The Indiana Pacers have spent the offseason building out a roster that looks ready to make noise again in the 2026-27 NBA season, and the most important swing factor may not be the biggest name on the board.
With Tyrese Haliburton healthy and back on the floor, Indiana should once again be squarely in the mix in the Eastern Conference. The front office has also kept adding around him, headlined by the arrival of star center Ivica Zubac, who came over from the Los Angeles Clippers at last year’s trade deadline.
This summer brought more help. Kelly Oubre Jr. was brought in to add scoring off the bench on a two-year deal worth around $17 million, and the Pacers also strengthened the front line by signing veteran big man Larry Nance Jr. to a one-year, $4 million contract.
On paper, that’s a stronger group than the one that pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to Game 7 of the NBA Finals just over a year ago.
Still, the piece that could end up shaping Indiana’s ceiling is Obi Toppin.
Toppin may not open the season in the starting five, but his value off the bench could be one of the defining elements of the Pacers’ year. He’s expected to handle a major role behind Pascal Siakam, and Indiana will need him to keep bringing the same juice he has shown in recent seasons.
Last year, the 28-year-old forward was limited to 24 games and three starts because of injury, but he still averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from beyond the arc.
That production fits the broader pattern. Over the last three seasons, Toppin has averaged more than 10 points per game, giving Indiana speed, athleticism and real pop in the second unit.
If he keeps playing at the level he has shown over the last two years, the Pacers should remain one of the league’s best bench teams. He might not be the most recognizable name on the roster, but his role matters plenty.
Toppin also brings more than energy and highlight plays. His rebounding helps, and his three-point shooting has become a real weapon, something Indiana will lean on heavily this season.
Even with his name surfacing in trade rumors, the Pacers have made it clear they view him as part of the core. Now they need him to back that up.
In Other News...
NBA Just Gave Pacers Fans Another Reason To Question The League
The NBAs latest round of discipline has given Pacers fans another reason to wonder where the league draws the line. Indiana was hit with a $100,000 fine under the Player Participation Policy, a penalty that landed in the same conversation as Utahs much larger $500,000 punishment and immediately invited comparisons about how the league handles teams that sit players or manage minutes in ways that raise eyebrows.
For Pacers followers, the frustration is less about the dollar amount than the inconsistency around it. The Jazz were punished for resting key players in fourth quarters, while other clubs have done similar things without drawing the same response, including the Washington Wizards, who were not fined or investigated in the same way. It leaves Indiana in a familiar spot: paying for a violation while still wondering why the rules seem to apply differently depending on the team. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Just Lost Another Frontcourt Piece Fans Were Watching
Micah Potter is on the move again, and this one trims a little more depth from Indianas frontcourt. The 28-year-old power forward spent last season with the Pacers, appearing in 47 games while giving the team useful minutes in the rotation, and he had become one of the names fans were tracking as the roster continued to take shape.
Portland stepped in and claimed Potter off waivers, adding him to its active roster as it looks for more size after recent trades. For Indiana, the timing is notable because Potter still had a year left on his contract, leaving one more roster decision in the background as the Pacers keep sorting out the frontcourt picture. [Read more 🡒]