point, one has to blame that on coaching right? Due to lack of adjustment and to in-game assignments. Nate McMillan has never proven to be a consistent winner with Indiana. He got swept in the first round of the playoffs three out of the past four years. That is alarming to the front office and means that something needs to change.
New Face for Pacers
The Pacers fired Nate McMillan after four seasons. Under McMillan, the Pacers never made it out of the first round in the playoffs.
The Pacers then hired Nate Bjorkgren as their new head coach. He most recently served as an assistant for the Toronto Raptors when they won the NBA Championship in 2019.
OFFICIAL: We have hired Nate Bjorkgren as our new head coach. Bjorkgren most recently served as an assistant on the Toronto Raptors, who won the NBA Championship during the 2018-19 season. Welcome to Indiana, Coach Bjorkgren!
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 20, 2020
More info >> https://t.co/Ol4LiOzMcM pic.twitter.com/LnNF4wy79P
High praise has been discussed for the new Pacers head coach.
On this week's Sideline Guys Podcast, @PatBoylanPacers and @JJFSINDIANA welcome in Raptors broadcaster Eric Smith to get the low down on new head coach Nate Bjorkgren.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 22, 2020
Listen & Subscribe: https://t.co/7lDCJGFH2W
SoundCloud: https://t.co/dH8pUD6i37 pic.twitter.com/NUWDCvvaaF
The Plan going forward
The Pacers brand of basketball of the past couple of years just has not worked. Hopefully, a new coach will solve that problem. At the same time, I believe that a rebuild could potentially be good for this franchise. They have been stuck in the middle of mediocrity for several years, and with contracts expiring soon, one has to wonder if these players going to stay in Indiana.
There has already been speculation about Oladipo is wanting to leave Indy, but that came out to be false. Myles Turner has been another name that has been thrown around in the trade market and personally, I do not think it is that bad of an idea. He is under contract through the 2022-23 season but has not propelled his game the way the fanbase has been expecting him to.
He has been a liability offensively for the Pacers as of late. With him still being young (only 24 years old) his value is still high in the trade market. If they were going to trade Turner, I would hope they get draft picks out of the deal. Next year’s draft class is supposed to have a lot of talent in it, along with the draft after that. Trading for draft picks and getting some young talent in the organization would be huge for the future.
The Pacers have already gotten a head start on getting young talent. Most recently by trading T.J Leaf and a future second round draft pick for Jalen Lecque.
The Pacers are trading F TJ Leaf a future second-round pick to OKC for Lecque, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 22, 2020
Leaf never could find himself consistently apart of the Pacers rotation. This move is not surprising. Lecque was a highly touted high school recruit that has not found much success in the NBA yet.
Best Offseason Moves for Pacers
The Pacers best move this offseason was the re-signing of Justin Holiday. Holiday had arguably his best season last year. His stats might say otherwise, but just from watching him play last year, he had a lot of confidence when on the court. It was a major goal of theirs this offseason to resign him to a longer contract.
ICYMI: We re-signed F/G @JustHolla7 to a contract ?
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 24, 2020
Welcome back, Justin! https://t.co/yC8VCgcwao
The Pacers then selected Cassius Stanley from Duke with their 2nd round draft pick. I like this pick up as the picks in the 2nd round are limited, they went ahead and picked up a big guard from a blue blood basketball program. It is unknown of course how well Stanley’s game will translate to the NBA, but I like the move with their late draft pick.
Welcome to the team, @cassius_stanley!
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 19, 2020
Let's get to work ?#PacersDraft2020 pic.twitter.com/LRoCdD1ku5
Bright things are to come for the Pacers franchise. I believe they will make the right moves to become a contender once again.
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