The Indiana Pacers are heading into the new NBA season with a lot to prove, and the first outside read on them lands right in the middle of the pack. Bleacher Report slotted Indiana at No. 16 in its latest power rankings, a placement that reflects both the upside on the roster and the uncertainty hanging over Tyrese Haliburton.
That uncertainty is the whole story early on. Haliburton is back healthy after missing time with a torn Achilles, and the Pacers are eager to see him reclaim the form that made him their engine. His last appearance came in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, so this return has been a long time coming.
Indiana’s hopes also rest on the fit between Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. The two give the Pacers a dangerous combination, and Siakam’s arrival has already helped push the team toward contender status. That pairing is a big reason this group still looks capable of making noise.
At the same time, the Pacers are coming off a rough year. Without Haliburton, they managed only 19 wins and missed the playoffs entirely, a sharp fall from the success they had the season before.
Now the goal is much bigger than just getting back on track. Indiana wants to chase the 2026 title after coming within one win of the first championship in franchise history.
The road won’t be simple. The Eastern Conference is expected to be tougher this season, and Indiana’s ceiling depends heavily on Haliburton holding up and stepping back into his star role. If he does, the Pacers have enough talent and experience on the roster and coaching staff to be a real problem again.
In Other News...
Pacers Camp Is Already Hinting At Carlisles Toughest Rotation Calls
Indianas 2026-27 season prep is underway with Media Day and the first training camp practices, and the early look already suggests Rick Carlisle is going to have choices to make. The expected starting group of Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac gives the Pacers a clear backbone, but the rest of camp is where the real examination begins as returning pieces and new additions compete for roles.
With the roster mostly healthy, the focus has shifted to how quickly the second and third units can settle in and how much depth Carlisle can trust once the games count. It is the kind of camp setup every coach wants, even if it leaves some rotation decisions hanging in the air for now, because the challenge is no longer simply getting bodies on the floor but figuring out which combinations can hold up over a full season. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers May Have Found A New Lineup Piece They Needed
Kelly Oubre Jr. has quickly become one of the more intriguing additions in Pacers camp, and the early buzz around him has been encouraging. Indiana brought in the veteran small forward on a two-year contract, and head coach Rick Carlisle has already singled out his work since camp opened. For a team always looking to add length, energy and a bit more two-way pop on the wing, Oubre fits the kind of low-drama, high-upside role the roster can use.
Pacers GM Chad Buchanan pointed to Oubres defensive impact and shooting ability as the key reasons Indiana wanted him in the first place, and those traits could help him carve out a meaningful spot in Carlisles rotation. Oubre arrives with a solid track record from Philadelphia and career averages of 13.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, but the bigger question in Indianapolis is how quickly he can translate that experience into the kind of steady lineup piece the Pacers have been searching for. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Still Have One Rotation Decision That Could Test Their Depth
With Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith back in the mix, the Pacers head into camp with most of their core pieces in place and a clearer picture of the top of the rotation than they had a year ago. Adding Kelly Oubre Jr. was meant to give the bench another proven scoring option, and it fits the broader push to make Indiana less reliant on a small group of players for big minutes every night.
The lingering question is the final spot in the nine-man rotation, where Jay Huff has emerged as a possible candidate but still has to show he can consistently swing games in the Pacers' favor. That decision matters because Indiana has seen how valuable depth can be for teams that survive the grind of a season, and it will have to decide whether it wants to prioritize upside, fit, or reliability when the rotation tightens. [Read more 🡒]