Indiana Pacers

After five straight first-round playoff exits, the Indiana Pacers will hope the Nate Bjorkgren era will be different.

The team moved on from Frank Vogel after being eliminated in 2016, but Nate McMillan couldn't find any more success in his four years with the team. He was fired after a four-game sweep by the Miami Heat, representing nine straight postseason losses dating back to 2018.

The good news is there is still a lot of talent on the roster capable of making a deep run in the Eastern Conference.

Domantas Sabonis earned his first All-Star selection this season while averaging 18.5 points, 12.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. The 24-year-old wasn't available during the restart because of a foot injury, but he should once again make a major impact next season.

A fully healthy Victor Oladipo could also make a difference alongside quality contributors such as Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren and more.

With most of the roster set to return, the Pacers could be a tough team to beat in 2020-21.

       

2020-21 Pacers Schedule Details

Season Opener: Dec. 23 vs. New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET)

Championship Odds: 100-1 (via FanDuel)

First-Half Schedule: NBA.com

      

Top Matchups

Miami Heat

The Heat eliminated the Pacers from the playoffs last year, and it wasn't particularly pretty.

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were dominant in the first-round series, although the supporting cast was just as damaging. Goran Dragic averaged 22.8 points per game, while Tyler Herro averaged 16.5 points in the playoff series.

The Heat shot 39.1 percent from three-point range and had a 116.0 offensive rating across the four games.

Adding in the fact that Miami made a run all the way to the NBA finals, the squad will have a lot of talent and confidence going into next season.

Indiana will get its chance to avenge the loss, with Sabonis representing a better matchup against Adebayo and the rest of the roster doing its best to defend the perimeter.

      

Milwaukee Bucks (First Game: Feb. 3)

Even if the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled in the playoffs, they have still been the class of the Eastern Conference for the past two seasons and still have two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks have a deep rotation that also includes Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and now Jrue Holiday, giving the team a lot of ways to win.

After producing the best record in the NBA in each of the last two years, there is no reason to expect a falloff in 2020-21.

This game could be an important measuring stick for a Pacers team trying to test if it can really be among the best in the East. Indiana went just 1-3 against Milwaukee last season, with Giannis out for the one win.

An early victory could give this squad a lot of momentum going forward in the season.

       

Season Forecast

If the Pacers can stay healthy, they can be extremely dangerous going into next season.

They finished sixth in the NBA in defensive rating, while the change in coaching staff could help create more efficiency offensively.

Indiana has two All-Stars in Sabonis and Oladipo when healthy, with Brogdon and Warren playing just a step below that at times in 2019-20. Jeremy Lamb, Myles Turner and Aaron Holiday also help provide quality depth in the rotation.

The tools needed to compete with the best teams in the league are all there, but the key will be staying on the court and remaining consistent.

The East will remain difficult with the Bucks, Heat, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors all capable of contending for a title. However, the Pacers should be able to finish among the top four spots and set themselves up for a deeper run in the playoffs.

    

Record Prediction: 45-27

Amid rumors that he wants to be traded, Victor Oladipo is speaking out about his commitment to the Indiana Pacers heading into the 2020-21 season. 

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Oladipo called talk of him wanting a trade "nonsense" and said he's preparing to help the Pacers. 

"I never have," he added. "I never came out and said that I didn't want to play for the Pacers or be in this organization but, yeah, I'm focused on now. Here and now."

Rumors have been swirling about Oladipo's future with the organization. J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star reported last month (via USA Today) that the two-time All-Star was asking players on opposing teams if he could come play for them in front of Pacers teammates during the season.

Oladipo has consistently refuted any talk that he wants to play for a new team. 

"I'm a Pacer, man. I'm a Pacer, dawg. I'm a Pacer," he told rapper Fat Joe on Instagram in October (h/t CBS Sports' Jack Maloney). "I can't control the rumors, man. ... All of the ones on the internet, I don't even know where they come from. I'm just in the background, working out, working on my knee, trying to get right for next year."

