The Pacers are heading into the 2026-27 season with a roster that looks nothing like the one that stumbled to 19 wins last year. Tyrese Haliburton is back, Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr. are in the mix, and Rick Carlisle suddenly has a handful of lineups that could give Indiana a very different identity.
The most intriguing place to start is the frontcourt pairing of Zubac and Pascal Siakam. Indiana only got a brief look at Zubac after the Trade Deadline, and that came to an abrupt stop when he suffered a broken rib after five games.
The Pacers never got to see him work alongside Siakam for real, and they never got the chance to see what he would look like with Haliburton running the show. That alone makes this combination one of the biggest questions on the roster.
What makes Zubac so interesting here is the style he brings. He adds physicality, strength, and basketball intelligence at center, giving Indiana something it didn’t have before at that spot.
The Siakam-Zubac fit is a different look from the Siakam-Turner pairing, but it could be even more dangerous. Zubac also changes the dynamic with Haliburton.
Myles Turner and Haliburton formed one of the NBA’s best pick-and-roll partnerships, and while Zubac doesn’t stretch the floor the same way, he can still create openings for Haliburton to attack defenses.
If Indiana wants to get nasty on the defensive end, the late-game group with Oubre Jr. replacing Haliburton is the one to watch. That would put Oubre Jr. alongside Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Siakam, and Zubac. It’s the Pacers’ best defensive lineup on paper, and it gives Carlisle a group with size, switching versatility, physicality, rebounding, a rim protector, and real edge.
That matters in a conference full of wing talent. With so many East teams leaning on perimeter scorers, this kind of lineup could make life miserable for opposing offenses. Oubre Jr.’s fit in that unit should be fun to track.
Then there’s the version of Indiana that leans into speed and chaos with Obi Toppin at the small-ball five. That look gave the Pacers plenty of success in the 2025 playoffs, and it remains a completely different gear from the Zubac groups.
Toppin can beat slower centers off the dribble, sprint the floor, and knock down shots from deep. He and Siakam worked well together, and that pairing is likely to stay in the rotation.
Toppin usually checks in early for Siakam, and that opens the door for a stretch with Haliburton. The chemistry between Haliburton and Toppin has been there since Indiana traded for Toppin in the 2023 offseason, and it gives the Pacers a way to keep the pace up even with Zubac on the roster.
The most entertaining lineup of all might be the one with T.J. McConnell at point guard, Haliburton at the 2, Oubre Jr. at the 3, Siakam at the 4, and Toppin at the 5.
That group brings speed, spacing, and a one-man fastbreak in McConnell. It also gives Indiana a five-out look that can drag rim protectors away from the paint and force defenses to scramble.
For a team trying to reintroduce itself as a contender, those are the kinds of combinations that make the season worth watching.
In Other News...
Ivica Zubac Is Giving Pacers Fans A Very Intriguing Early Sign
Ivica Zubac is already giving Pacers fans a reason to lean in, even before he has logged a regular-season minute in Indiana. The big man turned in a strong showing for Croatia in international play, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, a reminder of the size, finishing touch and rim protection the Pacers are hoping to plug into their frontcourt after bringing him in via trade.
For Indiana, the appeal is obvious: Zubacs skill set fits a team looking to solidify its interior presence and add reliability around the basket. He has not suited up for the Pacers in a regular-season game yet, so the real judgment remains ahead, but early signs like this are exactly why the move has drawn attention among fans eager to see what kind of impact he can make once the games count in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Just Sent A Clear Message About Pacers Identity
Pascal Siakams latest message offered a revealing window into what the Pacers want to be going forward. In a video he posted on social media, the four-time Indiana All-Star stressed hustle and effort over trying to play pretty basketball, a theme that fits the way this roster has tended to view itself. He also pointed to the day-to-day competition around Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell as a driving force, with those guards pushing one another to keep sharpening their games.
Siakams optimism is notable because it comes with a clearer picture of the Pacers next step, especially with Haliburton back in the mix and Ivica Zubac entering his first full season in Indiana. The comments did not sound like a player selling hope so much as one describing an identity the team is already trying to own, even if the details of how it all comes together will have to wait for the season to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Is Setting A New Tone For Pacers Camp
Before Pacers training camp even got rolling, Pascal Siakam was already doing the kind of work that can shape a season. He hosted a pre-camp workout in Orlando for several teammates, and the setting fit the message: get together early, build habits and start leaning into the details that matter when the games get physical and the margin for error shrinks.
Siakams talk centered on effort over flash, with a clear push for the forwards to embrace the dirty work that often decides how far a team can go. Cutting hard, setting screens, defending and attacking the rim were all part of the message, along with playing with intensity instead of worrying about style. For Indiana, that kind of early leadership is exactly what you want from a veteran brought in to help set the tone. [Read more 🡒]