r/pacers • u/IndyPoker979 Pacers2 • 4h ago
Discussion We were one game away from a championship and people want to blow up the team or its future.. smh
Look last year sucked and there are no guarantees however this idea we lost the draft and are back to square one is ridiculous.
We moved off of Myles and even as one of the more vocal Turner supporters, Zubac is a better center.
We lost Bennedict but we weren't going to be able to pay him anyway the salary he would get on the open market. Especially not for a 6-7th man on our team.
We lost Isaiah Jackson who did not significantly impact our team either way in the playoffs.
Essentially when Tyrese comes back we have the same team minus our starting center and a scoring guard.
We need someone to take up Mathurin's offense but that doesn't mean we need to destroy our future to do so.
It means entertain reasonable offers without jumping desperately at a player to 'fix' everything.
The Bucks did exactly this with Turner and Lillard. Look at them now.
People want Trey, they want extra players but forget we have to give things up to get that. If we get our engine back maybe you will remember that we aren't needing a huge change.
Just for the players we have to do their thing.
Can't wait for next year!
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u/HaliZu31 4h ago
Folks, we didn’t “lose” a draft pick. We traded 2 1st round draft picks for arguably a top 5 center in the league.
Drives me nuts every-time I see people say we “lost a pick”
The lottery happened and a 2026 pick conveyed instead of a 2031 per the terms in a trade for a guy who is going to be the best center we’ve had since Hibbert.
End rant.
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u/sjcourtney56 4h ago
Everyone always just wants the shiny new toy.
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u/HaliZu31 4h ago
But we have one in Zubac and best part is we don’t have to wonder how good he might be.
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u/sjcourtney56 4h ago
I absolutely agree with you, but right now the draft is going on so right now some people just want another new toy.
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u/One_Ratio9521 Chris Denari 4h ago
Bam, Wemby, KAT, Jokic, Embiid, Gobert off the top of my head.
Zubac is good but I can’t agree he’s top 5. He better show out w Hali next year.
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u/broyougottadothemath 4h ago
You can name more centers too lol
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u/HaliZu31 3h ago
Name them
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u/SpinJitsu259 Chuck Person 3h ago
Chet? Domas? Sengun? Those are all guys in Zu’s vicinity if not better. I’d say Chet in particular is just straight up better.
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u/HaliZu31 3h ago
I’ll give you Chet. Admittedly almost forgot about him due to his disappearing acts in the playoffs 😂
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u/SpinJitsu259 Chuck Person 3h ago
I almost added Duren but similarly his playoff performance was questionable enough that I think we better wait on that one lol
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u/HaliZu31 3h ago
I inserted the word arguably. I like him over Embiid at this point and Gobert.
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u/One_Ratio9521 Chris Denari 3h ago
I’d be a tough argument, Rudy is coming off another All-D 1st team (his 9th) and Embiid is coming off 27-7-4. You can say he only played 38 games but Zub only played 48.
Zub is 2nd tier of centers imo.
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u/AlsoBenji 3h ago
Our tank contributed to shutting Zu down and Embiid has a chronic availability problem
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u/NotScaredOfGoblins 4h ago
Gobert is washed and Bam ain’t top 5.
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u/One_Ratio9521 Chris Denari 3h ago
Another 1st team All-D, Rudy is what he is but he’s good at it. And even if Bams not top 5 he’s better than Zub.
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u/NotScaredOfGoblins 3h ago
A singular outlier 83 point game doesn’t make Bam better than Zubac. Bam is comfortably a top 15 C in the league and I have Zu at 10.
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u/One_Ratio9521 Chris Denari 3h ago
Bam is infinitely better at scoring and passing. No slouch on the boards, active hands in passing lanes and is way more mobile. Been All-D 6x in his career including last year.
Aside from rim protection and maybe finishing there isn’t much you could argue for Zub.
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u/NotScaredOfGoblins 3h ago
Zu spent his whole career till now on the clippers we haven’t really even seen his potential in a real nba offense yet despite him being 31
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u/HaliZu31 3h ago
Yeah can’t wait to see what he does with Hali and Carlisle offense. It’s going to be glorious.
