The Indiana Pacers have already made one notable move in NBA free agency, agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with veteran wing Kelly Oubre Jr. worth around $17 million. The deal has reportedly been agreed upon, though the team has not officially announced Oubre’s signing yet. For now, it sounds like only the final details are left to sort out, and Oubre is expected to end up with Indiana soon.
Even with that move on the board, Pacers fans are still looking for more. One name that has surfaced is DeMar DeRozan, who became available after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Sacramento Kings. The question now is whether Indiana should seriously explore adding the veteran scorer.
Sports Illustrated’s Alex Golden weighed in on that possibility and saw enough there to understand the appeal, even if he doesn’t expect it to happen. He pointed to Indiana’s win-now mindset and DeRozan’s ability to still put points on the board.
"Why would the Pacers have interest in adding a 37-year-old wing? Well, they want to win-now and he is still a capable player. He is an elite scorer, despite not being a great three-point shooter, and adds more scoring to the bench than anyone else they have on the roster," Golden wrote.
Golden still stopped short of projecting a match, though. He said he does not see DeRozan landing in Indiana, even if the path would be straightforward if the veteran is open to the minimum.
"I don't see DeRozan joining the Pacers in the offseason, but it would be easy to make happen if he is willing to sign the veterans minimum. Indiana offers DeRozan a well-balanced team, a reunion with his former teammate, Pascal Siakam, and the chance to play for a championship after spending the back half of his career playing for lesser talented teams."
DeRozan’s 2025-26 season with Sacramento gave a clear picture of what he still brings. He appeared in 77 games and averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and a steal per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range.
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Pacers Quiet Offseason Just Turned Up The Pressure On Young Talent
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For the young players already on the roster, though, the quiet summer has turned into a real test. Oubres arrival adds another wing body to a crowded mix, and Smith is expected to land on a two-way contract, which only tightens the battle for those limited spots. The Pacers wanted competition, but they also created a little more of it than some of their younger talents may have bargained for. [Read more 🡒]
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Several newcomers put together notable all-around showings, contributing points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in their Summer League debuts. The names and draft slots are part of the intrigue, but the broader takeaway is simpler: this class already has players forcing attention, and the next round of games should tell a little more about who is ready to keep building on those early flashes. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Update Just Changed Everything For The Pacers
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For a team trying to stay in the playoff mix, the update changes the mood around a roster that already includes Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and newcomer Ivica Zubac. Haliburtons return would restore the kind of playmaking and pace that made Indiana dangerous, but the bigger question now is how the Pacers manage the stretch between here and his comeback, and how quickly they can get back to looking like a contender once he is finally available again. [Read more 🡒]