(Photo : (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)) INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MAY 17: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers seems to be on from the bench within the fourth quarter in opposition to the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, User is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Images License Agreemen
The Indiana Pacers Cinderella run has now come to an in depth.
Tuesday evening, the clock struck midnight on the Pacers as their season resulted in an unceremonious sweep by the Boston Celtics.
The sequence did not go as Indiana had hoped, as they managed to fumble away a number of probabilities to keep away from the dreaded sweep, together with blowing a Game 1 alternative the place they misplaced in additional time.
Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a left hamstring harm halfway by means of the sequence, making issues worse for Indy, spelling the tip for a group that some could say overachieved this postseason.
Despite the loss to the Boston Celtics, the Pacers, who made the Conference Finals for the primary time since 2014, have causes to be proud and optimistic for subsequent season.
The Eastern Conference Finals runner ups within the final couple of years have discovered themselves advancing to the finals the next season. So with slightly luck and a robust offseason, the Pacers may discover themselves enjoying for a championship subsequent yr.
RELATED ARTICLE: Celtics Reach NBA Finals: 5 Interesting Storylines to Follow as Boston Swings for 18th Championship
2023-24 Season Recap
The Indiana Pacers’ 2023-24 season could not have gone higher. They gained 47 video games this previous season whereas snagging the sixth seed in a aggressive Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Haliburton took an enormous leap into stardom this yr, turning into an All-Star for the primary time whereas main the league in assists.
This season additionally noticed vital progress from Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, who’re constructing blocks for the way forward for a younger Pacers group.
The Pacers can be getting again Bennedict Mathurin, who missed a lot of the season as a result of harm. Mathurin is among the finest scorers on their roster and may solely make them higher as soon as he returns, giving Indy one other perimeter menace.
They lastly swung for the fences and traded for Raptors All-Star Pascal Siakam, who got here up massive time for Indy all through the postseason.
Offseason Moves
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Coming into the offseason, Pascal Siakam can be an enormous free agent goal for Indiana to re-sign.
Despite turning 30 by the tip of the common season, Siakam performed at a excessive stage and served as a constant rock for the Pacers within the postseason.
Siakam will possible command vital cash this summer time from Indiana or one other group.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Pascal Siakam is happy about staying with the Pacers.
Pascal Siakam is happy concerning the deal to the Pacers and anticipated to be desperate to work out a brand new contract with the franchise this summer time, sources inform ESPN. Siakam generally is a free agent in July. https://t.co/gFJGXwHJCU
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2024
Siakam didn’t signal his contract extension final season with the Raptors, setting himself up for a much bigger payday this summer time.
It is obvious that Siakam was an enormous a part of what the Pacers have been final season and his robust match alongside Haliburton and their younger core is simple. It’s possible Indiana will do what it takes to retain the 2 time All-Star.
Obi Toppin will even enter this summer time as a restricted free agent. The former Knick may be testing the open market this summer time. It is in query whether or not or not the Pacers are going to have the ability to retain him, contemplating Haliburton’s contract extension kicking in together with the opportunity of a Siakam deal.
The Pacers personal three draft picks within the 2024 NBA Draft. They can be with out their first spherical choose because of the Siakam commerce, however they do personal the thirty sixth, forty ninth, and fiftieth picks. The Pacers can possible get a number of extra position gamers to assist support of their quest of bringing a championship to Indy.
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