2024 Off-Season

[Wizop]

I’ve got questions about Mathurin’s fit on Pacers post Siakum trade.
I don’t see him playing ahead of either Nembhard or Nesmith. As a defender he’s way below those two.

Have you watched his exit interview on YouTube yet? He knows what he needs to work on.

[JeffFosters]

I’d really like to see Mathurin take the starting 2 spot and have Nembhard anchor the second unit. Bench minutes were an issue during the playoffs but you’d imagine they’d be better with Nembhard.

[8305]

I’ve got questions about Mathurin’s fit on Pacers post Siakum trade.
I don’t see him playing ahead of either Nembhard or Nesmith. As a defender he’s way below those two.

Have you watched his exit interview on YouTube yet? He knows what he needs to work on.

I haven’t, but assume he mentioned improving his defense. He’s certainly a good enough athlete to to defend.
If this team brings Obie back, you are looking at Shepherd, Jarace and Benn competing for two backup spots in the wing.

[Grang33r]

I haven’t, but assume he mentioned improving his defense. He’s certainly a good enough athlete to to defend.
If this team brings Obie back, you are looking at Shepherd, Jarace and Benn competing for two backup spots in the wing.

Yeah exactly that. He knows he needs to improve on defense and he's taking it personal.

[Pacers Forever]

I’ve got questions about Mathurin’s fit on Pacers post Siakum trade.
I don’t see him playing ahead of either Nembhard or Nesmith. As a defender he’s way below those two.
Also have a tough time seeing him on the floor with Pascal and Tyrese. You’re not going to give the ball to Benn at the expense of Pascal/Tyrese touches. Sure there’s an off the bench role for him but what this team could really use off the bench is a defensive stopper.
I wonder if anyone sees a prospect in this draft they would take for Benn?
Stephan Castle, Ben Holland?
Do Pacers still a bigger upside to Benn than Nembhard?

I believe the Pacers are very high on Ben Mathurin and he is untouchable currently. He played well at the all star weekend. He was having a good second season until the injury.

I think they believe he will be a scoring threat/option of the future and they’ll give him this next season to breakout. I also think if he doesn’t improve defensively he’ll be a valuable asset to trade in the future due to his offensive ability.

As for upside Nembhard has had flashes of his ability and this season broke out in the playoffs. I believe he’s ahead of Mathurin in development, however I believe he defers a lot to other players until forced to be the man. He made himself untouchable this season and probably for quite a while.

Mathurin needs to learn to defer at times to get in the flow of the offense and let his teammates get him shot opportunities instead of him trying to create repeatedly on drives. His 3 point shooting percentage went up this season.

[JMaster5K]

I’ve got questions about Mathurin’s fit on Pacers post Siakum trade.
I don’t see him playing ahead of either Nembhard or Nesmith. As a defender he’s way below those two.

Have you watched his exit interview on YouTube yet? He knows what he needs to work on.

I haven’t, but assume he mentioned improving his defense. He’s certainly a good enough athlete to to defend.
If this team brings Obie back, you are looking at Shepherd, Jarace and Benn competing for two backup spots in the wing.

There are a couple of things that no one questions about Benn,... his heart and his work ethic. His understanding of how to play on this type of passing game team (on both ends) needs more work. His NBA defense in our scheme needs more work. It's just me, but I have no doubts that he will improve. It's just a matter of when & how. His basketball IQ is very good. He just lacks experience & reps in this type of system where he isn't the focal point of the team on either end.

Based on what we saw this year, I think his best fits are as the primary scorer on the bench; or if he's starting at the 3. His ball movement & off ball movement hamper his effectiveness at the 2 next to creative ball-handlers like Ty or Andrew. He's a much better fit next to TJ, who is always in attack mode getting to the paint, or clearing for another player to attack. He might be the best ISO player on the roster (probably only behind Pascal)? But the Pacers aren't an ISO team.

Can he adjust? I'd put good money on yes. I haven't been 'all in' on him this season. But, looking at how this team has played in the playoffs with Pascal, when his understanding improves, he looks like a better fit moving forward than he was at the start of the season. Kinda high on him, or at least what he could be on this current Pacers team, at the moment. Hope his defense improves. Hope that he could get close to equal with Nesmith on defense. If he can, then he probably moves Aaron to the bench, making this team so tough on the wing. (yes, he's only 6'4.5" barefoot, but at 210#, with his 6'9 wingspan & 8'8" standing reach,... he's got the size for a typical 3, which would only magnify his speed, quickness, & explosiveness advantages.)

