The Indiana Pacers have settled on their two-way picture, and Ethan Thompson is the odd man out.
According to Pacers reporter Tony East of Forbes, Indiana has decided to waive Thompson from his two-way contract. That ends a summer-long fight for the guard, who had been pushing to keep his place with the team after showing some flashes during the 2025-26 season.
Thompson, 27, gave the Pacers some useful minutes last year. He appeared in 32 games and made 13 starts, putting up seven points per game along with 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
He also shot 37.8 percent from the floor and 32.8 percent from three-point range. Those numbers were enough to keep him in the conversation, but not enough to beat out the competition.
The move likely clears the path for Indiana to keep Jalen Slawson, Braden Smith, and Kobe Brown on two-way deals. All three were expected to stick, which made Thompson’s road a difficult one from the start.
For Thompson, the next stop should come soon. He’s now free to look for another opportunity, and the Pacers’ recent history suggests he may not be waiting long. Indiana also recently waived Taelon Peter, the 2025 second-round pick, and Peter went on to sign with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Pacers also learned their 2026-27 schedule on Thursday afternoon. Tyrese Haliburton’s return from a torn Achilles will not happen at home. Indiana opens the season on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 21 before coming back for its home opener on October 23 against the Dallas Mavericks.
Even with the roster squeeze, the decision on Thompson still landed as a tough one for Indiana. He showed enough to prove he belongs on an NBA floor, but the numbers ahead of him left no clear opening.
The expectation now is that the Pacers will move quickly to give Smith a two-way contract. The rookie point guard struggled during Summer League, but Indiana’s front office remains very high on him.
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Pacers Two Way Picture Just Took An Important Turn
Cole Anthonys move to Melbourne United is another reminder that the global market can still offer a real path for NBA players looking to reshape their careers, and the former first-round pick is treating it as a development stop rather than a payday. The six-year veteran has landed a one-year deal with one of the NBLs biggest brands, joining a league that has increasingly become a destination for players trying to reset their trajectory while staying on the radar of NBA teams.
For Indiana, the more immediate ripple is at the back end of the roster. Reports say two-way player Ethan Thompson is expected to head to Serbian power KK Partizan, a development that would alter the Pacers two-way picture just as teams continue sorting out their final offseason pieces. It is the kind of transaction that can look minor at first glance, but for a team still balancing flexibility, it carries real roster implications. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers May Finally Have Room For The Summer Roster Favorite
Ethan Thompsons stint with the Pacers appears to be winding down, and his possible next stop could be overseas with Partizan Belgrade. Thompson spent last season on a two-way contract and got into 32 games for Indiana, while also bringing plenty of G League experience to the organization.
For the Pacers, the bigger significance is the roster math. A move like this would clear the logjam at the two-way level and give Indiana the flexibility to keep moving toward a final roster decision, with Braden Smith now positioned to potentially land either a standard deal or a two-way contract. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Sets Early Expectations For Pacers Fit With Ivica Zubac
Tyrese Haliburton isnt worried about the lack of an offseason workout with Ivica Zubac, even as the Pacers look ahead to integrating a new big man into the mix. Haliburton said the two have not gotten on the floor together this summer, but he still sees the partnership as one that can work, with Zubac expected to come back to Indiana after playing for his country in September.
The bigger adjustment, Haliburton acknowledged, may come from simply learning a different kind of center than the ones he has played with before. Zubac brings a distinct style, which should mean a transition period early on, but Haliburton sounded confident the fit will come with time once the Pacers get everyone in the same place and the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]