The Indiana Pacers have one open spot left on their 15-man roster, and the cleanest solution is sitting right there in plain sight: James Johnson.
Johnson already spent three seasons in Indiana from 2022-25, and his value went far beyond anything that could be measured in points or rebounds. Around the Pacers, he was the veteran voice, the steadying presence for younger players, and the guy everyone knew could handle the rough stuff when things got heated.
That’s exactly why general manager Chad Buchanan sounded so open to the idea of a reunion after Indiana’s 2025 NBA Finals run.
"I would say, never say never with James Johnson and the Indiana Pacers," Buchanan said.
"He's embraced his role and has been outstanding for our team the last couple of years. And he's like a family member to all of us because he's great with our players, he's great with our staff and he's great with our staff's families."
The bond between Johnson and Tyrese Haliburton makes the fit even more obvious. Johnson has grown into something like a big brother for Indiana’s franchise point guard, and their relationship has stretched well beyond the floor. When Haliburton got married in August, Johnson was there as one of his groomsmen.
Indiana also leaned on Johnson in quieter ways during its postseason runs in 2024 and 2025. He didn’t need major playoff minutes to matter. His toughness, accountability and veteran edge helped shape a team that made back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals trips and reached the NBA Finals in 2025.
And then there’s the part everybody in the building understands: James Johnson is not somebody opponents enjoy dealing with.
He has long been seen as Indiana’s enforcer, and even on a roster full of players who can compete, chirp and irritate an opponent, that kind of presence still matters. Just having him at the end of the bench changes the temperature.
Last season, the Pacers couldn’t really afford to keep that spot reserved for him because injuries forced them to prioritize available bodies. This time, the situation looks different.
Buchanan made that clear in 2025, too.
"It's painful to think of our team without him and moving forward," Buchanan said in 2025. "But he's survived a lot of different situations where maybe he had to leave for a week or so and he's made his way back. So I would say, never say never with James Johnson and the Indiana Pacers."
There is one catch: Indiana’s financial situation means the Pacers would have to wait until Nov. 5 to sign Johnson, when a prorated contract would fit into the space they have available. That date comes after Indiana’s ninth game of the season and before the team’s trip to Mexico City to face the Denver Nuggets.
If that roster spot is still open by then, the choice should be simple. Bring back the veteran.
Bring back Haliburton’s big brother. Bring back the enforcer.
Bring back the man with the black belt in Karate.
In Other News...
Ben Sheppard Still Has One Real Shot To Earn Pacers Minutes
Ben Sheppards first two seasons in Indiana have not exactly produced a clear-cut rotation answer, but the Pacers still have a need that fits his profile. As a late first-round pick in the 2023 draft, he entered the league with some runway, and the Pacers are still looking for a fourth wing behind their established options, which keeps the door open for a player who can space the floor and hold up defensively.
Sheppard has at least given himself a better foundation than he had before, with his shooting climbing to league average and a case for defensive versatility if he can translate it into trust from the staff. The issue now is less about raw talent than opportunity and consistency, because his minutes will depend on whether he can meet the teams standards and beat out the other candidates competing for the same spot. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face Real Pressure To Justify Their Contender Hype
ESPNs Zach Kram put the Pacers in an eye-catching bucket this offseason, grouping them with the 76ers, Heat and Raptors as teams with enough upside to crash the Finals conversation. It is the kind of label that comes with expectations, especially for a group that looked far less dangerous last season when Tyrese Haliburton was sidelined and the offense never quite had its usual gear.
Haliburtons return is the obvious reason for the optimism after an outstanding 2024-25 season and an All-NBA Third Team nod, but Indiana also made a real commitment to adding more heft around him by trading for Ivica Zubac from the Clippers. The move cost the Pacers a protected first-round pick, which ended up going to Los Angeles after the lottery results, so the pressure now is not just to look promising on paper but to show the upgrade was worth the price. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face A Delicate Tyrese Haliburton Decision Next Season
Tyrese Haliburton is expected to be back in the Pacers lineup next season after missing the previous season with an Achilles tendon tear, and his return immediately raises the kind of balancing act Indiana would prefer to have. ESPN reports the team may lean cautious with his workload early on, a sensible approach for a player whose presence changes the ceiling of the entire roster and whose long-term health matters just as much as any early-season win total.
Haliburton signed a five-year extension with Indiana in 2023, and the Pacers are clearly thinking beyond the opening months of next season. The goal is to have him ready when it matters most, with the broader expectation that he will anchor a strong starting group for 2026-27, but the path from opening night to playoff time may require patience along the way. [Read more 🡒]