Are the Pacers contenders in the East or just playoff hopefuls? What moves do they need to make?
Our NBA Insiders debate the 2016-17 season for Indiana.
1. What's your take on the Jeff Teague trade in which the Pacers gave up George Hill?
Chad Ford, ESPN Insider: Team president Larry Bird wanted to play a more up-tempo style of basketball and Teague is an improvement there. But George Hill brought so many other things to the table, and Teague couldn't lead Atlanta very far most years. It's a wash at best.
Mike Wells, ESPN.com: It's an upgrade as far as what the Pacers want to accomplish offensively. Teague isn't the defender that Hill is, but he can push the tempo, create his own shot off the dribble and get into the teeth of the defense, which in turn will create scoring opportunities for others. Teague averaged 5.9 assists per game compared to 3.5 for Hill last season.
Bradford Doolittle, ESPN Insider: Teague is a better player than Hill for the style Bird wants to play, but he's not a better player overall. My issue is that Bird made up his mind to play a certain way even though it didn't fit his roster or coach. I just don't really get it. Playing fast is no magical elixir.
Jeremias Engelmann, ESPN Insider: Not a fan. Teague may have been an All-Star in 2015, but his impact is lacking according to advanced metrics. Last season, the Hawks' point differential was around six points better per 100 possessions with Dennis Schroder on the floor instead of Teague. Maybe it was his 3.5 turnovers per 36 minutes -- ranked 10th worst in the league -- that led to too many easy opponent baskets.
Kevin Pelton, ESPN Insider: I think it's likely to prove a downgrade. When a player has been around as long as Hill, it's easy to focus on what he can't do (create offense as well as Teague) instead of what he does do (make spot-up 3s, defend). Hill also fits better next to Monta Ellis, another guard who, like Teague, needs the ball in his hands.
2. What is the biggest issue facing the Pacers this season?
Wells: Scoring won't be a problem, but there's no guarantee they can stop anybody. The issue defensively is in the backcourt with Teague and Ellis. The inability to defend on the perimeter will put more pressure on Paul George -- especially if he's forced to defend some point guards -- and Myles Turner, who has to be the rim protector while trying to stay out of foul trouble.
Engelmann: Starting 20-year-old Turner could be a problem in the short term. Turner showed flashes last season, but he needs to become a better rebounder and passer to be an effective big man in the NBA.
Ford: The supporting cast. George is a star. Turner has a bright future, and Thaddeus Young and Teague will help the Pacers' starting five. But things get very shaky when you turn to the bench.
Doolittle: There still aren't enough 3-point shooters on this team, and with Young and Ellis both in the starting lineup there are too many midrange jumpers for my taste.
Pelton: How to maintain their usual high defensive standard without an experienced rim protector. Starting center Turner has the tools to get there, but that's asking a lot of someone still just two years out of high school. Backup Al Jefferson isn't the solution, and power forward Young is unlikely to provide much help protecting the rim.
3. What's the biggest source of hope for the Pacers this season?
Wells: George removed any doubts about being able to return from his broken leg when he averaged a career-high 23.1 PPG last season and then went on to play a pivotal role on Team USA during the Olympics. He's one of the best two-way players in the NBA. The next step for George is to become an MVP candidate. He'll have some scoring help with Teague and Turner.
Pelton: There's a case to be made that George will be the East's second-best player this season. (Kyle Lowry was better in 2015-16, but might decline due to age.) If that's the case and the Pacers can maintain their strong defense, they'll be competitive with anyone in the East -- with the exception of the Cleveland Cavaliers -- in a playoff series.
Engelmann: Probably Turner, who's just 20 years old and thus expected to take the biggest jump. If Lavoy Allen can repeat his good plus-minus numbers from last season -- something he managed to do despite very pedestrian box score stats -- that would be a huge plus.
Doolittle: If head coach Nate McMillan favors a pressure defense, he has the right kind of defenders to force miscues. And of course that would also play into Bird's pace initiative. Ellis, George and Young all project to rank in the top five at their positions in steal percentage.
Ford: Turner. He had the potential to be a top-three pick in the draft. Bird gambled on him and so far he looks like the real deal. If he takes a big step this season, that gives the Pacers a much stronger foundation for the future.
4. What trade would make the most sense for the Pacers?
Ford: Moving Ellis to the Kings for a package including Ben McLemore. The Kings have made a run at Ellis before and are desperate for the playoffs. I don't love his fit in Indiana anymore. McLemore is a project but he might thrive in a more disciplined culture.
Doolittle: Seems like it always comes down to this for the teams Ellis has played for, but if Bird could get a more efficient 2-guard that allows Ellis to shift to an instant offense role, that would be ideal. A shooter would fit -- someone like Kyle Korver or Brandon Knight.
Pelton: Trading Ellis for a shooting guard with size who can also space the floor opposite Teague. Alternatively, Indiana might be able to achieve similar benefit by trading spare parts for such a player, allowing Ellis to move into the sixth man role for which his skill set has always been well suited.
Wells: Moving Ellis to get more size and defense in the starting backcourt. Ellis was able to handle the ball more last season because Hill didn't mind playing off if. That won't be the case this season with Teague at the point. It'll be interesting if the Ellis to Sacramento for Rudy Gay rumors pick back up at some point during the season.
Engelmann: Because they lost Hill and Ian Mahinmi, I actually expect the Pacers to barely make the playoffs, if at all. That's an undesirable situation since you also don't get a good draft pick. The best solution might be to start over and, dare I say it, deal George.
5. The Pacers are a ...
A. Lottery team.
B. Playoff team, but nothing more.
C. Potential Eastern Conference finalist.
D. Other.
Wells: C. The conference is wide open outside of the Cavaliers, and the Pacers took Toronto -- last season's other conference finalist -- to seven games in the first round.
Doolittle: B. If Jefferson stays healthy, the Pacers could have a potent enough bench to win in the mid-40s or so during the regular season, so that's clearly a solid playoff team. I don't see them winning a series without further modifications.
Engelmann: A or B. My projections have the Pacers in the mix for the bottom playoff spots. The roster just doesn't feature enough depth, let alone star power, to be a serious threat to the top teams in the East. And I wasn't crazy about them letting coach Frank Vogel go, either.
Ford: B. Between 40 and 44 wins seems like what this team is destined for.
Pelton: B. The most likely scenario for the Pacers, as I see it, is something similar to last season: fighting for a lower-end playoff seed, then hoping to put a scare into a higher-seeded opponent in the opening round.