Pacers first-round pick Chris Duarte likely won’t be a starter to open the 2021/22 season, but the team is increasingly confident he’s capable of playing his way into that role, according to J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star.
Michael suggests that Duarte has already displayed an “it” factor that will be impossible to overlook and has exhibited the sort of leadership skills the Pacers were lacking in 2020/21. The 24-year-old, one of the oldest and most NBA-ready players in this year’s draft class, looks capable of making an impact and helping to improve Indiana’s defense right away, Michael writes.
Here’s more on the Pacers:
- While Duarte has turned more heads so far, the Pacers are also high on their other first-round pick, Isaiah Jackson, Michael says in the same IndyStar story. As Michael writes, Indiana is eager to see how the shot-blocking Jackson looks alongside the team’s other rim protector, Myles Turner.
- T.J. Warren has had a career year in his first season with the Pacers in 2019/20 (19.8 PPG on .536/.403/.819 shooting), but had a lost season in 2020/21, when foot surgery limited him to four games. Entering a contract year, Warren is in position to put himself in line for a huge payday if he can bounce back and recapture his ’19/20 form, writes Evan Sidery of BasketballNews.com.
- Former Atlanta head coach Lloyd Pierce, recently hired by the Pacers as an assistant, spoke this week about what he’ll bring to Rick Carlisle‘s staff, including an ability to stay calm in the face of adversity, as Akeem Glaspie of The Indianapolis Star details. “I don’t stress and people that know me know that I don’t stress, this is just basketball,” Pierce said.
- In case you missed it, Indiana signed undrafted rookie DeJon Jarreau to a two-way contract earlier in the week.
I had a chance to watch Duarte in Summer League. He’s the real deal. Excellent shooter. Steady on the dribble. Good decision maker. And he appeared very poised. He will start soon enough.
I’m not gonna lie I haven’t been as impressed with Duarte. He won’t be as bad as former Duck Luke Jackson but I doubt he’ll ever become as impactful as former Duck Dillon Brooks. Could be a helpful piece on the wing, especially as a catch & shoot guy but definitely hard to see him taking Caris spot. Maybe they’re thinking about starting Warren at the 4 & have Caris & Duarte on the wings but seems to me that starting Myles & Domas together is a much better option than that
Simmons Brogdon trade proposal needs to be revised now
Brogdon and lottery protected First for Simmons
The longer Philly waits, the less they are going to get in return for Simmons.
Unless someone gets desperate. Maybe if the Warriors start to realize that Klay won’t be back as soon as they expected then they’ll make the trade.
Duarte looks great wished Knicks had a chance to get him
Looking forward to the Lillard jojo pick and pop once Portland comes to it’s senses.
The Pacers have a curious philosophy of making rebounding a lower priority. The last three years they have finished 26th, 25th and 24th. No immediate roster fix is in place for the coming season (Jackson is likely to be foul prone).
Wasn’t high on Duarte after tournament. Didn’t really watch him before that. Saw him as kind of stiff. Not really fluid. Then he shot up draft. After watching him in SL. Gotta say he is more ready than most. Looks like solid 2way guy. His body is NBA ready. Has a good stroke. Pacers with Jackson too. Had an excellent draft.