So far this season, the Indiana Pacers are one of the worst teams in the league. Injuries have completely sapped any chance they had of making a repeat trip to the NBA Finals. They have won just two of their first 15 games this season.
This season, the Pacers have already had Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin miss games as starters. From the bench, T. J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, Johnny Furphy, Quenton Jackson, and Kam Jones have already missed time.
Despite the disappointing season, one NBA analyst believes this could be the best thing for the Pacers in the long term.
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 13: Bennedict Mathurin #00 of the Indiana Pacers reacts with Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs in the third quarter of the preseason game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers Could Be Favored to Make 2026 NBA Finals
While appearing on the Bill Simmons Podcast, Zach Lowe believes that this team sets up for future success. In fact, he compared them to the Spurs when they tanked to get Tim Duncan.
“This could be the best single-season tanking scenario since the Spurs got Tim Duncan. A very good team, that is clearly decimated, miraculously gets its own 2026 pick back in a trade during the 2025 NBA Finals, not knowing that Tyrese Haliburton is going to get injured and everything is going to go up in smoke for them.”
Lowe then lays out a scenario that Pacers fans are hoping comes to fruition.
“Gets everyone healthy, they’re not old. And they’re just like, ‘We’ll add potentially the number-one pick, number-three pick, number-four pick.’ A guy who can probably come in and give them real minutes next year…People haven’t wrapped their minds around it yet, but the Finals Pacers are going to come back.”
Lowe notes that the Pacers do have to figure out the center spot, which still hasn’t been solved. The musical chairs of Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and Tony Bradley haven’t been very fruitful. Fixing that spot will be the top priority in the offseason.
GettyLAWRENCE, KANSAS – NOVEMBER 03: Guard Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks dunks during the first half of the game against the Green Bay Phoenix at Allen Fieldhouse on November 03, 2025 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Pacers Can Get a Great Player to Help Them Make Another Finals Run
Adding a top-five pick to a team that is still young and very good is a scary thought for the rest of the NBA. It’s unclear which pick the Pacers will end up with at this point, but it’s going to be a high one. Any of the top prospects could help them.
Unfortunately, the top prospects in this draft aren’t centers. In a recent mock draft by Jeremy Woo of ESPN, the Pacers wound up with the fourth pick. None of the top-five prospects projects to play center at the NBA level, except for Caleb Wilson out of North Carolina.
Still, the Pacers wouldn’t complain about getting a top talent. They have never had the number-one pick in the draft.
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