{"id":153510,"date":"2025-08-05T19:55:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T23:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=153510"},"modified":"2025-08-05T19:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T23:55:18","slug":"hali-less-pacers-project-make-major-change-to-starting-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/05\/hali-less-pacers-project-make-major-change-to-starting-lineup\/","title":{"rendered":"Hali-Less Pacers Project To Make Major Change To Starting Lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Face of the franchise Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> will presumably miss the entire 2025-26 season<\/a> after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. Former franchise cornerstone Myles Turner is moving to the other side of Lake Superior after signing with<\/a> the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>. Even still, the Indiana Pacers aren\u2019t heading into next season with their heads down.<\/p>\n

Losing Haliburton, a two-time All-NBA selection, hurts in particular. He was more than the starting point guard, he was their offensive engine. However, Indiana has a pair of guards in Andrew Nembhard<\/a> and TJ McConnell<\/a> who can soften the blow. They still have combo forward Pascal Siakam<\/a>, a three-time All-Star who can both score in volume and help with playmaking.<\/p>\n

They also have Bennedict Mathurin<\/a>, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

Tyrese Haliburton-Less Pacers Project To Insert Bennedict Mathurin Into Starting Lineup<\/h2>\n

Throughout Mathurin\u2019s career, his role has been a topic of debate. On the one hand, he was a high draft pick and is consistently productive scorer. On the other hand, he\u2019s been prone to having tunnel vision and defensive lapses. As a result, he\u2019s only started in 85 of the 231 games he\u2019s played (playoffs included).<\/p>\n

With that being said, Mathurin has \u201cgradually\u201d begun to basketball IQ and decision making, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle tells Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In fact, Carlisle is \u201cprojecting him as their starter at 2 this year, on Day 1\u2026 I was on the phone with him and his agent four days ago. I said, \u2018You\u2019re going to be with the starters on Day 1. It\u2019s your job to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Also, here’s some breaking news: Rick told me who the Day 1 starter is at the two next season.<\/p>\n

Full episode: https:\/\/t.co\/682Rtp7oVx<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/J84UWuLRac<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) August 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n