One potential sticking point between Oladipo and the Pacers is his contract status. The 28-year-old has one year and $21 million remaining on his current deal. B/R's Eric Pincus reported in October that Oladipo is "looking for a max" extension.

The Pacers, as well as opposing teams, may need to see what Oladipo looks like during the 2020-21 season before considering giving him a long-term deal. 

Oladipo averaged 14.5 points and shot a career-low 39.4 percent from the field in just 19 games last season after returning from a ruptured quad tendon in January. He made the All-Star team in each of the previous two seasons, averaging 21.7 points on 46.1 percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game during that span.

Indiana Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard provided some insight into his team's attempt to orchestrate a sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics for Gordon Hayward. 

"We pursued [a Hayward trade] as hard as we possibly could," Pritchard told Bob Kravitz of The Athletic on Wednesday.

"Other than that, between two teams, I feel like that's a very private thing. I don't like when it gets out in the media."

Hayward, who was on the Celtics from 2017-2020, declined his 2020-21 player option to become a free agent. Word emerged that the Pacers were in the mix to land Hayward via a sign-and-trade, although that never came to fruition.

Pritchard added more insight:

"I don't want to go into specific people, but if you can add a player who materially improves you, you have to take a shot and not be afraid.

"It hurt a little more this time because the feedback was that he [Hayward] really wanted to be here. ... It just can't come at a cost that it's so debilitating, it doesn't make sense."

Hayward eventually signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets.

The Pacers have been on the precipice of making a few big offseason moves. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report wrote that Indiana guard Victor Oladipo, who will be a free agent in 2021, was involved in trade scenarios with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Fischer noted that Donte DiVincenzo, George Hill and the draft's No. 24 overall pick were on the table for Oladipo.

However, the Pacers have largely stood pat outside of replacing head coach Nate McMillan with Nate Bjorkgren. Indiana notably added Duke guard Cassius Stanley with the No. 54 pick in the NBA draft and re-signed wing Justin Holiday. The Pacers also dealt big man TJ Leaf and a second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jalen Lecque.

Ultimately, Indiana is running it back in 2020-21 with the core that finished fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and Victor Oladipo will lead the way as Indiana looks for a return postseason trip.

The 2020-21 season begins on Dec. 22.

As Gordon Hayward continues to push for a sign-and-trade with the Indiana Pacers after opting out of his contract with the Boston Celtics, Marc Stein of The New York Times reports the forward's offer from Indy could reach $100 million over four years. 

Stein notes the New York Knicks remain an option for Hayward as well, but they are offering a significantly lower contract than that discussed by the Pacers.

Hayward was set to make $34.2 million with the Celtics this year had he opted into his contract. Instead he took a gamble that a larger payday was available. He might be right. 

But it may cost the Pacers much more than money in the process. 

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reported earlier Friday that the Celtics were looking for a return of Myles Turner and T.J. Warren or Victor Oladipo. That was a much higher price than what Indiana initially offered, which Washburn noted was a package centered on Myles Turner and Doug McDermott. 

The former would be a major coup for Boston and an even larger risk for Indiana. 

Hayward has played just 125 games since signing with the Celtics in 2017. A fractured tibia and dislocated ankle cost him his entire first season in Boston, while a fractured left hand last November cost him another month of the season. 

Boston was forced to exercise plenty of caution with the small forward over the last year to ensure he would be on the court when it needed him most. The Celtics were able to get 52 starts out of Hayward, with the Indiana native averaging 17.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Now entering his age-30 season, it's unclear what type of value he adds to a Pacers team that was swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat in August. 

Justin Holiday reportedly is staying put.

On Friday, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Holiday agreed to a three-year, $18.1 million contract with the Indiana Pacers. Holiday appeared in 73 games for the Pacers during the 2019-20 campaign.

