Indiana Pacers

Front office and bench

Ownership

Herbert Simon (Simon family)

President of Basketball Operations

Kevin Pritchard since 2017

General Manager

Chad Buchanan since 2017

Assistants

• Lloyd PierceLead assistant coach
• Jim BoylenAssistant coach
• Jenny BoucekAssistant coach
• Jannero PargoPlayer development
• Maurice BakerPlayer development
• Isaac YacobPlayer development

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

After an injury-riddled 19-63 season, the Pacers present themselves as a team aiming for the top of the East again with their 2025 core back healthy: Haliburton, Siakam, Nembhard, Nesmith and now Zubac as the starting center. Without a high draft pick and close to the hard cap, the summer was about tweaks with veterans. Carlisle admits Zubac will force them to play differently.

Building around

Tyrese Haliburton Pascal Siakam Ivica Zubac Andrew Nembhard

What they have said

• He sees Haliburton as very well recovered and doesn't expect many limitations, though they will monitor his workload with the medical staff.

  Head coach Rick Carlisle · Pacers Media Day (Sports Illustrated) · September 2026

• He considers Zubac one of the best centers in the league and believes his profile will change the way the team plays.

  Head coach Rick Carlisle · Sports Illustrated / Locked On Pacers · September 2026

What the data points to

• Clean up the books Likely

  • Spends 206.4 M and is in the luxury tax.
  • Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard are paid more than they produce.
  • It is 6.0 M over the tax, and every extra million costs another one and a half or more in penalties.
  • Expiring contracts appeal to it: swapping long money for salary that runs out frees up room for the summer.

Moves

Summer 2026

• Tyrese Haliburton returns after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles; he says he has no restrictions.
• First full season with Ivica Zubac, acquired from the Clippers at the February 2026 deadline for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and two first-round picks.
• Their 2026 first-round pick (top-4 protected) conveyed to the Clippers at No. 5 after they missed out in the lottery.
• Kelly Oubre Jr. signs (two years, $16.5M).
• Larry Nance Jr. signs (one year, minimum).
• Draft: they acquire the rights to Braden Smith (No. 38) from Chicago in exchange for Kam Jones.
• Departures: Micah Potter (Portland), Taelon Peter (San Antonio) and Ethan Thompson (Partizan).

Latest

• Oct 17 Waived Waived Cs Keba Keita, Rienk Mast and F James Johnson.
• Oct 17 Waived Waived F James Johnson. Waived Cs Keba Keita and Rienk Mast.
• Sep 21 Waived Waived F Kowacie Reeves Jr. and G Jalen Warley.
• Feb 5 Draft picks Acquired C Ivica Zubac and F Kobe Brown from the L.A. Clippers in exchange for G Bennedict Mathurin, F Isaiah Jackson a 2026 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.

The roster

13 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

Strengths and weaknesses

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

• Defense 23rd
• Rim protection 10th
• Three-point shooting 24th
• Playmaking 26th
• Scoring 24th
• Rebounding 4th
• Offensive impact 26th

Roster holes

• Needs a quality bigIts best big ranks below 90% of the league.
• Weak in playmakingWith today’s rotation it ranks 26th in the league in playmaking.
• Weak in offensive impactWith today’s rotation it ranks 26th in the league in offensive impact.
• Only 1 center in the rotationOne injury leaves it without a backup in the paint.
• 2 open roster spotsHas 13 of 15 NBA contracts: it can sign players without cutting anyone.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

• Ben Sheppard 24 years old · paid 5.0 M Restricted free agent Re-signing him would cost about 6.5 M a year
• Jarace Walker 22 years old · paid 8.5 M Restricted free agent Re-signing him would cost about 11.0 M a year

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

None.

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

• Pascal Siakam48.9 M · 2 years

Money and picks

Payroll 206.4 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll

206.4 M · in the luxury tax

Distance to each line

tax: 6.0 M over · 1st apron: 2.6 M below · 2nd apron: 15.3 M below

Next summer

216.2 M committed · no cap space

First-rounders it can trade

2027, 2031

Radar and possible trades

Who could ask about its players

For now, no buyer fits what it has.

A trade that works under the CBA

Trade pieces

Assets

Jay Huff (worth 6.5 M more than his salary)

Contracts that weigh

Pascal Siakam (overpaid by 31.1 M), Andrew Nembhard (overpaid by 8.3 M)

To match salaries

Jarace Walker (8.5 M)