2. Tshiebwe is in line to earn a role
Talk about heading to a team that can utilize your skillsets. The Indiana Pacers might have some of the least depth at the center position, which unless Tshiewe turns into a three-point specialist overnight, is where he will be playing.
The current starting center for Indiana is Myles Turner. He’s a steady big man, and just hitting the peak of his prime, following a career-high average of 18.0 points per game in 2022-23. However, Turner’s name always seems to come up in trade rumors, leaving the window open for even more competition at the five position. It is important to keep in mind that Turner signed a two-year extension during the season, which means he’s not a free agent until 2025.
After Turner, the backup is Jalen Smith, who has been promising, but saw his production dip last season. His contract is up after next season, with a player option for an extra year.
Rounding out the Pacers’ depth chart at center are Isaiah Jackson, Daniel Theis, and James Johnson. Jackson has some potential to become an NBA veteran, but his natural position is forward. The general consensus is those three as depth pieces, with nothing standing in the way of a player like Tshiebwe coming in and taking their spots.
To me, that’s the biggest thing to watch for the latest Kentucky basketball player trying to make it in the league. Tshiebwe is a legitimate candidate to be the number three center on the Pacers’ depth chart. There’s no core veteran or blossoming prospect standing in his way. In fact, remove Turner from the equation, and I don’t think it’s far-fetched to say that Tshiebwe could even take some time away from Smith. The Pacers have a lot of room on the depth chart, opening up the perfect position for Big O to become an everyday player.