Free agency opens tonight at 6:00 PM EST, and the Indiana Pacers are already being tied to a few possible additions as they try to strengthen the roster.
Chad Buchanan recently said the team will be exploring options to improve wing depth and also take a look at the center position. That fits the opening Indiana created on Wednesday night last week, when it traded Kam Jones to the Chicago Bulls during the second day of the NBA Draft. With that move, the Pacers can add more than one player this offseason if they choose not to clear out anyone else already under contract.
For the first time this offseason, Indiana has now been linked to free agents. In a late-night report from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of the Stein Line Substack, Fischer said the Pacers are showing interest in Josh Okogie, Gary Trent Jr., and Kelly Oubre.
Okogie is a 6-4 guard who last played for Houston. Trent Jr. is a 6-5 guard who last played for Milwaukee. Oubre is a 6-8 wing who last played for Philadelphia.
Of the three, Oubre Jr. looks like the strongest fit. He brings solid defense, size, and length at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, and he averaged 14 points per game last season. He would likely be the priciest option, but Indiana can still work to open up more cap space if that becomes necessary.
Trent Jr. would be the next-best target. He’s a strong shooter and an average defender, and his recent contract history suggests he may not cost too much. That could matter for a Pacers franchise that hasn’t paid the luxury tax in over 20 years.
Okogie brings a different kind of value. He’s a rugged defender with a sturdy frame and a 7-foot wingspan, and while he doesn’t score much, he is an average three-point shooter who plays with a high motor. He can help by crashing the offensive glass and cutting hard.
From Indiana’s perspective, Oubre Jr. and Trent Jr. would do the most to ease concerns about the depth chart. Okogie would be a useful pickup, but he does not seem to sit ahead of Sheppard or Walker in the pecking order. His defense and energy could earn him minutes, but his offense does not change the picture nearly as much.
The next few days will show how aggressive the Pacers want to be, with teams able to begin agreeing to terms on Tuesday evening.
In Other News...
Pacers Fans May Hate What Just Surfaced About That Draft Night Asset
A draft-night asset the Pacers landed in a deal with Chicago is already part of a larger roster shuffle on the other end. The Bulls moved both of their second-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, sending the No. 38 selection to Indiana along with Kam Jones while also flipping No. 56 to the Lakers for cash, a sign that new lead executive Bryson Graham is still sorting through the edges of the roster as the rebuild takes shape.
Chicagos follow-up decisions only add to the intrigue for Indiana observers. The Bulls have been trimming and adjusting around their future flexibility, keeping Leonard Miller after his late-season push and opening up more room to maneuver in free agency, while the Pacers are left watching a deal that already looks like it could have a few more layers before the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Keep Circling One Free Agent Fix For Their Bench Scoring
The Pacers have spent the early part of the offseason looking at ways to sharpen their second unit, and bench scoring sits near the top of that list. Indiana also has a possible need for another center, but the most obvious route to a cleaner offensive fit may come on the perimeter, where the team could use a steady shooter who can keep the floor spaced when the starters sit.
Luke Kennard has emerged as the kind of free-agent guard who checks that box, bringing the sort of off-ball scoring Indiana has been searching for. The question is whether the Pacers want to make him more than just a name on the board, because the interest makes sense on basketball terms, even if the financial picture adds another layer to the chase. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers GM Sends Important Johnny Furphy Update To Concerned Fans
The Pacers had enough moving parts around draft day to keep the front office busy, with Chad Buchanan talking through the Braden Smith trade while also offering an update on the health of Tyrese Haliburton and Johnny Furphy. For a team that will need its depth to hold up over the long haul, any good news on young pieces matters, especially when Furphy is still working his way back from injury and trying to carve out a role in the rotation.
Buchanan sounded encouraged by where Furphy stands in rehab, saying the forward is adding strength and showing positive signs as he continues to progress. Furphys path back is still the one Pacers fans are watching most closely, since his value this season is likely to come in spot duty and depth minutes rather than a heavy workload, but the early read from Indiana is that the recovery is moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]