In order to completely understand the moves a team makes the timeline of events must be listed as well.
Pre Draft
Jalen Smith opts out of his contract
Draft
Pick 36 the Pacers select Ulrich Chomche
Pick 49 the Pacers select Hunter Sallis
Pick 50 the Pacers select Jalen Bridges
Pacers fail to move up in the draft by pairing their SRPs together leaving them gambling on multiple prospects. Chomche happily fell to them but both Sallis and Bridges are viewed as players who won't help immediately
Free Agency
Pacers sign Pascal Siakam to a max deal getting the free agency period started immediately
After allowing Obi Toppin to shop around they informed him they'd match whatever he was offered elsewhere but prefer to make a deal together allowing for specific terms. They wait to see how much room they have below the luxury before signing Toppin to a 4 year 87 million dollar contract with no options.
Chomche signs a 4 year deal with the final year being a team option
Pacers target a 3rd string point guard and end up signing Malachi Flynn to a 2 year minimum with the 2nd year being both a player option and partially guaranteed
Pacers bring James Johnson back on his 3rd 1 year minimum contract
Start of Season
Starting lineup:
Haliburton
Nembhard
Nesmith
Siakam
Turner
The bench has very little turnover with TJ McConnell and Toppin continuing their great chemistry. The big change is Isaiah Jackson taking over the backup center minutes and Jarace Walker getting backup wing minutes. Ben Mathurin being back in rotation over Ben Sheppard is also worth mentioning as he gets completely healthy over the offseason.
During the season
The offense continues to be elite but the improved defense doesn't hold up. They struggle to get stops and rebound causing the team to begin looking for a trade by quietly shopping Nesmith and Turner for a big man that is both a better rebounder and rim deterrent. They are comfortably in the play in all year long but fight to make it into the top 6 of the conference up until the final weeks of the season.