NBA Power Rankings Preseason Edition: Lakers moves lead the way
. Indiana Pacers. 17. team. 100. .
Last Season: 34-38, 9th in Eastern Conference
The Indiana Pacers have the same modus operandi every single season. While this team would love to win a title, they simply want to be in the playoffs and competitive year after year. Last year was unique in that they just missed out on the playoffs, a product of simply being riddled with injuries.
Their offseason was about consolidating their place and setting out on the same path of “competitive” once again. Doug McDermott left in free agency but they replaced him with Torrey Craig and drafted Chris Duarte. They also re-signed fan favorite TJ McConnel. This team just wants to make the playoffs, and they probably will.
Key Offseason Move: Drafting Chris Duarte. The Pacers didn’t want to wait around for a prospect to develop, so instead they went for the most NBA-ready player in the draft in Oregon’s Chris Duarte. He has the complete NBA package, from shooting to playmaking to defense. The problem is that he is 24 years old already before playing a single NBA minute, and players drafted at that age rarely pan out.
The Pacers really need Duarte to not only be something, but to be that right away. TJ Warren is going to miss the start of the season recovering from injury, and Caris LeVert might as well. Add int he loss of McDermott and the Pacers will be very shallow on the wing. They will need Duarte to step in and potentially start from the very beginning.