INDIANAPOLIS — Coming off a 2019 season where he averaged career highs in rebounds, points, field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage, Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis intends to keep improving.

Shortly after the Pacers were swept out of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics, Sabonis began texting Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard, asking him to open up the gym and wondering if a coach could put him through workouts.

That commitment to improvement could force the Pacers and coach Nate McMillan to give the Sixth Man of the Year candidate a larger role next season.

"The one thing I know with Domas is he's going to make himself better this summer," Pritchard said at the end of season news conference Wednesday. "He's a big-time worker. He will get better and his role will be bigger."

How to increase Sabonis' role is the challenge. Whether that includes added playing time with center Myles Turner remains to be seen. After ranking 25th out of 30 teams in pace last season, McMillan said he wants to play at a faster tempo next season. Playing two traditional bigs makes it hard to play faster. Still, Pritchard said he believes Turner and Sabonis will find a way to co-exist on the floor.

"I believe this and it's more in theory versus specific toward Myles and Sabonis — I believe good players figure it out," Pritchard said. "I think Myles is getting to the point where he's an elite defender and we need to use him more offensively. ... And I think Sabonis, his ceiling is really high offensively. If he can become a better defender then I don't think there's any doubt that they can play together and play major minutes together."

The team showed its commitment to Turner, signing him to a four-year $80-million deal before the season. Sabonis is under contract for one more year. He'll become a restricted free agent in 2020.

Pritchard wouldn't say whether they plan to extend Sabonis, adding that no player outside of Victor Oladipo is untouchable. He did say that the former Gonzaga star is enjoying his time in Indy, and the organization believes the best is yet to come.

"With Domas, in the exit meeting, he's just a nice guy. He's a real good human being," Pritchard said. "All indications that he loves it here. He loves what we're building, he loves that he's a part of it. I think he wants a bigger role and I think we've got to figure out how to get him a bigger role."

Follow IndyStar sports producer Akeem Glaspie on Twitter at @THEAkeemGlaspie.