With eyes on next season, Pacers should act now to find man in middle

The Pacers are staring at a lost season. The question is whether they let it stay lost.

Bobby Marks of ESPN drew a parallel to Toronto’s move for Brandon Ingram last year, when the Raptors dealt for him at 18-34, not for a late push, but to stabilize the roster long term. Toronto avoided losing Ingram for nothing and quickly locked him into a three-year, $120 million extension.

Indiana may be in a similar spot.

With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined after tearing his Achilles and a relentless run of injuries, the Pacers have spiraled. They have already rolled out 25 different starting lineups this season, compared to 18 all of last year, and are tracking toward what could be the worst record in franchise history.

The difference is timeline. Haliburton is expected back next season. Much of Indiana’s 2025 Finals core is under contract. This does not need to be a teardown. It can be a recalibration.

That starts in the middle.

After losing Myles Turner in free agency, the Pacers have cratered in the paint. They rank near the bottom of the league in offensive rebounding, second-chance points, and points in the paint. If Indiana wants to get ahead of next season, addressing the center spot now makes sense.

A little context for perspective: Since 2019, Cleveland, Golden State, and Dallas all reached the Finals, then missed the playoffs the following year.

The Pacers are headed for that same list. What matters is what they do next.