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Indiana Pacers: 2017-18 NBA season preview

By Adrian Lawhorn

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 08: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 08: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images /

Storyline 1: The end of the Paul George era

This was not at all what the Pacers had planned when the offseason began, but Paul George’s declaration that he did not want to be in Indiana long-term changed the direction of the entire franchise.

Gone is the grand scheme to build a team around Paul George that could potentially contend in the Eastern Conference. Instead, the Pacers are now targeting younger players who have yet to fully blossom in the NBA.

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Once George made his future intentions known, it completely changed both the makeup of the roster and the goals the team had for this season and beyond.

Kevin Pritchard was initially hoping to add multiple veteran performers to team up with George, but the new directive has him looking at players who fit a certain criteria: young, talented and perhaps underutilized and not fully developed.

Victor Oladipo, Bojan Bogdanovic, Domantas Sabonis and Cory Joseph are among the team’s new players who will put their stamp on the next era of Pacers basketball.

Some of the club’s returning talent will now be asked to play bigger roles than they have in the past — Myles Turner and Lance Stephenson in particular.

The 2017-18 season represents a fresh start for the Indiana Pacers, and while they will initially take a step back in the win column, the team looks to be building something that Pacers fans can be proud of.

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