In a savvy move to bolster their roster, the Indiana Pacers have maneuvered back into the draft, despite initially holding no picks. By trading Kam Jones and a couple of future second-round pick swaps, the Pacers secured the rights to Purdue's Braden Smith, the 38th overall pick. This strategic acquisition adds a promising point guard to their lineup, showcasing the Pacers' commitment to strengthening their squad.
Post-draft, Pacers GM Chad Buchanan shed light on the rationale behind the trade and offered a glimpse into the team's free agency strategy. With an eye on shoring up their roster, Buchanan highlighted the need to enhance their backup wing position and center depth.
Currently, the Pacers' wing roster includes Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard, and Johnny Furphy. While Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin can flex into wing roles, they're primarily forwards.
Nesmith stands out as the starting small forward, bringing tenacity and defensive prowess to the court, despite being one of the shorter players in that role league-wide. His grit has been instrumental in the Pacers' recent postseason successes.
Walker and Sheppard, though seasoned, have yet to deliver significant scoring off the bench, and their defensive performances have room for improvement. Sheppard shows promise defensively, while Walker has struggled since transitioning from college. Furphy, known for his defensive capabilities, is currently sidelined with an ACL injury, pushing his return past the season start.
To address these gaps, the Pacers are poised to utilize their cap space, potentially bringing in new talent through free agency or trades. Buchanan's conversation with JMV on 107.5 the Fan revealed that the team is open to various avenues to enhance their lineup, including leveraging their mid-level exception for strategic acquisitions.
The discussion also touched on Micah Potter's situation, with his future uncertain due to a team option and non-guaranteed contract status. The Pacers' center depth remains a focal point, especially after last season's reshuffle following Myles Turner's departure. The team previously navigated a crowded center lineup, ultimately releasing James Wiseman to make room for Mac McClung.
By integrating Braden Smith on a two-way contract, the Pacers have freed up a roster spot, allowing them flexibility in retaining Potter. With the offseason roster limit at 21, the Pacers have the luxury of evaluating their options before finalizing their 15-man roster.
As the offseason progresses, fans should temper expectations for blockbuster trades. The Pacers' strategy appears focused on minor adjustments, reinforcing their core seven players while potentially adding complementary pieces. The team's depth is a significant asset, and with the anticipated return of a healthy Tyrese Haliburton and the addition of Ivica Zubac, Indiana seems poised for another competitive season.
In Other News...
Pacers Just Sent A Clear Message About Two Fringe Roster Spots
Micah Potters brief run in Indiana was enough to give the Pacers a clearer read on one of their end-of-bench decisions. After joining the team in December 2025 and helping fill in during a stretch when center depth was thin, the stretch big gave Indiana a usable floor-spacer on a low-cost deal. Now the front office is signaling it wants to keep that option alive, while preserving flexibility as it sorts out the rest of the roster.
Jalen Slawson is in a similar holding pattern, only with a different kind of value. The Pacers extended him a two-way qualifying offer, which makes him a restricted free agent and keeps the door open on a player they saw real defensive potential from last season. Indiana has clearly identified both players as pieces worth retaining in some form, but the next step will determine just how secure those fringe spots really are. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Linked To Veteran Wing Who Could Change Their Bench Scoring
As the Pacers get ready for free agency, one wing target has surfaced as a potential fit for a team looking to add more pop behind its starters. Kelly Oubre Jr., coming off a productive run with Philadelphia, has drawn interest from Indiana, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star, and he would bring the kind of scoring presence that can change the look of a second unit.
The challenge is the usual one for a team that wants more talent without upsetting the books. Indiana would need to clear salary-cap space to make a move, and that part of the equation may end up mattering just as much as the player himself. Oubres recent production shows why hes on the radar, but whether the Pacers can actually make the numbers work is the question hanging over the idea. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Already Built The Kind Of Core Other Teams Still Want
Around the league, contenders are still chasing the formula Indiana already has in place. The Pacers built their roster around Tyrese Haliburton and gave him a co-star in Pascal Siakam, then added a reliable third option in Ivica Zubac, with a deep group behind them that makes the whole operation harder to pick apart. It is the kind of balance other teams spend years trying to manufacture, whether it is Minnesota pairing LaMelo Ball with Anthony Edwards or Golden State hunting another star to stack with Stephen Curry.
For Indiana, the bigger question is no longer whether the pieces fit. The Pacers already showed how far that structure can carry them by pushing all the way to a Game 7 in the NBA Finals, and the conversation around them has shifted to whether the group can stay healthy enough to get another crack at that level. In a league obsessed with star pairings, that is the part worth watching in Indiana: the core is in place, and the margin for the Pacers now may come down to something far less glamorous. [Read more 🡒]