Tyrese Haliburton is set to step back into the spotlight for Indiana, and the first real question around him isn’t whether the Pacers are happy to have him back. It’s how quickly he can look like himself again after missing all of last season with the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The wait ends on opening night against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 21, with Haliburton then making his return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Dallas Mavericks on October 23. For a Pacers team that stumbled to a 19-63 record in the 2025-26 season after reaching the Finals the year before, his comeback is the biggest reason for optimism heading into 2026-27.
There are still some natural doubts about what his first year back will look like, but the early prediction here is that the production stays awfully close to what Indiana has already come to expect. Haliburton is projected to average at least 18 points and eight assists per game. That would put him right near the numbers he posted in 2024-25, when he finished with 18.6 points and 9.2 assists a night.
Another bold call: his shooting from deep climbs to a new personal best. Haliburton’s career high from three-point range sits at 41.6 percent through his first five NBA seasons, and this forecast has him topping that mark by landing at 42 percent from beyond the arc. With the time he’s had to focus on shooting, the expectation is that he comes back even more dangerous as a perimeter threat.
The added wrinkle for Indiana is the presence of Ivica Zubac, whose screening and post-up ability should help open things up around Haliburton. The Pacers also added Kelly Oubre Jr., giving the roster another notable piece as they try to turn the page on last season’s misery.
This isn’t a prediction of a trip to the NBA Finals. But it does point to a serious bounce-back year. The idea here is that Indiana pushes all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, and that the national chatter continues to underrate the Pacers just the way they like it.
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Pacers Have One Familiar Roster Decision Still Looming
The Pacers are still carrying one open roster spot after waiving Ethan Thompson and signing Braden Smith to a two-way deal, and the timing of the next move is now part of the early-season backdrop. Indiana cannot fill that slot with a veteran minimum contract until mid-November, which leaves the front office in a familiar waiting game while the roster settles around its current core.
When that window opens, the discussion could turn back to a few old faces who already know the organization and what it expects. Bradley, Johnson and another former Pacers player are among the candidates being mentioned as possible fits, a reminder that this kind of depth decision is often about more than just talent. For Indiana, the appeal is obvious: a player who can help without needing much time to learn the system is usually worth serious consideration. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Are Circling A Young Wing Dallas May Not Want To Lose
The Mavericks roster reshuffling after the Luka Doni trade has created a few names worth tracking, and Max Christie has quickly emerged as one of them for Indiana. The Pacers have been looking for ways to add more size and two-way flexibility on the wing, and Christie fits the kind of young, movable piece that can make sense for a team trying to stay competitive without overcommitting financially.
Christies contract situation is part of what makes him interesting, because it gives Dallas a decision to make about whether to keep him in place or use him as part of a larger adjustment. For Indiana, the appeal is obvious: a young wing who could slide into the rotation and grow with the group. For Dallas, the question is whether moving him would help balance the books and the roster, even if it means giving up a player with a useful future. [Read more 🡒]