Can the Indiana Pacers replicate their surprisingly successful 2019-20 campaign or was their performance an anomaly? That’s the primary question that will be answered in 2020-21, as the Pacers hope to have Victor Oladipo healthy for the entire season.
Frankly, the Pacers’ biggest offseason addition isn’t even a player. It’s new head coach Nate Bjorkgren, who replaces Nate McMillan.
Pacers Roster Additions
Player | Transaction |
Cassius Stanley | Draft (54th) |
Jalen Lecque | Trade (OKC) |
Kelan Martin | Free Agency (MIN) |
Amida Brimah | Free Agency (UDFA) |
Rayshaun Hammonds | Free Agency (UDFA) |
Biggest Acquisitions
- Cassius Stanley: A lanky wing out of Duke University, Cassius Stanley has the tools to be a standout defender and a capable 3-point shooter at the next level. Those type of players have always been valuable and will remain so, giving Stanley the opportunity to carve out a long career.
- Kelan Martin: Kelan Martin is another player that stands out defensively, allowing the Indiana Pacers to sustain their dominant defense even without the defensive-minded Nate McMillan around.
Pacers Roster Subtractions
Player | Transaction |
T.J. Leaf | Trade (OKC) |
Alize Johnson | Free Agency (TOR) |
Biggest Losses
- T.J. Leaf: T.J. Leaf has yet to pan out at the NBA level after a standout one-and-done season with UCLA. Projected to be (at the least) a stretch-four that could possibly play multiple positions, Leaf only averaged 8.7 minutes per game for the Pacers in his three seasons there, shooting a mediocre .341 percent from three.
- Alize Johnson: Alize Johnson, a second-round pick in 2018, has shown himself to be a superb rebounder at 6’7.” With his potential as a catch-and-shoot option (he shot .375 percent on such attempts last season) and defense, he could be a solid rotation player for the Toronto Raptors.