The Indiana Pacers have managed to put together an interesting core that can keep them in constant contention in the playoffs. They’ve built nicely through the Draft without tanking and have added some hard-working players via trade and free agency over the past couple of seasons.
And even though the Pacers have found a couple of diamonds in the rough and players that look poised to become stars of the league, it still feels like they need a superstar that can truly get them over the hump and lead them to their first-ever NBA Championship.
The Pacers are set to have yet another coach to start the season, so it’s likely that he shakes it off a little bit. Still, he can only do so much with the roster he inherited. Today, we’re going to let you know about the projected starting lineup for the 2020-21 Indiana Pacers.
Bench: Aaron Holiday, T.J. McConnell, Jalen Lecque, Jeremy Lamb, Cassius Stanley, Edmond Sumner, Justin Holiday, Kelan Martin, JaKarr Sampson, Brian Bowen, Doug McDermott, Rayshaun Hammonds, Goga Bitadze, Amida Brimah
Point Guard: Malcolm Brogdon
The Milwaukee Bucks regretted letting go of Malcolm Brogdon and for very good reasons. Brogdon is one of the most hard-working and versatile guys you’ll find in the league and he has the ability to fill up the stat sheet and make an impact on both ends of the floor.
Malcolm Brogdon can run the offense or play off the ball. He’s big and long enough to defend both backcourt positions and even some wings. He may not be extremely athletic or crafty, but he’s one of the most intelligent players in the league.
Shooting Guard: Victor Oladipo
There have been a lot of questions regarding Victor Oladipo’s future. It seems like both parties were ready to break up and move on, but Oladipo and his camp have reaffirmed their commitment to the Pacers’ project, for what it’s worth.
Victor Oladipo was coming off a breakout season in which he proved that he could be one of the best two-way studs in the league. Then, multiple injuries held him back and people question his ability to come back to his former level, so he’ll be under a lot of pressure this season.
Small Forward: TJ Warren
TJ Warren has always been a low-profile kind of guy. He broke out as one of the most impressive scorers of the bubble in Orlando, but it doesn’t feel like that kind of production can be sustainable over a full season, especially if defenses focus on him.
But even if he’s not dropping 50-pieces, TJ Warren can still make a huge impact as the team’s third scorer. His three-point shooting improved a lot since his days with the Phoenix Suns and he’s also improving as an on-ball defender. He’s a massive bargain for the Pacers.
Power Forward: Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis couldn’t be on the court when the Indiana Pacers needed him the most last season but he’s back at full strength now. He continues to improve on all aspects of his game and has become a synonym for efficiency since entering the league.
Sabonis is effective and a dominant rebounder on both ends of the floor. His defense continues to be a work in progress but his foot-work, playmaking, and post offense are pretty good. He’s poised to have an All-Star kind of season next year.
Center: Myles Turner
It goes without saying that Myles Turner has the upside and tools to be one of the best two-way big men in the league. Yet, somehow, someway, he still isn’t able to get over the hump and step up in big moments, and that’s hurt his value around the league.
Even so, Turner is one of the NBA’s top-tier rim protectors and defenders. He can guard all the way to the perimeter and can score efficiently from all three levels. He must do a better job of holding his ground below the rim to get those rebound numbers up, though.
Next
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Boston Celtics
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Brooklyn Nets
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Chicago Bulls
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Dallas Mavericks
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Denver Nuggets