Holiday has been in the league since the 2012-13 campaign and has been something of a journeyman with stints on the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Pacers.

He has been a secondary scorer for much of that time and averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 40.5 percent from three-point range last season.

The University of Washington product is also a solid defender who held opponents to 4.2 percent worse shooting from the field and 4.9 percent worse shooting from three-point range than their normal averages in 2019-20.

He isn't going to carry a team, but his ability as a three-and-D player on the wing was clearly enough to convince the Pacers to bring him back.

While it remains to be seen if all these players will be back for Indiana, Holiday fits in nicely alongside Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner with that shooting. He figures to have plenty of open space when defenders collapse on Oladipo's penetration and the bigs on the blocks and has proven he can take advantage of it from the outside.

He will continue doing so for the Pacers as they look to turn the corner as an Eastern Conference contender.

Gordon Hayward is "fully focused" on joining the Indiana Pacers after opting out of his contract with the Boston Celtics, according to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic. 

"Gordon Hayward is fully focused and wants to sign a deal with the Pacers."

Our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania has the latest on Hayward's potential landing spot in free agency. pic.twitter.com/qpc1AAeeND

— Stadium (@Stadium) November 20, 2020

Hayward is an Indiana native who played college basketball at Butler University in Indianapolis before reaching the NBA. The 30-year-old has long been the center of Pacers rumors, and it seems like this may be the year the two sides are able to make a deal happen.   

The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn provided an update on where sign-and-trade negotiations stand: 

#Pacers-#Celtics sign-and-trade update. Hayward wants to play in Indiana. He's told the #Celtics that.

IND offering Turner and McDermott

BOS wants Turner and Warren or Oladipo.

That's a big difference.

— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) November 20, 2020

By opting out of Boston, Hayward walked away from a $34.2 million salary in 2020-21. It'll be interesting to see how close he's able to get to that number on the open market. 

Hayward appeared in 52 games last season while averaging 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He also shot 50 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from behind the arc, though injuries have started to take a toll on his game. 

The former Utah Jazz star missed the 2017-18 season with a fractured tibia and dislocated ankle suffered in his first game of the campaign, and it's taken him even longer to find his rhythm again on the floor. He went on to fracture his left hand last November, costing him another month of the regular season. 

The Pacers may still find Hayward useful as a complement to Domantas Sabonis on the wing and could complete a deal for him in the near future with free agency officially open at 6 p.m. ET Friday night.     

The Indiana Pacers are "reluctant" to move forward T.J. Warren or guard Aaron Holiday in a sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics for free-agent forward Gordon Hayward, per Ian Begley of SNY.

Hayward is a free agent after declining his $34 million player option with the C's following three seasons with the team.

Hayward grew up in Indiana and played college basketball at Butler University in Indianapolis. Marc Stein of the New York Times reported Friday that "Indiana continues to explore sign-and-trade pathways" for him.

The Pacers apparently don't want to part with Warren or Holiday, however, and view Warren as a "cornerstone," per Begley.

The C's see Holiday as an "important part of the package" in a potential Hayward deal, according to Begley, but the Pacers are reluctant to move him as well.

The 30-year-old Hayward averaged 17.5 points on 50.0 percent shooting, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists during an injury-shortened 2019-20 campaign.

Stein noted that the New York Knicks "remain a suitor for Hayward with their salary-cap space" as well. The Knicks created roughly $40 million in cap space after parting with seven players Thursday, per Chris Iseman of northjersey.com.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer also mentioned the Knicks' interest in Hayward last week on the podcast The Mismatch (h/t Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston).

However, New York could be less interested following draft night. As Begley reported Thursday: "Some Knicks decision-makers have indeed had interest in acquiring Gordon Hayward. But it's seen as less likely now that the club used its draft picks last night."

That could give the Pacers a clearer lane to acquire Hayward, who's reportedly "fully focused" on heading home to Indiana, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic (h/t RealGM).

