The Indiana Pacers have a long climb ahead of them in the eyes of one NBA power ranking, even with Tyrese Haliburton back in the mix.
Heavy NBA reporter Sean Deveney slotted Indiana at No. 14 in his latest rankings, a spot that reflects how far the Pacers still have to go after last season’s 19-63 finish. It’s not the kind of number Pacers fans want to see, especially with the 2026-27 season approaching fast and optimism building around Haliburton’s return from a torn Achilles.
That optimism comes from what Indiana showed not all that long ago. Just two years ago, the Pacers made a run all the way to the NBA Finals and pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to Game 7 before Haliburton’s injury ended that story. With that kind of ceiling still fresh in memory, the belief around the team is that Indiana can start moving back toward contender status.
The roster, though, is not exactly the same group that reached that stage. Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin are gone, while Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr. have come in as what the source describes as potential upgrades. On paper, that gives Indiana a look that could make it a serious Eastern Conference threat.
Deveney’s top 13 ahead of the Pacers are the Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Atlanta Hawks.
Right behind Indiana are the Toronto Raptors at No. 15, the Golden State Warriors at No. 16, and the Utah Jazz at No. 17.
For now, the Pacers are still in prove-it mode. They have the talent to matter again, but the respect will have to come from what happens on the floor.
Indiana opens the 2026-27 season on October 21 with a road game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The home opener follows on October 23 against the Dallas Mavericks.
In Other News...
Pacers Zubac Trade Just Got Even Harder To Defend
The Pacers decision to send a 2026 first-round pick and other assets to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown already had the look of a move worth revisiting, and the back end of the deal has only made it more complicated. What was once a simple future-pick transaction has turned into a reminder of how much draft capital can change hands in the NBA long before anyone knows exactly what it will be worth.
Now the leagues punishment of the Clippers for salary-cap violations tied to Kawhi Leonard has added another layer, because one of the first-rounders lost in the penalty package was the 2029 pick that originally came from Indiana. The Pacers will not get that pick back, and with it gone from the draft altogether, the trade sits in an even tougher spot to justify from Indianas side. [Read more 🡒]