The Pacers and Timberwolves are headed toward a matchup that looks less like a contrast and more like a reflection.
That’s what makes Minnesota such a tricky opponent for Indiana. The Wolves aren’t just another team with a few roster problems the Pacers can try to expose.
They’re built to fight in the same spaces Indiana wants to own: pace, shooting, movement, selfless offense. And now Minnesota is trying to push that formula forward with Anthony Edwards as the centerpiece, hoping its top-10 player can lift the whole operation.
The odd part is that both teams have already reached high points, and both ran into the same nightmare opponent in the 2024-25 Playoffs. Minnesota’s run ended against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, while Indiana’s season ended in seven brutal games in the Finals.
Then came 2025-26, when both clubs took a step back. Indiana added a star big man in what will likely be remembered as one of the most one-sided deals in franchise history, while Minnesota tore everything down.
So if these teams are going to climb again, the whole thing may come down to the three best players from the 2020 draft.
That class is still shaping the league, and it’s where the Pacers-Wolves comparison gets even tighter. Anthony Edwards was the big debate at the top, with Minnesota choosing him over LaMelo Ball because D'Angelo Russell was already in place. Edwards fit the situation better, and he has also become the better player.
The point guard conversation from that draft has aged just as well. LaMelo Ball sat near the top of the class, and after him came a group that included Tyrese Haliburton, Killian Hayes, Tyrese Maxey, Malachi Flynn, Kira Lewis Jr., and Cole Anthony. Among all those names, Haliburton and Ball were the pair that kept getting linked together.
They made sense as a comparison from the start. Both were pass-first guards with unusual shooting forms and long arms, and that connection has stuck.
The 2020 draft was widely viewed as one of the worst in NBA history when those players came off the board. Instead, it has turned into one of the strongest classes in nearly a decade. It has produced a fringe MVP player, more than five separate all-stars, a Most Improved Player, and a huge number of quality role players.
Now its best names are driving contender-level teams, and they remain linked by the same old comparisons.
In Other News...
Pacers Could Exploit Portlands Roster Crunch For A Needed Upgrade
Portlands trade for Ja Morant has created a logjam that could force the Trail Blazers to make some uncomfortable choices with the rest of their roster. With multiple players now fighting for limited minutes, the Blazers may have to look at ways to rebalance the rotation, and that kind of squeeze often opens the door to deals involving veterans and younger pieces alike. For a Pacers team always looking for ways to tighten the edges of its roster, that is the sort of situation worth watching.
Indiana has needs of its own, and Portlands crunch could put some appealing names within reach. Jrue Holiday, Vit Kreji and other pieces could become part of the conversation if the Blazers decide they need more clarity in their lineup, while the Pacers would also be keeping an eye on larger swings involving Toumani Camara, Shaedon Sharpe or Scoot Henderson. Nothing is settled yet, but the overlap between Portlands surplus and Indianas needs makes this one of those trade lanes that can shift quickly if the Blazers decide to act. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Faces A Bigger Pacers Question Than Any Ranking
Pascal Siakams place in the league conversation still looks sturdy, even if the broader Pacers outlook is shifting around him. HoopsHype ranked him No. 8 among NBA power forwards heading into the 2026-27 season, a nod to the blend of scoring, size and versatility he brought to Indiana after producing 24 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last season.
The more interesting Pacers question is how that production looks once Tyrese Haliburton is back in the mix and the offense regains its usual shape. Siakams game has always fit best when he can attack from different spots and punish mismatches, but the return of another high-end creator changes the balance of touches, reads and late-game responsibility in a way Indiana will have to sort out quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Jarace Walker Might Be Facing His Biggest Pacers Season Yet
Jarace Walker already gave the Pacers a reason to believe last season, putting together career highs in points, rebounds and assists while carving out a larger role in the rotation. Now, as Bleacher Reports Greg Swartz sees it, he has a chance to be Indianas top breakout candidate for the 2026-27 season, a spot that speaks to how much the franchise thinks his game can still grow.
The path wont be as simple as a clean runway into the starting five, though. With Tyrese Haliburton expected back and Indiana projecting a first unit of Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac, Walker is set to come off the bench for now, which makes his next leap even more interesting. If the Pacers do make roster changes around him, the question becomes whether Walker can turn a stronger reserve role into the kind of season that changes his standing in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]