RUMOR: Suns still interested in Pacers’ T.J. While linear progression isn't guaranteed, one would think Chris Duarte could continue playing a huge role especially with the Pacers neck-deep in a rebuild after dealing away Sabonis for Tyrese Haliburton. He went in and out of the lineup due to injury, but whenever he was on the court, he was still racking up the points totals.ĭuring his rookie campaign, he averaged 13.1 points and 4.1 rebounds on 43.2 percent from three and 36.9 percent from deep. But since then, it has been a topsy-turvy road for Duarte. He began his career in such a promising manner, scoring 27 points on 9-15 shooting (6-9 from deep), looking like the player the team had envisioned when they selected him high in the draft. Never mind that Duarte was already 24 at the time of selection.Īnd to begin his Pacers career, Duarte looked like a long-term keeper. Duarte would provide some instant offense for the team on the wing, as he put up 17.1 points on 53.2 percent shooting from the field during his senior year at Oregon. In the end, the Pacers selected Chris Duarte, one of the older prospects in the draft, with that pick. At the very least, there was precedent that Indiana could pluck a high-level contributor with the 13th pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. They picked Paul George with the 10th pick in 2010, and Turner remains a quality starter for the franchise entering his ninth season in the league. The Pacers' recent track record when it came to drafting towards the back-end of the lottery was promising. They fell to the Washington Wizards during the play-in tournament, guaranteeing that they would be picking in the lottery for the first time since selecting Turner with the 11th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft. However, injuries to key players, not to mention the increasingly iffy fit between Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, didn't help matters at all in that regard.
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Pacers' biggest mistake during 2023 NBA free agency: Dumping Chris Duarte to the Sacramento Kings for scrapsĭuring the 2020-21 season, the Indiana Pacers expected to, once again, compete for a spot in the playoffs. Here is the Pacers' biggest mistake during the 2023 NBA free agency period, although it's worth mentioning that this “mistake” shouldn't be too detrimental to the franchise's future.
Overall, Indiana had an A+ worthy offseason - but one move stands out as less-than-ideal when taking into account the entire chain of decisions that went into a certain deal. The Pacers could enter next season with at least two solid contributors at every position while boasting quality depth behind those players as well. Meanwhile, Isaiah Jackson may be primed for a big third season if he continues to make strides on both ends of the floor. Ben Sheppard, the Pacers' other first-rounder, has shown incredible feel for the game much like sophomore guard Andrew Nembhard has. Jarace Walker looks the part of a long-term keeper, emerging as a strong defender and a dynamic passer at the power forward position. The Pacers extended Tyrese Haliburton, handing him the keys to the franchise for the foreseeable future, while adding the likes of Bruce Brown and Obi Toppin, players who should flourish playing in an unselfish system in Indianapolis.Įven the performances of their youngsters during Summer League only serves to add more fuel to that fire.
A look at the moves they have made thus far during the 2023 NBA free agency period reinforces the notion that the Pacers shouldn't be too far away from contending for a playoff spot and perhaps even making some noise once there. The Indiana Pacers have had one of the best offseasons in the entire NBA.
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