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe also reported that Hayward wants to go to Indiana and noted where the C's and Pacers currently stand in their negotiations:

#Pacers-#Celtics sign-and-trade update. Hayward wants to play in Indiana. He's told the #Celtics that.

IND offering Turner and McDermott

BOS wants Turner and Warren or Oladipo.

That's a big difference.

— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) November 20, 2020

Indiana is coming off a 45-28 season that ended with a first-round sweep at the hands of the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat. The Pacers don't have the salary-cap space to sign Hayward outright with $124 million committed for the 2020-21 season, which will have a roughly $109 million salary cap.

Therefore, a sign-and-trade is likely necessary for Hayward to become a Pacer. The question is whether Indiana and Boston can come to an agreement on the parameters.

Cassius Stanley was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

   

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Cassius Stanley

Position: SF

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 193

Pro Comparison: Derrick Jones Jr.

Scouting Report: Cassius Stanley could be the draft's best athlete with his explosive vertical bounce. He may be able to carve out a career just using his athletic ability alone, but continuing to build on his shooting and defense will improve his chances.      

         

Stanley, 21, had a solid season for the Blue Devils, registering 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from three.

The Athletic's Sam Vecenie called him the "glue guy of all glue guys for Duke last season, taking on tough defensive assignments on the wing, playing with energy and making the little things happen," adding that he's also "a highlight reel waiting to happen due to his elite-level leaping ability. We're talking well over a 40-inch vertical leap."

But Stanley is a project. Vecenie called him a "work in progress as a shooter due to mechanics that will need to be adjusted." He also said that teams wanted to see "more defensive playmaking from him, taking advantage of his tools to force turnovers."

And he'll need to improve as a passer at the next level, as he projects to be a role player.

Still, adding a 6'6" wing in a league that covets them with major athleticism and defensive upside is always good value at No. 54 in the draft. Stanley won't step into Indianapolis and be a scoring threat, but if he can do the little things like he did at Duke, providing energy and grit, he'll carve out a role for himself quickly enough.

Initially, however, he's likely looking at spot minutes off the bench as he polishes his game.

Here's a look at Indiana's depth chart heading into the 2020-21 season:

    

Pacers Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Victor Oladipo, SG: $21.3M (2021)

Malcolm Brogdon, PG: $21.3M (2023)

Myles Turner, C: $20M (2023)

Domantas Sabonis, C: $18.7M (2024)

TJ Warren, SF: $11.8M (2022)

Jeremy Lamb, SG: $10.5M (2022)

Doug McDermott, SF: $7.3M (2021)

TJ McConnell, PG: $3.5M (2021)

Goga Bitadze, C: $2.9M (2023)

Aaron Holiday, PG: $2.2M (2022)

Edmond Sumner, PG: $2.1M (2022)

Cassius Stanley, SF

   

Free Agents

Justin Holiday, SG: UFA

JaKarr Sampson, SG: UFA

Alize Johnson, PF: RFA

Naz Mitrou-Long, PG: RFA

Brian Bowen, SG: RFA

Indiana Pacers star Victor Oladipo addressed rumors about his future and reaffirmed his commitment to the organization. 

"I know there have been people saying that I have asked players to trade for me," Oladipo said to The Athletic's Shams Charania. "That's just not true, period. I love my teammates, I cherish the state of Indiana and I'm focused on leading this franchise to a title."

Charania also wrote Oladipo and new Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren have "had positive dialogue in recent weeks." However, the two-time All-Star is unlikely to sign a long-term extension this offseason because he can earn more by waiting until next summer.

The 28-year-old has one more year left on his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent. In recent weeks, it looked like he wanted to hasten his departure from Indiana, not unlike Paul George in 2017.

Jared Weiss of The Athletic reported in September that Oladipo was "looking to move on this offseason." ESPN's Zach Lowe reported the Milwaukee Bucks were among the teams interested in a possible trade but that multiple suitors wanted to see him in action before making a move.

