The 2020-21 Indiana Pacers came within a Play-in victory of reaching the NBA Playoffs, but it was also something of a lost season for the franchise. After five straight postseason appearances and five straight first round exits, Indiana went in another direction on the bench in hiring Nate Bjorkgren, but that experiment was short-lived and major health issues (especially with TJ Warren) held the team back considerably during a maddening campaign. The future is relatively bright, however, as Rick Carlisle arrives to right the ship and the entire core remains under contract.
Beyond the obvious health ramifications, the Pacers have a strong nucleus, though they remain a team with several quality pieces but no transcendent stars. Indiana’s roster lends itself to “best player available player” with a lottery pick, particularly with a relative lack of depth beyond their fully entrenched starters.
Roster Needs: Another wing, health for TJ Warren
Chris Duarte (No. 13 Overall), Grade: B-
In a vacuum, I’m open to Duarte late in the lottery. He’s not for everyone, largely because he’s already 24 years old, but the Oregon standout came to basketball late and he could have some more development coming. The Pacers are perpetually trying to compete, and Duarte can help them do that. I did knock them down by a half-grade because Moses Moody is the superior prospect, and they could’ve taken him.
Isaiah Jackson (No. 22 Overall), Grade: C+
In general, bigs with Jackson’s skill set are relatively replaceable. Still, this is the point of the draft where it starts to be defensible to take Jackson, and he is an intriguing athlete that could be a starting-caliber center in the future. The Pacers have something of a log-jam in the frontcourt with Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and 2019 first-round pick Goga Bitadze, but they might pivot away from Bitadze and/or execute a trade in the near future. Jackson wouldn’t have been my pick, but it’s generally fine. Trading away Aaron Holiday and No. 31 overall isn’t nothing to get to 22, as Indiana clearly has high hopes for Jackson.
2021-22 Roster
Malcolm Brogdon
Domantas Sabonis
Myles Turner
Caris LeVert
TJ Warren
Jeremy Lamb
Chris Duarte
Justin Holiday
Isaiah Jackson
Goga Bitadze
Oshae Brissett (non-guaranteed)
Kelan Martin (non-guaranteed)
2021 Free Agents
Amida Brimah (RFA)
TJ McConnell (UFA)
Doug McDermott (UFA)
JaKarr Sampson (UFA)
Cassius Stanley (RFA)
Edmond Sumner (Team Option)
