- The Indiana Pacers went 35-47 last season
- Bruce Brown left the Nuggets for the Pacers in free agency
- Indiana will have a new starting lineup in 2023-24
The Indiana Pacers finished the 2022-23 campaign with a record of 35-47. They missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season and were in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Pacers made two big moves this offseason, signing Bruce Brown in free agency and acquiring Obi Toppin from the New York Knicks. Brown helped the Denver Nuggets win the 2023 NBA championship over the Miami Heat.
With Brown in the fold, the Pacers project to have a new starting lineup for the 2023-24 season.
Point Guards
Starter: Tyrese Haliburton
Reserve: T.J. McConnell
Tyrese Haliburton made NBA history last season, becoming the first player ever to average at least 20.0 points and 10.0 assists while shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc.
The Sacramento Kings drafted Haliburton with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Kings traded Haliburton to the Pacers in 2022 in the Domantas Sabonis trade and the Iowa State product has blossomed into a star for Indiana.
Haliburton and the Pacers agreed to a five-year extension worth up to $260 million this offseason. The All-Star point guard averaged 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists last season while shooting 49.0% from the field, 40.0% from 3-point land and 87.1% from the free-throw line. Haliburton recorded 32 double-doubles in 56 games.
Shooting Guards
Starter: Bruce Brown
Reserves: Buddy Hield, Ben Sheppard
Bruce Brown signed a two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers this offseason. He was an unrestricted free agent after declining his 2023-24 player option with the Nuggets. The Miami product averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists for the Nuggets in 2022-23 while shooting 48.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 75.8% from the free-throw line.
In the 2023 playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and Heat, Brown put up 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The Boston native averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 boards and 1.0 assists in the NBA Finals versus the Heat. Denver beat Miami in five games to capture its first NBA title in franchise history.
Brown has career averages of 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Nuggets. He has improved his game every year he’s been in the NBA and it appears the Pacers really wanted to get him based on the lucrative deal they offered him.
Small Forwards
Starter: Bennedict Mathurin
Reserves: Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith
The Pacers drafted Bennedict Mathurin with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Arizona product averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists last season in 78 games while shooting 43.4% from the field, 32.3% from beyond the arc and 82.8% from the free-throw line.
Mathurin made the 2022-23 All-Rookie First Team. His best game as a rookie came against the Nets on October 29, 2022. Mathurin scored 32 points while shooting 8-of-16 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3-point land in a nine-point win for the Pacers.
As he gets stronger and more comfortable going up against NBA defenders, Mathurin figures to crack the 20-points-per-game club sooner rather than later for the Pacers.
Power Forwards
Starter: Obi Toppin
Reserves: Jordan Nwora, Jarace Walker
Obi Toppin is one of the best dunkers in the NBA. He won the 2022 Slam Dunk Contest and can jump out of the gym. The Pacers project to be a good fit for Toppin since they have one of the best young floor generals in the NBA in Tyrese Haliburton.
Toppin has career averages of 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists. He was behind Julius Randle in the New York Knicks’ rotation and wanted more playing time.
Hopefully, Toppin has a better relationship with Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle than he did with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, Toppin and Thibodeau got into an intense verbal altercation during the 2023 playoffs. The incident happened after the Knicks lost Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Heat.
“According to league sources who were present, once the final buzzer sounded Toppin aired his grievances to Thibodeau,” Katz wrote. “The 24-year-old wants to play, and he wants to win. That evening, neither happened. An intense verbal altercation occurred between the player and coach as the group trekked to the Kaseya Center visiting locker room in Miami. It spilled into the postgame meeting once the doors closed.”
Toppin averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists last season for the Knicks in 67 games while shooting 44.6% overall, 34.4% from 3, and 80.9% from the foul line.
Centers
Starter: Myles Turner
Reserves: Daniel Theis, Jalen Smith
Myles Turner is an outstanding rebounder and defender. He’s led the NBA in blocks per game twice and can stretch the floor with his improved shooting skills.
Turner put up 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game in 2022-23 for the Pacers while shooting 54.8% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 78.3% from the free-throw line.
Turner will make $20.9 million next season. He signed a two-year, $58 million extension with the Pacers in January 2023. The 27-year-old has career NBA averages of 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.3 blocks.
Turner wants to join the 50/40/90 NBA club next season. The Texas product talked about his “lofty” goal on the “Setting The Pace” podcast.
“Working on multiple things. Obviously, still improving my shot. Get my numbers up there. I really strive to be like a 50/40/90 guy,” Turner said. “I think it’s possible… a lofty goal at that, but something I know I’m capable of doing.”
Turner is certainly capable of achieving this, but he’ll have to stay focused all season long. With his name being out of trade talks, this should be no problem for Turner.