Things escalated Thursday when the Indianapolis Star's J. Michael reported Oladipo had openly lobbied opposing players to have their teams acquire him.

Victor Oladipo asked other teams "Can I come play with y'all?" in front of his Pacers teammates, per @ThisIsJMichael pic.twitter.com/vcSyJVlhcB

— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) November 12, 2020

Oladipo's agent, Aaron Turner, refuted the story Friday on SiriusXM NBA Radio:

"He didn't say anything like that at all."@VicOladipo's agent, Aaron Turner, refutes the report of Oladipo asking opposing players if he can join their team with @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine pic.twitter.com/qkjGm7NoeJ

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) November 13, 2020

While not speaking as definitively as Oladipo, George was committed to the Pacers, too, until he wasn't anymore.

Oladipo's public show of allegiance is good, but the multiple reports would seemingly hint at some level of discontent behind the scenes.

The problem for Indiana is that Oladipo's value is more murky than it was with George in 2017. The veteran 2-guard hasn't looked the same since his ruptured quad. He averaged 14.5 points and 2.9 assists while shooting 31.7 percent on three-pointers in 19 regular-season games.

According to Lowe, the New York Knicks were previously interested in Oladipo but might have shifted to a "wait and watch" mindset, alluding to the general questions about whether he can replicate his 2017-19 self.

Oladipo's comments Friday probably won't be the last word on this situation.

Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo's agent, Aaron Turner, shot down a report Friday that Oladipo asked members of the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat and New York Knicks if he could play for them last season.

Turner insisted that no such conversations took place during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio:

"He didn't say anything like that at all."@VicOladipo's agent, Aaron Turner, refutes the report of Oladipo asking opposing players if he can join their team with @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine pic.twitter.com/qkjGm7NoeJ

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) November 13, 2020

Turner was responding to a report from J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star (h/t Jordan Heck of Sporting News):

Victor Oladipo asked other teams "Can I come play with y'all?" in front of his Pacers teammates, per @ThisIsJMichael pic.twitter.com/vcSyJVlhcB

— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) November 12, 2020

Michael reported that Oladipo asked members of the Raptors, Heat and Knicks, "Can I come play with y'all?" He added that Oladipo did it in front of his teammates, which caused them to become agitated with Oladipo in the locker room.

Oladipo is about to enter the final year of his contract in 2020-21, meaning he could be a trade candidate before or during the season. If not, the 28-year-old may be playing for a new team in 2021-22 anyway.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft is just a few seasons removed from a career year that put him on the map as one of the league's fastest-rising stars.

In 2017-18, Oladipo was named an All-Star for the first time and averaged career highs across the board with 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and a league-leading 2.4 steals per game. Oladipo was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team and won the Most Improved Player award as well.

He was on a good pace the following season and was named an All-Star again with averages of 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals, but a quad injury cut his season short after just 36 games.

Oladipo also got off to a late start last season and only ended up appearing in 19 games. Even when he did play, it was clear that Oladipo wasn't the same player he was in the previous two seasons, as he averaged 14.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists, while shooting a career-worst 39.4 percent from the field.

There are major question marks surrounding Oladipo and his ability to return to All-Star form ahead of the 2020-21 season, and it remains to be seen if those efforts will be made in Indiana or elsewhere.

Any of the teams Michael mentioned in his report could benefit greatly from Oladipo next season provided his play bounces back to some degree.

He would lend some support to the star duo of Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry in Toronto and do the same in Miami with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

With the Knicks, Oladipo would arguably be the face of the franchise and could have his best opportunity to put up big numbers and land a huge free-agent contract with New York or another team.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have reached the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, but they haven't gotten out of the first round in any of those appearances.

Indiana has a talented team with Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren and Myles Turner leading the way, and if the Pacers keep Oladipo next season and get more out of him, they could be a sleeper threat to finally do some damage in the Eastern Conference.