The Indiana Pacers will host the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday.

The Pacers were not able to trade Myles Turner or Buddy Hield during the offseason, but that doesn’t mean they are not ready to embark on a full rebuild. The arrival of Tyrese Haliburton should give the team a solid building block in the backcourt, and the addition of sixth overall pick Benedict Mathurin might be an underrated move as well, as he has all the tools in the world to fight for the Rookie of the Year Award. The first months of the season will ultimately determine what happens with Indiana, but if the Pacers keep at least one of Turner or Hield, they might have enough in them to compete for a play-in berth. The Pacers ended last season with a 25-57 record, good for 13th in the East.

The Wizards have been stuck in mediocrity for quite a while and while the roster is taking steps forward, it’s still uncertain as to whether they’re good enough to reach the playoffs without needing a play-in berth. Sure, Bradley Beal is an elite scorer and one of the best guards in the league, but then, what’s left? Kristaps Porzingis is either often injured or too inconsistent to be a bonafide second star, Kyle Kuzma falls on the same category, and young players such as Rui Hachimura and rookie Johnny Davis aren’t ready to assume such a load. They should be better than last year, though, adding some serviceable veterans such as Monte Morris, Will Barton and Taj Gibson – all three should add depth and versatility to a team that desperately needs that. The Wizards ended last season with a 35-47 record, good for 12th in the East.