INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers will open the 2025-26 season without a clear backup point guard after a series of injuries and setbacks thinned the roster, head coach Rick Carlisle said on Sunday.
Injury list grows
All-Star floor general Tyrese Haliburton is sidelined for the year with a torn Achilles. Veteran reserve T.J. McConnell is expected back around Nov. 9 after a hamstring strain, and rookie guard Kam Jones, the 35th pick in June, is nursing a back injury on a similar timetable.
Veteran options fall through
Indiana’s offseason signings offered little relief. Delon Wright suffered a preseason head injury and was subsequently waived. A calf strain kept Monte Morris from landing a deal, and although Cam Payne stayed healthy, Carlisle said the veteran struggled to mesh with the team’s system. “It didn’t work out,” the coach noted.
Internal solutions on the table
With few healthy ball-handlers, third-year guard Ben Sheppard may revisit his college role as a point guard. Carlisle added that the front office is “looking at everything—the waiver wire, people’s nephews and uncles—but good point guards aren’t growing on trees. We’re going to have to be creative.”
Rookie Taelon Peter Shows Promise
One creative option is 54th overall pick Taelon Peter. Despite averaging no more than 2.3 assists in college, the rookie posted 3.3 assists against 1.3 turnovers in 24.1 preseason minutes. During one exhibition, Carlisle asked Peter whether he had ever played point guard, then let him lead the second unit in a later game. “Being able to get everybody where they need to be is a challenge, but they’ve been great about helping me transition,” Peter said.
Bennedict Mathurin Poised for Full-Time Starting Role
With the offense short on shot-creation, Bennedict Mathurin is expected to move into the starting lineup permanently. “I’ll have a little bit more freedom to be myself—within the system,” the third-year wing said. Carlisle wants the 23-year-old to make quick reads rather than play “hero ball,” a directive Mathurin said he is embracing through extra film study.
Jay Huff Aims to Fill Stretch-Five Void
Frontcourt depth is also an issue, presenting an opening for newcomer Jay Huff. The 27-year-old 7-footer is on his fourth team in as many seasons after stints with the Lakers, Wizards, Nuggets and Grizzlies. Huff averaged 6.9 points, 0.9 blocks and shot 40.5% from three in 11.7 minutes for Memphis last year. General manager Chad Buchanan believes Huff can replicate the stretch-five role vacated by Myles Turner. “His age, his shooting, his IQ—he was just a great fit for us,” Buchanan said.
The Pacers begin regular-season play later this month still evaluating internal experiments and monitoring the waiver wire for help at both guard and center.
Source: Hoops Rumors
