Indiana’s path back to contention runs straight through February 11.
That date matters because the Pacers are heading into a strange season, one shaped by a quiet offseason, a major injury, and a roster that still needs real help around Tyrese Haliburton. His return changes the outlook, but it doesn’t solve everything. If Indiana wants to chase a championship again, the front office has to treat the trade deadline as the moment to act.
The 2025-2026 season already looks like a lost one for Indiana because of what happened in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Hlie suffered a torn right Achilles tendon, and that injury didn’t just wipe out a season of his career. It likely cost the Pacers a title, too, since his absence opened the door for the Thunder to win the championship.
The offseason only made things messier. Indiana also lost Myles Turner, the Lego-obsessed center who had spent 10 years with the franchise and appeared set to finish his career there. Instead, the Pacers handled his contract talks poorly, putting out a lowball renewal offer that pushed him to Milwaukee.
To fill the hole, Indiana traded a conditional first-round pick for Ivica Zubac. He brings a different style than Turner, but he’s still a solid center. The problem is that the conditions on that pick didn’t break in the Pacers’ favor, and as a result they missed out on one of the deepest draft classes ever in 2026.
That leaves the Pacers in a difficult spot. Haliburton’s return should lift them out of the bottom tier, but simply getting him back won’t be enough in a conference that has shifted around them.
The East is tougher now, with the Heat, the 76ers, and the Raptors all making major moves. The reigning champions are also the Pacers’ old nemesis, the New York Knicks.
That’s why the trade deadline has to be the focal point. Indiana needs the first half of the season to figure out what it has and what it still lacks. Then it has to be ready to make real moves on February 11 if it wants to set itself up for a serious run in 2026-2027.
Of course, that plan comes with one big question: how quickly does Hali get back to being himself after missing a full season and recovering from a torn Achilles? Plenty of players never quite regain their old level after that kind of injury. However it shakes out, the Pacers need to be prepared to spend at the deadline if they want to get back into the title picture.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburton Gives Pacers Fans One Huge Reason To Watch Tonight
The Pacers finally get a real look at their new starting group tonight when they open preseason against the Timberwolves, and there is plenty of curiosity baked into the matchup. For Indiana, this is the first chance to see the lineup tested against another team after camp work, with the game offering an early read on how the pieces fit as the season approaches. Minnesota brings its own intrigue after an active offseason, so this is not just a tune-up for the Pacers but a first glimpse at where they stand.
Tyrese Haliburtons return from injury is the biggest reason Indiana fans will be paying attention, since his presence changes the tone of the entire operation. His availability gives the Pacers a centerpiece to build around again, and tonight should offer a useful look at how he moves with the new starting five around him. There are still plenty of questions left to answer, but this game at least starts to sketch out what Indiana can be once the games begin to count. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Preseason Opener Will Reveal Something Bigger Than The Score
The first preseason game will give the Pacers their initial live look at how this group is coming together, but it will not settle the biggest questions hanging over camp. Tyrese Haliburtons Achilles recovery remains a storyline worth monitoring, and the arrival of new faces such as Kelly Oubre Jr. and Ivica Zubac adds another layer to watch as Indiana starts sorting out rotations and roles.
What matters most early on is less about the final score and more about whether the group looks connected. For a team trying to build momentum for the season ahead, chemistry and morale can matter just as much as any box score detail, and this opener should offer at least a first glimpse of how well the Pacers are building that foundation. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Slawson Has A Real Chance To Force His Way In
Jalen Slawson has already taken an unusual route to get here, and Indiana looks like the kind of place where that path can keep opening up. After being cut by both Sacramento and Orlando, he has put together a summer that has given the Pacers a reason to keep watching closely, especially as they sort through the edges of a roster that always seems to have room for players who can fit specific roles.
For Slawson, the job description is pretty clear. Indiana is looking for defense, rebounding and energy in transition more than a polished scoring package, and his two-way contract gives him a chance to prove he can handle that assignment every night. The preseason now looms as the real test, because if he keeps building on what he has shown so far, he could play his way into something more meaningful than just another developmental look. [Read more 🡒]