Just my $.02,... wouldn't be the first time I was wrong,... today, but I definitely wouldn't bet against him.

I'm actually kinda hoping that Andrew goes back to the bench behind Ty & someone, probably Shep, starts at the 2? If he improves that much and earns it, gives us a good guard rotation, with 3 primaries,.. and TJ still able to get sorta 16 minutes a night as the spark. If Benn then starts at the 3, Nesmith coming off the bench, at 24-28 minutes a night depending on matchups,... this team just gets harder & harder to match up against on either end. Lot of 'if's',... but that's how it is with a young team.

[Wizop]

I'm actually kinda hoping that Andrew goes back to the bench behind Ty & someone, probably Shep, starts at the 2?

if we're running it back without a new starting quality addition, I keep the same rotation for the fall at least.

Haliburton, McConnell
Nembhard, Sheppard
Nesmith, Mathurin
Siakam, Toppin
Turner, Jackson

I'd do the hockey substitution rather than trying to keep one of Ty and P on the floor at all times. I'd give the second unit heavy minutes and try to run the legs off the other team. I keep thinking about Doug Moe's Denver teams.

Bob Knight had a rule that if a bench player was the best player in the first half, he got to start the second half. why? because he'd had a big first half once playing for OSU and hadn't been rewarded for it in the second half. I don't believe in substituting completely by the clock. you play the guys who have it that night and sit the players that screw up. Carlisle said yesterday that minutes had to be earned and I agree.

[8305]

if we're running it back without a new starting quality addition, I keep the same rotation for the fall at least.

Haliburton, McConnell
Nembhard, Sheppard
Nesmith, Mathurin
Siakam, Toppin
Turner, Jackson
.

That leaves Walker outside a 10 man rotation. Not sure that makes sense given the lottery level investment that's been made in him. Not sure I'd bring Toppin back for that reason. I think there is probably a decent payday waiting for him? I also wonder if Pacers won't look to extend Turner much like Boston did with Holiday sometime next season.

[8305]

I haven’t, but assume he mentioned improving his defense. He’s certainly a good enough athlete to to defend.
If this team brings Obie back, you are looking at Shepherd, Jarace and Benn competing for two backup spots in the wing.

Yeah exactly that. He knows he needs to improve on defense and he's taking it personal.

It will be interesting to see if he can make himself into a plus defender. If he can bend his talent to fit team needs we really have something and can begin to think about competing with Boston. He's go a lot of work to do though.

[Wizop]

if we're running it back without a new starting quality addition, I keep the same rotation for the fall at least.

Haliburton, McConnell
Nembhard, Sheppard
Nesmith, Mathurin
Siakam, Toppin
Turner, Jackson
.

That leaves Walker outside a 10 man rotation. Not sure that makes sense given the lottery level investment that's been made in him.

I suppose you could move Mathurin up as the backup 2 replacing Sheppard and make Walker the backup 3, but I believe he has to earn that spot and not have it handed to him just because he was drafted higher than Sheppard.

[JMaster5K]

if we're running it back without a new starting quality addition, I keep the same rotation for the fall at least.

Haliburton, McConnell
Nembhard, Sheppard
Nesmith, Mathurin
Siakam, Toppin
Turner, Jackson
.

That leaves Walker outside a 10 man rotation. Not sure that makes sense given the lottery level investment that's been made in him.

I suppose you could move Mathurin up as the backup 2 replacing Sheppard and make Walker the backup 3, but I believe he has to earn that spot and not have it handed to him just because he was drafted higher than Sheppard.

I like the rotation above. I still hope Shep earns the start, but in any case,.. happy either way. Also like the versatility that lineup provides,... gives coach the flexibility to play wings based on matchups, giving everyone the best chance to succeed.

Next year Walker is 21. I'm ok with him being outside the standard 10 man rotation, but getting 'consistent' fill in minutes. In my mind,... which I will agree is probably a bit warped,... Walker has a higher upside than many of the rookies that contributed this year, and are likely to contribute next. But, I think it's going to take a bit longer for him to realize that potential?