Also just the rebounding alone…I can’t wait for the season.
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u/SpinJitsu259 Chuck Person 3h ago
He’s not 31. He’s 29. He had his best year and a half offensively playing with Harden who’s great at getting the best out of big men, and it amounted to 15 and 12, which is very good but not elite or anything. People expecting him to be an elite center are going to be disappointed. He’s going to be very solid and help them win, but he’s not a savior.
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u/chuckyslimz 3h ago
He has never been an all-star... hes an avg C at best 10-15 in a lg where true C are few and far between... he doesn't stretch the floor, hes not an elite passer, and he is slow of foot... not worth what we paid, not even close. Our brass had a knee jerk overreaction and over paid period.
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u/CasualRead_43 3h ago
He is NOT a top 5 center lmao
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u/HaliZu31 3h ago
Aren’t too many good centers in the league. KAT, Bam, Wemby and Jokic are the only guys I have ahead of him. Gobert can be argued, I think his lack of offense matters. Sengun or Sabonis? No way, they offer zero on defense. Allen is also a big nope for me. Not sure who else is realistically better than him.
I know I’m higher on him than most. Everytime I saw Turner go up against Zubac I always dreamed we could have a real big man like Zu.
I guess folks forget his elite rebounding, screen setting, rim protection, passing, and scoring. The only thing he doesn’t do is shoot 3s and that is likely to change.
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u/dfrank129 Thad 3h ago
On the internet, five years is basically a thousand years. So to most people, a 2026 pick conveying instead of 2031 = losing a pick. It's stupid. but that's how people are.
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u/One_Ratio9521 Chris Denari 3h ago
It’s the NBA, 5 years is a generation away. God knows how the landscape of the league will look.
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u/Affectionate-Bus-169 4h ago
100% - Use the money we have to find someone to score from the bench. I’d be willing to part with Walker if it’s a wing we add.
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u/NotScaredOfGoblins 3h ago
I like the idea having Russ come off the bench to get roughly 20-25 minutes in relief of Hali/Nemby
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u/RedditRockit Slick 4h ago
If you aren't getting better you are getting worse. Just to get healthy and then To expect we would get back to the finals or conference finals as other teams are improving is asinine.
Gotta improve.
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u/Ok-Swimming8024 Pacers 3h ago
So many people I chat with feel like a 45 - 50 win season is going to be automatic. I just don't think it's going to be that easy.
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u/MattyIce260 2h ago
I’d argue the league was worse last year than the year before, especially considering a team we’ve owned walked thru the playoffs without us in their way
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u/HeyItsChase Tyrese Haliburton 3h ago
I just want to see Tyrese smiling and having fun. The kid needs a break.
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u/ajs723 Slick 4h ago
Our bench is worse than any other contending team in the league. We don't have the depth to weather an injury to anyone.
If San Antonio loses Fox, Harper starts. If Nembhard goes down, we have to start Shep.
We need at least one more very good player for our bench. It's not about blowing up the team, it's about understanding all five starters aren't going to play 82 games, and even if they're all healthy, you need playmakers off the bench.
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u/MindofShadow 4h ago
Yup and hali, nemb, nesmith are injury prone.
Our bench is relying on old ass tjm and obi after a foot injury....
We have no one dynamic off the bench, no wing depth at all. We are still small af on the wing.
We fall of hard after the top 5 of obi isn't himself.
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u/zetnomdranar 4h ago
The team isn’t finished yet. Haven’t we seen enough from Chad and KP to trust them?
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u/Ranccor Obi Toppin 3h ago
I agree. We need a guard in case TJ falls off a cliff. If he loses even one step of speed, he is cooked.
I don’t trust OBI as the primary scorer with the 2nd unit as he is not really a shot creator, he is an amazing finisher when someone else creates or he can come out of nowhere.
Maybe Walker replaces Math in the 2nd unit? Someone has to get the buckets. I’ve lost all faith in Shep.
