Full Breakdown
Indiana Pacers’ Offseason: Winners, Losers and Roster Outlook
7/13/2026, 12:08:14 PM
Core Moves and Roster Changes
During the 2025-2026 offseason the Pacers added veteran wing Kelly Oubre Jr. and versatile forward/center Larry Nance Jr. to multi-year contracts, signed guard Kobe Brown to a two-way deal, and waived forward Micah Potter to clear space for Nance Jr.’s signing. The team also re-signed forward Kobe Brown on a two-way contract, extended a qualifying offer to forward Jalen Slawson, and is expected to add another two-way player, Braden Smith. A first-round pick was lost to the Los Angeles Clippers after the NBA Draft Lottery, leaving the Pacers without a high-draft asset for the upcoming season.
Background & Context
The Pacers entered the offseason after a 2025 NBA Finals appearance. Management emphasized “adding complementary pieces” while preserving the continuity that propelled the franchise to the Finals. The front office signaled confidence in the existing core and opted for depth and flexibility rather than blockbuster trades.
Winners
- Jay Huff (center, 32) – With Potter removed and no new traditional backup center signed, Huff is positioned to claim the backup role. The organization’s “lack of urgency to add another true center” underscores the opportunity.
- Andrew Nembhard (guard) & Aaron Nesmith (guard) – Oubre Jr.’s arrival provides a proven wing defender, allowing Nembhard and Nesmith to focus more on offense and receive rest during the 82-game schedule.
- Kelly Oubre Jr. (wing) – His size, length and defensive versatility upgrade the reserve wing rotation, relieving the burden on Nembhard and Nesmith and giving coach Rick Carlisle an additional starting-caliber option.
- Obi Toppin (forward) – Remains a reliable small-ball option at the five, complementing the new depth on the wing.
Losers
- Jarace Walker (forward, 2023 No. 8 pick) & Ben Sheppard (guard, 2023 No. 26 pick) – The addition of Oubre Jr. compresses the backup wing rotation, putting both first-rounders at risk of reduced minutes and possible trade to maintain salary flexibility.
- Taelon Peter (guard) & Ethan Thompson (guard) – Two-way contracts now compete with Brown, Slawson, Smith and others for only three roster spots, making their roster security tenuous.
- Micah Potter (forward) – Waived to finalize Nance Jr.’s signing, ending his brief tenure with Indiana.
Official Statements & Responses
- Kevin Prithchard, President of Basketball Operations – Stated that Huff and Potter would compete for the backup center role, then confirmed that after Potter’s departure “the backup center job is clearly his to lose” unless another move occurs before training camp.
- Rick Carlisle, Head Coach – Highlighted Oubre Jr.’s defensive skill set as “another proven, capable wing defender to lean on throughout the season,” noting that the signing eases the defensive load on Nembhard and Nesmith and provides “insurance if either starter is unavailable.”
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts note that the Pacers are now “much closer to the luxury tax threshold,” a level the franchise has avoided for more than two decades. The front office’s decision to replace Potter with Nance Jr. creates financial flexibility, but retaining both Walker and Sheppard could push the team over the tax line, prompting speculation that one may be traded to stay below the threshold.
Data & Statistics
- First-round pick forfeited to the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Five players (Brown, Slawson, Smith, Peter, Thompson) are contesting three two-way roster spots.
- The team is “much closer to the luxury tax threshold,” with the last luxury-tax payment occurring over twenty years ago.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The available sources present a consistent picture of roster moves; no contradictory figures on salaries or exact tax-line proximity are provided. Detailed salary numbers and the precise number of luxury-tax dollars remaining are absent.
What’s Next
Training camp will determine whether Huff secures the backup center role, which wing—Walker, Sheppard or Oubre Jr.—dominates the rotation, and which two-way players survive the roster cut. The front office may explore a trade involving Walker or Sheppard if the luxury-tax margin tightens before the regular season begins.
