The Indiana Pacers changed course rather quickly ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline. Despite bringing Rick Carlisle back as head coach and having ownership that was hesitant to jump into a rebuild, that is the direction the club went.
Veterans Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert and Torrey Craig were traded ahead of the deadline. Malcolm Brogdon was moved during the offseason. While Myles Turner and Buddy Hield remain on the roster, for now, rumors have swirled for months that both could be on the move eventually as well.
All of those moves were done to improve the long-term outlook of the franchise. The Pacers look to be in great hands with the collection of young players they have put together, which is led by Tyrese Haliburton, who was acquired from the Sacramento Kings in the Sabonis deal.
The franchise has high expectations for Haliburton as many people believe that he can develop into an All-Star. He along with 2022 first-round pick Bennedict Mathurin is garnering a lot of attention and rightfully so.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin & Indiana Pacers Updates
Jalen Smith, who was acquired for Craig, played well and re-signed with the team this offseason. Combined with Isaiah Jackson, Indiana has potential building blocks for the frontcourt.
Sometimes lost in the shuffle is 2021 first-round pick, Chris Duarte. His selection is one that led many people to assume the Pacers would try their best to compete for a playoff spot as he was NBA-ready, already 24 years old when he was picked. One NBA scout that spoke to NBA Analysis Network believes that Duarte is the team’s biggest x-factor for the upcoming season.
“Everyone is talking about Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin in Indiana. But, there is another young player that I believe will take a huge step forward in his second season. That would be Chris Duarte, who I think is a sleeper future elite scorer in the NBA. Watch out for him this year.”
LATEST NBA NEWS: Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin & Indiana Pacers Updates
As a rookie, Duarte averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 28 minutes per game. He knocked down 36.9 percent of his 3-point attempts as well as his game translated well collegiately from Oregon to the next level.
Duarte started 39 of the 55 games that he appeared in last season. He could very well find himself as a staple of the starting lineup once again as the focus of the 2022-23 season in Indiana will be on player development.
