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Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
Aug 3, 2025 2:10 PM EDT
The Indiana Pacers, after running the gauntlet in the playoffs and making the NBA Finals on the backs of Tyrese Haliburton’s heroics, could have run things back next season.
Yes, with Haliburton’s Achilles injury, the Pacers would have had a tough time competing in the Eastern Conference, although Andrew Nembhard can play point.
Instead, the Pacers failed to add any sort of big name to replace Haliburton’s scoring impact and let Myles Turner walk in free agency, seemingly just because they did not want to pay the luxury tax.
Indiana was urged to explore moves to bolster their backcourt, but instead, their biggest addition was center Jay Huff, who isn’t exactly a star.
It turns out the Pacers explored trading for Lonzo Ball as a stopgap point guard.
“Indiana re-signed Quenton Jackson and gave Lonzo Ball a courtesy look in trade talks but ultimately passed on every major backcourt option on the market,” wrote ClutchPoints‘ Rohan Brahmbhatt. “A temporary starting five of Bennedict Mathurin, TJ McConnell, Siakam, and Isaiah Jackson with Jay Huff at center might be serviceable, but without a true orchestrator, the offense will sputter.”
Nembhard can run point, but is best served as a secondary facilitator. When the Pacers struck out on Ball, although their interest was low to begin with, they were urged to target a high-level restricted free agent who wouldn’t have come cheap but wouldn’t have broken the bank, either.
“Giddey, with his unique combination of size (6’8”), court vision, and rebounding, could’ve served as both a bridge and a building block,” suggested Brahmbhatt.
Josh Giddey isn’t the best defender, but with Aaron Nesmith and Nembhard on the wings, his shortcomings could have been masked. Instead of trying to compete, the Pacers ended their season before it even started.
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Jonah Kubicek