Indiana Pacers: Who should be part of the long-term core?

3. Victor Oladipo

Even though he’s been sidelined for the season with a knee injury, the Pacers should aim to keep Victor Oladipo around for the a long, long time. He was a big reason for the team’s success in 2017-18 and gave LeBron James a first-round fight that earned him more respect as an up-and-coming star in the league.

Barring any further health issues, Oladipo should continue to be the lifeblood of this Pacers team when the going gets tough, and at 26, he has the chance to blossom into the franchise’s cornerstone player for years to come. The circumstances that led him to Indiana were unorthodox at best, and it would be wise for the franchise to keep him around and develop his supporting cast.

Before the injury, Oladipo averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in 36 appearances. His 1.7 steals per game also contributed to the defensive-minded identity of this Indiana Pacers team, especially considering that he comfortably led the league in steals in 2017-18 despite only playing 75 games.