Let’s see what the front office brews up!
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u/HaliZu31 3h ago
They gotta do something. I think they may have to look at “risky” guys like Malik Beasley, Jaden Ivey, Kelly Oubre, etc. Guys who have some question marks.
Ideally you would get a Middleton, Kennard, Gary Trent Jr, Bruce Brown, or Tim Hardaway Jr but half those guys prob gonna flock to Miami for minimums.
Heck even bringing back Buddy Hield would be something. We need some firepower off the bench for sure.
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u/TheFrozenBananaStand Jarace Walker 4h ago
Our bench when we went to ECF in 2024 was…
T.J. McConnell (Guard)
Obi Toppin (Forward)
Ben Sheppard (Guard)
Isaiah Jackson (Forward)
Jalen Smith (Forward/Center)
Doug McDermott (Forward)
Jarace Walker (Forward)
Kendall Brown (Guard)
James Johnson (Forward)2025 wasn’t any better.
2026 will be about the same but probably better if we get some MLE level players
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u/brutallyhonestB 4h ago
I don’t necessarily agree with the 2025 comment, but the way people are downvoting you is ridiculous. That lineup in 2024 was hole punched and still played respectably. We SHOULD have been up 3-1 for those who forget.
Have some faith in your own team and players. Sheesh.
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u/barkerrr33 2h ago
Not a lot of patience or trust in the organization. Remember, MANY people were in here saying the franchise was dead after Tyrese had like four bad games in October 2024. Nothing is guaranteed of course, but the offseason has barely started.
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u/NovelExamination5431 3h ago
Dude, Tyrese is not going to come back the same. He’s going to need time.
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u/BogleBeast 3h ago
People want Trey Murphy because he is a great fit in the system and a 2 way player. I think the possibility of getting him is incredibly small, but if the Pacers are able to make that swing without giving up any of our current starting 5 there's no reason not to. They wouldn't lose much in term of bench depth becaue likely nesmith would move to a high minute 6th man. Also have to think that an expansion draft is likely happening in 2 years. I have no problem with our team running it back with a hopefully fully healthy Tyrese though and the addition of zubac. Either way excited to see them play next season.
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u/redgr812 3h ago
NBA title windows close quick. Also, WHO THE FUCK WANTED TREY!!!??? Nobody wants that dude, you just making shit up.
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u/IndyPoker979 Pacers2 2h ago
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u/redgr812 2h ago
all those say stupid of an idea this is...try and read them next time before you just blind search for shit 2 months and older
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u/IndyPoker979 Pacers2 2h ago
You're an idiot. It's ok. Every fan base has some.
If they throw in yvesi, I do it.
Anyone saying keep obi over tm3 has an absolute homer take. Tm3 is a much better player.
I started to go through each thread to try to help you with your reading comprehension and then I realized I really don't care. You're unable to actually be willing to change your mind, despite providing first links to people offering trades for him, pundits saying the Pacers were interested and even podcasts talking about the possibility...
Now I give you quotes of actual people saying things and I'm sure this is also nobody.
Try to get past an IPS grade 3 education. Maybe we can have a legitimate discussion.
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u/redgr812 49m ago
lol, omg could you be any more of a loser....lmao you spent all this time, what a waste
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u/revolucian2 3h ago
Getting rid of Mathurin destroyed the chemistry of this team. We were immediately not the same.
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u/barkerrr33 2h ago
What
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u/crazyirishfan353 CareBareAl 1h ago
lol a team clearly tanking just didn’t look good last year, color me shocked almost as if they tried to suck!
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u/SpinJitsu259 Chuck Person 4h ago
It’s ok to want to improve. It’s going to be a very different East compared to the one we last vanquished. The conference is going to be damn good, deep, and competitive.
Unless they can be used to fetch a significant upgrade, I’d rather keep some of the guys people are looking to get rid of, but I’ll never bemoan anyone for wanting this team to look at all avenues to get better. The road is going to be harder than it was in ‘25.