The key pickup was point guard T.J. Ford, who likely will replace Tinsley, who remains on the roster but isn't expected to play. Ford averaged 12.1 points and 6.1 assists per game for the Raptors last season before coming to the Pacers in the O'Neal trade.

Granger is excited to have Ford as the point guard, and compared him to San Antonio point guard Tony Parker.

"He's incredibly fast," Granger said. "He's a pass-first point guard, and he can score the ball."

Granger, Dunleavy and Ford are among those expected to fill O'Neal's leadership role.

"I think it's going to be a bunch of guys," O'Brien said. "The best teams I've ever been around have had a bunch of leaders who feel comfortable leading and very comfortable in allowing other people to lead also."

The Pacers also added point guard Jarrett Jack in a trade with Portland. Jack is expected to play both guard spots and push Ford.

O'Brien said Troy Murphy is the favorite to start at power forward. He averaged 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds last season.

The battle for the starting center spot likely will be the most contested. Jeff Foster remains, but the team added Rasho Nesterovic and draft pick Roy Hibbert in the trade with Toronto.

"We want there to be great competition," O'Brien said. "We want there to be daily wars at that position, to see people getting their lips cut and nose bloodied so that whoever gets that job will be toughened by his teammates."

Another player to watch is Brandon Rush, a rookie who helped Kansas win the college national championship last season.

The new-look Pacers expect to make the postseason this season.

"That's the only way I can look at things," O'Brien said. "If we get accomplished team leadership, team ownership for defense, absolutely, we'll be in the playoffs."