Indiana Pacers: 15 Pretty Bold Predictions For 2017–18 (Part 1)
Every team deserves a bold predictions column as a season preview. For the Indiana Pacers, this is that previews.
“With the beginning of every sports season comes a bold prediction column.”
- Ancient American Proverb
Most writers come up with BOLD prediction columns as a way to say crazy things that won’t come true, but might. There’s no harm. It probably won’t end up on Cold Takes Exposed if you admit that your predictions are a bit out there.
This is that column by me on the Indiana Pacers, but not exactly. These aren’t wild or hot takes. These are meant to serve as a preview for what’s to come with the Pacers season.
None of these things are outlandish and ridiculous. They’re meant to be things that make you say hmmm. Things that make you think about the Pacers roster, player roles, and what they’re headed for this season.
Without further ado, here are 15 kinda bold predictions for the Indiana Pacers going into the 2017–18 season.
- Myles Turner makes his first All-Star team.
You may have heard this over the summer but the Eastern Conference isn’t very good. Already faced with being the weaker of the two conferences, the power imbalance only widened as some of the East’s best headed west.
Not to mention that one of those All-Stars is Isaiah Thomas, who will reportedly be out until January with a hip injury. Gordon Hayward will likely take up one of the All-Star spots, but still that leaves four new spots up for the taking and a dearth of frontcourt members who will need to take those spots.
One of those stars above who switched conferences is Paul George, former Pacer. The loss of George adds an open roster spot to the East while also freeing up more minutes and shots for Turner.
I see Turner, along with Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid filling those spots and the young unicorns being a bright spot for a one-sided All-Star matchup.
2. Victor Oladipo does not.
At Pacers Media Day on Monday, one of the hot topics was the newly acquired former Hoosier making a leap. Head coach Nate McMillan said it was a goal to do what Orlando and Oklahoma City failed to do with Oladipo.
Lance Stephenson added to that sentiment, saying “I think we’ll have two All-Stars.” When asked if he was one of the All-Stars, he clarified the players in question are Turner and Oladipo.
Oladipo is due for a bump in statistics and should hover around 20 points per game as the primary perimeter scoring option. The East is open, but Oladipo will find himself on the outside looking in and a top injury replacement possibility.
Let’s look at the math. There are 12 All-Star spots. Assuming health isn’t an issue, Kyrie Irving, DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, John Wall, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Love (chosen as an All-Star but missed game due to injury, was replaced by Carmelo Anthony), and Kemba Walker should remain in those spots.
That’s eight, leaving four open spots.
We’ve already added Turner, Embiid, and Porzingis. That’s 11. If you add Gordon Hayward, you’ve got your Eastern Conference All-Stars.
Still, injuries happen and players disappoint. After our 12, I’d still put Bradley Beal ahead of Oladipo. I’d also expect Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, and Al Horford to be ahead of Oladipo. Maybe even Dennis Schroeder.
Oladipo should have his best season yet and could make a significant stride in reaching his All-Star potential, but it’s just unlikely to me that Oladipo hits that mark this year.
3. Thaddeus Young is traded.
Thaddeus Young is a very good NBA player. Thaddeus Young is also 29 years old in the last year of his contract on a rebuilding team. The Pacers spent a first round pick on a player who plays the same position as Young and also received a second-year lottery pick who plays the very same position.
There are few players in the league more likely to be dealt by the February deadline than Young, who can absolutely contribute on a playoff team. Young shot 38.1 percent on three-pointers last season and is a craft scorer off the dribble. There will be a market for him, especially if a wannabe contender needs floor spacing, a scoring punch, or a starting power forward.
At the 2017 trade deadline, teams got first round picks as compensation in deals for the likes of Bojan Bogdanovic, Lou Williams, Serge Ibaka, and Mason Plumlee. The Pacers should be able to turn Young into a non-lottery first round pick while also freeing up more minutes for T.J. Leaf and Domantas Sabonis.
4. Al Jefferson becomes the new Monta Ellis.
Most fans have a team punching bag, one player they just can’t stand. For the Pacers faithful, that punching bag was Monta Ellis until his time with the Pacers came to an end after being waived this summer.
Ellis was an easy target, a “score-first, play defense never” player who wasn’t scoring anymore. He wasn’t good enough to demand the ball in his hands and was useless off-the-ball. On defense, he was picked on relentlessly.
Exhibit A:
The Pacers desperately needed a 3-and-D wing to play with Jeff Teague, Paul George, Thaddeus Young, and Myles Turner. Ellis not only did neither of those things well, he did them both horribly.
He was extremely unlikable. His game, predicated on ball-stopping and contested shots was tough to watch and ineffective. His $10.7 million contract certainly didn’t help either.
Despite all of this, he remained in the rotation. Ellis played 74 games and started 33 of them. He even started two playoff games. Pacers fans did everything short of making a petition to replace him in the lineup with sharpshooting C.J. Miles or Glenn Robinson III.
By the time McMillan finally wisened up, it was too late.
Al Jefferson will take that spot this season.
He’s not as overpaid, ball-dominant, and nowhere near as unlikable, but by the end of the season every Pacers fan will be unable not to say one of the following about Jefferson:
“He shouldn’t be getting paid as much as he does.”
“He shouldn’t be taking any minutes away from our young guys.”
Luckily, Jefferson is one of the more likable guys in the league. He’ll still be able to get buckets in the post and his skills down low are now a fun relic in a league devoid of post skills.
Still, Jefferson will be the overpaid veteran who is a defensive liability who takes minutes away from the younger players on the roster.
Jefferson won’t be the first big off the bench and might not be the second either, but there just isn’t a place for Jefferson on this team.
(Part Two, with predictions 5–9 will be released on Wednesday)
