Setting The Pace: A Pacers Podcast

The tank is complete. The Indiana Pacers have lost enough games to secure the best odds for the No. 1 overall pick, and to retain their top-4 pick. On this solo episode of Setting The Pace, Alex Golden breaks down what this means for the franchise moving forward — and puts this season into historical perspective. Alex discusses: Why this will go down as the worst record in Pacers franchise history, regardless of Sunday’s result How the 1982-83 season led to the No. 2 overall pick, and how that selection ultimately played out for Indiana And what recent draft history tells us about picks outside the Top 4, particularly in the 5–9 range With the lottery now in focus, the conversation shifts to what matters most: landing in that Top 4. A painful season… but potentially a franchise-altering outcome. Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACE and use code PACE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!

Alex Golden debuts a brand new show — Fever Focus — a weekly deep dive into the Indiana Fever, joined by recurring cohost, Casey Johnson. The show will cover everything from roster moves and rumors to on-court play throughout the season. In Episode 1, Alex and Casey go all the way into the offseason bag. The guys break down: How the new WNBA CBA could reshape roster building What the Fever roster could look like next season Which players should return — and who might be on the way out Key free agents that could fit Indiana’s needs Where the team’s biggest roster hole currently sits Potential draft targets to keep an eye on Plus, they discuss how the Fever’s new $78 million practice facility could be a game changer in attracting top talent to Indiana. A new show. A fresh perspective. And a deep dive into the future of Fever basketball. Welcome to Fever Focus.

Alex Golden goes solo for a deep dive into the Indiana Pacers’ upcoming offseason on Setting The Pace. Alex opens the show by breaking down Indiana’s NBA Draft assets, including what second-round picks they hold this year and in the future, and how much cash flexibility they have to potentially buy into the draft. Then, he shifts to roster decisions: Which players are free agents this summer Who is on non-guaranteed deals And how the Pacers could approach each situation Next, Alex dives into extension-eligible players, what decisions loom for key pieces, and how landing a Top-4 pick would impact both the salary cap and rotation moving forward. He also discusses the potential futures of Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard as they approach restricted free agency down the line, and what that could mean for roster construction. To close, Alex zooms out to show just how much the roster has already changed — comparing this team to last year’s Finals roster and even back to when Tyrese Haliburton first arrived in 2021-22.

The Indiana Pacers fall to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Mike Facci is joined by Destin Adams to break it all down on Setting The Pace. Despite the loss, there were some positives to take away. Ethan Thompson turned in a strong performance, continuing to show growth, while Jalen Slawson provided solid minutes off the bench once again. However, the game ultimately slipped away due to turnovers and sloppy execution, allowing Minnesota to take control — especially during a decisive third quarter run. Facci and Destin discuss: What went wrong for Indiana The impact of turnovers on the outcome Encouraging signs from Thompson and Slawson And how the Timberwolves took over in the second half Jarace Walker's return from injury A frustrating loss, but still plenty to evaluate moving forward.

Alex and Facci are back with a deep dive into the NBA Draft, breaking down Alex’s latest two-round mock draft for Sports Illustrated and how it impacts the Pacers. With the No. 2 overall pick, Alex has Indiana selecting Darryn Peterson, and the guys discuss how that choice would reshape the roster and what it means for the team’s future. They also debate a key question: Should the Pacers take Cameron Boozer over Peterson at No. 2?What does each prospect bring and how would either fit into Indiana’s long-term plan? Later in the show, things get even more interesting. Alex projects a mid-first round trade, sending Jarace Walker to the Charlotte Hornets for Pick No. 16, where Indiana selects Cameron Carr, a 6-foot-6 wing from Baylor. The guys break down: Whether Carr is the right fit at 16 Other players Indiana could target in that range Why the Pacers might consider moving Jarace And if Pick 16 is fair value for Walker A full mock draft breakdown, roster construction debate, and big-picture thinking about Indiana’s future.