Is Kelly Oubre Jr. Really a Better Fit Than Mathurin? Mailbag Pt. 1

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are answering YOUR questions for the September Mailbag, kicking off Part 1 of a three-part series!

Today's episode is all about rotation, lineups and roster fit as the guys dive into some of the biggest questions surrounding Rick Carlisle's options heading into the season.

What is the Pacers' best five-man lineup, and how does it stack up against the best lineups around the NBA? How will Carlisle divide the wing minutes between Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, Kelly Oubre Jr., Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard? Could the numbers game ultimately force either Jarace or Sheppard out of the regular rotation?

A large portion of the conversation centers around Kelly Oubre Jr. and Bennedict Mathurin. After Mathurin signed a deal similar in value to Oubre's, which player would the guys rather have coming off Indiana's bench? Is Mathurin's scoring ability more valuable to the second unit, or does Oubre's defense, versatility and overall fit make him the better option for this Pacers roster?

Alex and Facci also predict what kind of production Oubre could provide and whether he can match—or potentially exceed—what Mathurin brought to Indiana.

Then, the guys discuss the backup point guard situation. Is it actually a weakness with T.J. McConnell, Braden Smith, Quenton Jackson and Andrew Nembhard all capable of handling some of those responsibilities? Or should backup center be the position Indiana prioritizes upgrading at the trade deadline?

Plus, who leads the Pacers' bench in scoring this season? And what will Bennedict Mathurin's stat line look like when he faces Indiana on opening night?

A loaded Part 1 of the September Mailbag with plenty of rotation debates, lineup discussion and thoughts on how all the pieces of this Pacers roster will fit together.

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