The Pacers went into the 2023 draft with a clear idea of what they wanted on the wing: shooting, length, defense, and the kind of connective play that fits around Tyrese Haliburton. They had Aaron Nesmith in place already, plus the late first-round pick they got in the Malcolm Brogdon deal with the Boston Celtics, and the plan looked straightforward enough - turn over the wing room and come out with at least two forwards worth trusting.
For a moment, Indiana got exactly that. The Pacers used the eighth pick on Houston’s Jarace Walker, then came back later and selected Belmont’s Ben Sheppard with that Celtics pick.
Walker was supposed to be the kind of connective starter who could anchor the defense the way Haliburton runs the offense. Sheppard looked like a clean fit as a bench-ready three-and-D small forward.
That vision didn’t last.
A few years later, both players are hanging around the edges of the rotation and trying to hold onto their NBA footing. Walker at least has the safety net that comes with being a top-10 pick.
Sheppard does not. He’s been solid enough to count as a replacement-level player, but he hasn’t turned into the reliable bench piece Indiana seemed to be drafting.
So how did it get here? The answer starts with Pascal Siakam.
Once Siakam became available, Indiana’s wing plan got blown up. He was already a better and more complete version of the player the Pacers hoped Walker could become, so the team shifted Walker’s development to the background and asked him to fill a bench role instead - when he probably should have been part of the package to land Siakam in the first place.
Walker took the biggest hit, no question. But the fallout reached Sheppard too.
With the rotation tightening and the team reshaping itself, his minutes and his role nearly vanished. That’s despite the fact that, at one point, he was outperforming Walker - he played in more games, scored more points per game, and spent time learning behind Bruce Brown before Brown was included in the Siakam trade.
Still, NBA pecking orders matter. Even when Sheppard was doing more in the moment, the former top-10 pick got the longer leash and the bigger share of attention.
Sheppard did manage some useful moments during the 2024-25 Finals run, and he also made a shooting leap during last year’s gap year. But even with that on his resume, he still hasn’t been handed a real chance to claim a rotation spot, and Indiana’s depth issues make that hard to ignore.
The result is hard to miss: a young player who was supposed to be part of the solution has been pushed to the margins at nearly every turn.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburton Just Gave Pacers Fans Another Reason To Watch Him
Tyrese Haliburton has already given Pacers fans plenty to track on the floor, but his latest move suggests he is building something off it as well. He posted on X looking for thumbnail designers, a small detail on the surface that points to a broader push around his YouTube and Twitch presence, where he has been steadily carving out a bigger digital footprint.
Haliburton also recently launched Zero Doubt Creative with Wheelhouse Entertainment, a production company aimed at storytelling and content creation. For Indiana, it is another reminder that its point guard is becoming more than just the engine of the offense, even as analysts continue to point to his impact on the Pacers' success. Fans who already follow every pass and pickup game now have another lane to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Suddenly Face A Tough Andrew Nembhard Decision
Andrew Nembhard has become one of the rare Pacers draft picks from the last decade to grow into a real asset for the franchise, which is part of why his future now carries so much weight. In a roster that could look very different by the 2028-29 offseason, Indiana is already staring at the possibility of turnover around several core pieces, including three starters, and that makes every long-term decision feel a little more urgent.
Nembhards next contract will be the key question, especially if the Pacers cannot line up an extension before things get tense. For a team that has not always been able to turn draft capital into dependable rotation players, the idea of losing him without getting anything back would be a real hit, which is why trade conversations could eventually come into play if the deal never comes together. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Could Change Everything About How Fans See The Pacers
ESPN analyst Bobby Marks sees a path for the Pacers to look a lot different this season, even after last years 19-win finish and the long absence of Tyrese Haliburton. Indiana is getting back key pieces and added Kelly Oubre, which gives the roster a little more balance around a point guard who changes the whole feel of the team when hes healthy. In a stronger Eastern Conference, that kind of swing matters, because it can quickly turn a rebuilding-looking group into one that makes the standings a lot more interesting.
Marks even drew a parallel to Kawhi Leonards return from injury, the kind of comparison that hints at how much Haliburton can alter expectations if hes fully back. The Pacers do not need a miracle to look better, but they may need Haliburton to be the version of himself that forces opponents to adjust every night. If that happens, Indianas season could look nothing like the one fans saw a year ago. [Read more 🡒]