Despite starting slow, the Indiana Pacers have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. A big reason the Pacers had won two straight and were 4-4 into Friday’s contest against Charlotte was their depth, as they are down three rotational players.
Indiana had one of the best reserve units last season. The Pacers had 16 players who made at least 18 appearances and saw at least 10 minutes a contest. This year, coach Rick Carlisle has already thrown 16 players into the fray, with 11 seeing at least 11 minutes a game.
Due to various injuries, 11 players have also seen action in at least five games. As a result, some players have taken advantage of this extra early playing time and demonstrated that they could be contributors even when the squad is full. Jarace Walker, who played in just 33 contests as a rookie, is one such player, according to IndyStar’s Dustin Dopirak.
Indiana Pacers Rumors: 2023 Draft Pick Making Real Case To Earn Regular Minutes For First Time, Interest In 35-Year-old Veteran To Fill Hole At Center, And Other Injury Concerns
Walker’s playing time has been sporadic thus far. But the No. 8 overall pick in 2023 has seen an uptick in court time over the last three games. He rebounded the ball well against Dallas on Monday and then produced a career game against Orlando on Wednesday, totaling 17 points on 6 of 6 shooting, including 3 of 3 from the 3-point line. He also contributed a season-high six rebounds, two steals, and one block against the Magic in 23 minutes.
“Jarace Walker tonight, this was certainly a tremendous performance by him,” Carlisle said in his post-game press conference. “He earned all the minutes. Shot-making was great. He rebounded and defended their best players. Had a big block at the end of one quarter that was a real momentum play. There’s nothing like heat-of-the-moment, big-time intensity to really learn what it’s all about, and he really responded great.”
Jarace Walker Improvement
Walker has scored in double figures twice this season. More importantly, the 21-year-old forward has been very efficient and improved in every facet over last year. He is also versatile enough to play all three frontcourt positions, though he is best suited for the three and four.
Three Players Ruled Out Against Charlotte
Indiana will be shorthanded upfront for the rest of the season, with Isaiah Jackson and James Wisman out. But the Pacers were also without Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, and Aaron Nesmith in tonight’s 103-83 setback to Charlotte. With the loss, the Pacers drop to fifth in the conference, with Brooklyn and Charlotte at 4-5 on the season.
Tonight is Nembhard’s second absence of the season. Nembhard was a late scratch with left knee soreness, per Dopernik. The 24-year-old, who missed last Friday’s game against New Orleans for the same reason, was initially announced in the starting lineup for this contest.
Nemhard’s absence is a little concerning, considering he was expected to play. However, he should be considered day-to-day with a chance to play on Sunday at home against New York. Ben Shephard started against Charlotte, marking his first of the season and second of his career.
Shephard struggled against the Hornets, tallying two points on 1 of 7 from the field, including 0 of 4 from deep. He totaled three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and five fouls in 31 minutes. The 23-year-old guard will be in line for future starts if Nembhard misses more time.
T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith, and Quenton Jackson
McConnell was sidelined for the first time this season due to an illness. The 32-year-old veteran backup point guard was originally listed as questionable before being ruled out a few hours before tipoff against Charlotte. He should be available against the Knicks.
Quenton Jackson, who is on a two-way deal, served as point guard Tyrese Haliburton’s backup against the Hornets. He tallied seven points on 3 of 7 shooting and doled out two assists in 20 minutes of action.
Nesmith missed his third straight game as he remains in a walking boot after spraining his ankle last Friday. Benedict Mathurin, who started his fourth game of the season against the Hornets, will remain with the first unit as long as Nesmith is out. There is no timetable for Nesmith to return.
Pacers Looking For Center Depth
With Jackson and Wiseman sidelined for the rest of the season, ESPN Shams Charania recently reported that Indiana is trying to find more depth behind center Myles Turner. Obi Toppin has been serving as Turner’s primary replacement for the past few games.
While Toppin can fill in at center, he is best suited to play the four. Pascal Siakam, Walker, and James Johnson can also fill in at the five, though they are best at power forward. Johnson is essentially an emergency fill, seeing very few minutes.
Indiana has an open roster spot, carrying 14 players on standard contracts. The Pacers are $1.9 million below the luxury tax, so they may decide to go with a cheap option for the time being. If the Pacers decide they are contenders, they may decide to go over the tax, in which case they have a lot of flexibility as they are not hard-capped until they hit the second apron.
Like several teams in need of frontcourt depth, Indiana has been linked to Walker Kessler, Zach Collins, and Nikola Vucevic. However, veteran free agent JaVale McGee has also been mentioned as a possible option, per David Thorpe on The Kevin O’Conner Show.
“I’m hearing they’re looking at JaVale McGee. That doesn’t excite me if I’m a Pacer fan, but I understand it…his athleticism, he can jump still, he’s played for a long time.”
McGee has been a free agent since being released by Sacramento on July 1. The 36-year-old has averaged fewer than nine minutes a game while appearing in 88 games over the last two seasons. Still, he has shown to be extremely efficient around the rim, a strong rebounder on both ends and a capable