[JMaster5K]

Pacers offseason episode of Run it Back. There is a point in this where Chams compares Benn to Jimmy Butler & Donovan Mitchell, saying he can be that level of player.

Watch on YouTube

[Scoot McGroot]

if we're running it back without a new starting quality addition, I keep the same rotation for the fall at least.

Haliburton, McConnell
Nembhard, Sheppard
Nesmith, Mathurin
Siakam, Toppin
Turner, Jackson
.

That leaves Walker outside a 10 man rotation. Not sure that makes sense given the lottery level investment that's been made in him. Not sure I'd bring Toppin back for that reason. I think there is probably a decent payday waiting for him? I also wonder if Pacers won't look to extend Turner much like Boston did with Holiday sometime next season.

Because of Myles Turners renegotiation and extension last year and the time restrictions from when he could next extend or renegotiate, Myles Turner cannot legally extend or renegotiate with Indy or anyone else before he hits free agency. Myles is guaranteed to hit free agency. There’s nothing we, or anyone else, can do to change that.

[8305]

if we're running it back without a new starting quality addition, I keep the same rotation for the fall at least.

Haliburton, McConnell
Nembhard, Sheppard
Nesmith, Mathurin
Siakam, Toppin
Turner, Jackson
.

That leaves Walker outside a 10 man rotation. Not sure that makes sense given the lottery level investment that's been made in him.

I suppose you could move Mathurin up as the backup 2 replacing Sheppard and make Walker the backup 3, but I believe he has to earn that spot and not have it handed to him just because he was drafted higher than Sheppard.

I don’t see it as a Walker vs Shephard vs Mathurin. I see it more as, does it make sense to make an investment in a rotation guy ( Toppin) when you have a young cheap replacement who needs minutes (Walker). It would also make sense to save the salary space for the next Myles Turner contract.

[Wizop]

I don’t see it as a Walker vs Shephard vs Mathurin. I see it more as, does it make sense to make an investment in a rotation guy ( Toppin) when you have a young cheap replacement who needs minutes (Walker). It would also make sense to save the salary space for the next Myles Turner contract.

I think the very best thing that could happen would be for Walker to become the big 3 we all want. If he does, we need obi as a 4.

[Scoot McGroot]

Read on Twitter

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[Wizop]

I'll add that some of the trade ideas are what I call fantasy basketball. We're way ahead of schedule having done in one year what we thought would take three but the object is not to win a trade contest.

[Grang33r]

Pacers offseason episode of Run it Back. There is a point in this where Chams compares Benn to Jimmy Butler & Donovan Mitchell, saying he can be that level of player.

Watch on YouTube

That is crazy good praise. Damn.

[Grang33r]

[
That leaves Walker outside a 10 man rotation.

Besides potential, theres nothing Walker has really done to be penciled in right now. When last season started, coach Carlisle mentioned how he had a heart to heart talk with TJM about him being 3rd string. Players can earn more time or lose it based on performance. I'm intrigued about Walker but in garbage time vs the Knicks Brown came on before Walker.

[JMaster5K]

[
That leaves Walker outside a 10 man rotation.

Besides potential, theres nothing Walker has really done to be penciled in right now. When last season started, coach Carlisle mentioned how he had a heart to heart talk with TJM about him being 3rd string. Players can earn more time or lose it based on performance. I'm intrigued about Walker but in garbage time vs the Knicks Brown came on before Walker.

I agree with you. He's not done anything wrong. At this point - at least for me, he is far, far away from a bust. He's just got to get to the point where his total game earns playing time. Until then, it's going to be spot minutes. TBF,... Walker was around the same age (slightly younger?) when he was drafted as Myles & I-Jax. Myles played for Rick Barnes at Texas, a very good system for developing NBA players. He averaged 10 pnts, 5.5 rbs, in just over 20 minutes a game,... as a starter. We didn't really have anyone else in 15-16. Our frontcourt rotation was Myles, Shayne Whittington, Raheem Christmas, Lavoy Allen, Ian Mahinmi, & Jordan Hill. I-Jax was 8 pts, 4 rbs, in 15 minutes. He came from KY under coach Cal,... again, another NBA friendly system.

With both Myles and I-Jax, we didn't really begin to see consistent, every game, positive contribution (regardless of playing time) until they got to their 3rd years. (Really, the end of this last year - his third year for I-Jax). I don't really expect Walker to develop faster than Myles or I-Jax?