NBA Notes: Pacers, Andrew Nembhard, Hawks, Trae Young, Magic

Pacers

With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the year due to an Achilles tear, Andrew Nembhard is preparing to take the wheel in Indiana.

“It changes my whole perception of the game,” Nembhard said, via Joshua Heron of The Indianapolis Star. “Bringing the ball up is a whole new way of looking at the game instead of running off the ball.”

While Haliburton has been the offensive hub since 2022, Pascal Siakam made it clear that replacing him won’t be a one-man job.

“It’s never been about one person,” Siakam said. “This year it’s not gonna be different. We all are gonna have to do it collectively. I was telling the guys, it’s not going to take one person to replace Ty.”

Siakam expects to take on more on-ball duties himself, something he’s done before as a primary creator in Toronto.

“I can adapt to every situation,” he said. “I’ve had triple-doubles before. I’ve worked on every facet of my game.”

Hawks

Atlanta’s offseason makeover — highlighted by the additions of Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard — has coach Quin Snyder thinking about versatility.

“For our team to be as good as I think we need to be and want to be, our players have to understand that every game is different,” Snyder said, per Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He praised the specific skills the newcomers bring: Alexander-Walker’s point-of-attack defense, Porzingis’ defensive versatility, and Kennard’s elite shooting.

“It’s a slow burn,” Snyder added. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t be urgent about focusing and pursuing that.”

Meanwhile, Trae Young will enter camp without an extension. Eligible for a four-year, $223 million deal, Young said he’s not worried.

“I’m blessed, bro,” he said, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “If something happened, it happened. If it didn’t, I still got time. I’m focused on this team… Who knows what the future is for me. But right now I’m here and I’m present.”

Magic

The Magic are targeting opening night for Jalen Suggs’ return from a left knee trochlea cartilage tear, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel.

Suggs hoped to be fully cleared for camp, but the plan now is to use the preseason as a ramp-up.

Big man Moritz Wagner, recovering from a torn ACL, is further behind.

“Moe’s timeline is different,” team president Jeff Weltman said. “He’s further away… but he’s attacking it.”

Head coach Jamahl Mosley said Suggs participated in all non-contact drills at Tuesday’s practice, while Wagner did many of the same drills but was “probably two steps back” in his progress.