2025 Fred, Norm, OG, Pascal & Poeltl starting lineup

[DreamTeam09]

I'd much rather go to war with the roster we have now going fwd. Only one that's truly nice is Pascal

[johanliebert]

First round exit. Everyones fixated on the guy they hate (fred) but this core ran its course. Siakam wouldnt be in the finals if he stayed.

[WaltFrazier]

If they were all on long term contracts and focused on basketball, they could win a round.

The fun question is how far do Fred, OG, Pascal, and Jakob go with a number 1 option. Knocking all of those guys down a notch while having a guy who can score late in the game? They probably go far.

Or, either a really good big point guard who could bump Fred to the bench, or pair with him in backcourt.

[TheAlchemist23]

Nobody besides Siakam could create in the half court.

[kalel123]

If they were all on long term contracts and focused on basketball, they could win a round.

The fun question is how far do Fred, OG, Pascal, and Jakob go with a number 1 option. Knocking all of those guys down a notch while having a guy who can score late in the game? They probably go far.

Or, either a really good big point guard who could bump Fred to the bench, or pair with him in backcourt.

So Haliburton?

[WaltFrazier]

If they were all on long term contracts and focused on basketball, they could win a round.

The fun question is how far do Fred, OG, Pascal, and Jakob go with a number 1 option. Knocking all of those guys down a notch while having a guy who can score late in the game? They probably go far.

Or, either a really good big point guard who could bump Fred to the bench, or pair with him in backcourt.

So Haliburton?

Ideally one who could also defend. Jrue. White. SGA. But it's all fantasy at this point.

[tsherkin]

If they were all on long term contracts and focused on basketball, they could win a round.

The fun question is how far do Fred, OG, Pascal, and Jakob go with a number 1 option. Knocking all of those guys down a notch while having a guy who can score late in the game? They probably go far.

Or, either a really good big point guard who could bump Fred to the bench, or pair with him in backcourt.

So Haliburton?

Hali on that team would have been pretty wild.

[wegotthabeet]

that's a quality starting 5 that doesn't have a go-to player.

1st round, maybe 2nd depending on matchup.

ya, they'd have to make a consolidation trade by trading 2-3 of them plus picks for an upgrade, like they did with Kawhi if the goal is title.

Or just flip the 4th pick in 2021 for a certain pg from Sacramento.

Team in the OP has a 2nd or ECF ceiling. Add Haliburton and that’s as good if not a better version of the current Pacers team.

Haliburton
Vanvleet
Anunoby
Siakam
Pöltl

6th man: Powell

That’s a contender. Golden State messed up the same opportunity. Either they do something like this or should have started to dismantle the team that offseason.

[Jim Todd Jr.]

Trading Norm was the beginning of the downfall for that team. We were already lacking shot creators and then you trade him for a stand still shooter in GTJ.

That kicked off a 3 year span where Masai and Bobby just lost their heads.

bingo

[dublo7]

1st or 2nd round at most. Fred's efficiency has gone down the last two years. He was never super efficient to begin with. Pascal without Hali, Turner and the deep bench Indy has wouldn't be in the finals right now.

OG is good, but he is not the difference maker. Norm has been amazing this past year, but still that backcourt of Norm and Fred would get exploited if they were playing either Indy or OKC right now.

Can't see this line-up getting past the Cavs, Boston or the Knicks.

i agree with all that, except since Knicks have OG and they would at best have RJ, we could beat them.

[dublo7]

I guess Barnes is a super sub coming off the bench in this scenario? If we could team him with 2 other decent bench players yeah 2nd round exit. Don't think they could handle Celts or Cavs. Celts have that starting lineup figured out, from what we've seen.

[dublo7]

If they were all on long term contracts and focused on basketball, they could win a round.

The fun question is how far do Fred, OG, Pascal, and Jakob go with a number 1 option. Knocking all of those guys down a notch while having a guy who can score late in the game? They probably go far.

All we needed to do was sign and trade Kawhi and filler to the Clips for Shai and filler.... Why didn't we think of that before?