The Indiana Pacers Cinderella run has now come to a close.
Tuesday night, the clock struck midnight on the Pacers as their season ended in an unceremonious sweep by the Boston Celtics.
The series didn't go as Indiana had hoped, as they managed to fumble away several chances to avoid the dreaded sweep, including blowing a Game 1 opportunity where they lost in overtime.
Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a left hamstring injury midway through the series, making matters worse for Indy, spelling the end for a team that some may say overachieved this postseason.
Despite the loss to the Boston Celtics, the Pacers, who made the Conference Finals for the first time since 2014, have reasons to be proud and optimistic for next season.
The Eastern Conference Finals runner ups in the last couple of years have found themselves advancing to the finals the following season. So with a little luck and a strong offseason, the Pacers could find themselves playing for a championship next year.
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 couldn't have gone better. They won 47 games this past season while snagging the sixth seed in a competitive Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Haliburton took a massive leap into stardom this year, becoming an All-Star for the first time while leading the league in assists.
This season also saw significant growth from Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, who are building blocks for the future of a young Pacers team.
The Pacers will be getting back Bennedict Mathurin, who missed most of the season due to injury. Mathurin is one of the best scorers on their roster and should only make them better once he returns, giving Indy another perimeter threat.
They finally swung for the fences and traded for Raptors All-Star Pascal Siakam, who came up big time for Indy throughout the postseason.
Offseason Moves
(Photo : Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Coming into the offseason, Pascal Siakam will be a big free agent target for Indiana to re-sign.
Despite turning 30 by the end of the regular season, Siakam played at a high level and served as a consistent rock for the Pacers in the postseason.
Siakam will likely command significant money this summer from Indiana or another team.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Pascal Siakam is excited about staying with the Pacers.
Pascal Siakam is excited about the deal to the Pacers and expected to be eager to work out a new contract with the franchise this summer, sources tell ESPN. Siakam can be a free agent in July. https://t.co/gFJGXwHJCU
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2024
Siakam did not sign his contract extension last season with the Raptors, setting himself up for a bigger payday this summer.
It is evident that Siakam was a huge part of what the Pacers were last season and his strong fit alongside Haliburton and their young core is undeniable. It's likely Indiana will do what it takes to retain the two time All-Star.
Obi Toppin will also enter this summer as a restricted free agent. The former Knick could also be testing the open market this summer. It is in question whether or not the Pacers are going to be able to retain him, considering Haliburton's contract extension kicking in along with the possibility of a Siakam deal.
The Pacers own three draft picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. They will be without their first round pick due to the Siakam trade, but they do own the 36th, 49th, and 50th picks. The Pacers can likely get a few more role players to help aid in their quest of bringing a championship to Indy.
READ MORE: Pacers: Jaylen Brown Names the Indiana Player He Said Turned Into Michael Jordan
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
