The Indiana Pacers don’t need a miracle to solve their backup point guard situation. They may already have the answer sitting in plain sight.
TJ McConnell is still doing what TJ McConnell does. At 34, he keeps beating the calendar and remains a useful veteran.
But the clock is clearly ticking, and Indiana does not look to have a clean succession plan waiting behind him. The Pacers used a high second-round pick on Braden Smith, yet he has offered little indication he’s ready to be trusted as an NBA solution, even after missing a game-winning layup against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
That’s why the most practical path forward may be the one that runs through Andrew Nembhard.
In preseason, Nembhard has taken on more of the playmaking load, and that has mattered. With Jarace Walker’s preseason breakout helping the second unit, Indiana has been able to piece together an offense that actually flows instead of merely surviving. For a team that wants more creation without leaning on an unproven backup or an aging stopgap, that’s no small thing.
Nembhard can score off the dribble, but the bigger value might be in a return to the point guard role he played at Gonzaga. If he leans back into that part of his game, Indiana gets another layer of on-ball creation and another way to keep the offense moving.
His fit next to Tyrese Haliburton already makes sense. Adding a second creator who can initiate possessions only broadens what the Pacers can do.
That’s part of why the “breakout” conversation around Nembhard has been a little off-target. People looked at Indiana’s gap year last season and expected a major leap, but he only improved in small steps across the board.
Maybe the bigger issue was asking the wrong question in the first place. The Pacers are trying to build back toward winning basketball, and that means surrounding Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac with smart, adaptable pieces.
If Nembhard can blend the three jobs he already brings - shooting, playmaking, and on-ball scoring - Indiana suddenly has a quartet of players who can all keep an offense steady without needing to dominate it. That matters because it keeps the Pacers from depending on lesser rotation pieces to cover too much ground.
It also changes the front office picture. If Nembhard’s growth holds, Indiana could be in a position to use McConnell’s contract as a trade chip. With McConnell and Obi Toppin the only movable contracts on the roster, that could open a path to another long-term rotation piece rather than forcing the team to cling to a veteran it can’t easily replace.
If Nembhard can keep filling in those gaps, the Pacers stand to gain a lot more than just extra point guard minutes. They may find the kind of flexibility that pays off for years. Any extension Indiana offers him now would look like a sensible bet on a player who still feels like he’s only getting started.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburton Already Has Pacers Fans Worried About One Big Thing
Tyrese Haliburtons night off in Atlanta was enough to stir some unease around the Pacers, even if the bigger picture still looks calm. He sat out Indianas preseason game against the Hawks because of a tweaked ankle, another reminder of how closely this teams fortunes are tied to its star guard after his recovery from the Achilles tear he suffered in the 2024-25 NBA Finals.
For a team built around Haliburtons pace, passing and shot-making, even a minor setback tends to draw attention. The ankle issue is being described as minor, but it arrives at a time when every preseason note about his health carries extra weight for Indiana, and it leaves fans watching closely as the Pacers try to get through October with their most important player staying on track. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Still Have The One Problem Fans Thought Was Fixed
The Pacers second preseason game offered a familiar sort of reminder, even in a tight 119-117 loss to the Hawks. Indiana came out with an early lead, then faded in the third quarter and never quite found its footing again, all while keeping the workload light and not playing anyone more than 20 minutes. For a team trying to use October to smooth out its edges, the result was less important than the way the game unfolded.
Even after bringing in Ivica Zubac to shore up the glass, the rebound battle still looked shaky against Atlanta. Indiana did plenty of things well enough to stay close, but the possession game told the louder story, and that is the part the Pacers cannot afford to ignore for long. Jarace Walker led Indiana with seven rebounds, a small bright spot in a loss that left one of last seasons lingering concerns still hanging around. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Just Became Indianas Biggest Question Again
Tyrese Haliburton is back in NBA action after missing the previous season with an Achilles tendon injury, and for the Pacers, that alone makes his return one of the most closely watched developments of the fall. Indiana has built plenty of its recent identity around Haliburtons playmaking and pace, which is why every step in his comeback carries extra weight for a team that still views him as a centerpiece. He is under a five-year extension he signed in 2023, and the franchise is still planning around him being a starter for the 2026-27 season.
What makes this next stretch so important is not just whether Haliburton can suit up again, but how quickly he can look like himself after such a serious injury. His first game back offered some encouraging signs, with his passing and defense both standing out, yet the bigger question for Indiana is what comes next as he settles back into live NBA rhythm. For a Pacers team that has invested so much in him, the answer will shape far more than one return appearance. [Read more 🡒]