NBA 2025 Offseason Check-In: Indiana Pacers
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INDIANAPOLIS — After reaching the 2024-25 NBA Finals and losing Game 7 along with star guard Tyrese Haliburton to a torn right Achilles, the Indiana Pacers entered the summer facing major roster decisions. Here is a concise look at every move completed to date and what still sits on the front office’s agenda.
Free-Agent Signings
Isaiah Jackson: three years, $21 million, Achilles-related injury protection, re-signed via Bird rights.
James Wiseman: two years at the minimum; $1 million partial guarantee in Year 1, team option in Year 2.
Trades
• Reacquired their own 2026 first-round pick from New Orleans for the No. 23 selection in 2025 and the draft rights to Mojave King. (The pick is top-four protected and had been sent to the Pelicans in a prior deal.)
• Obtained the draft rights to Kam Jones (No. 38) from San Antonio for the Kings’ 2030 second-rounder and $2.5 million in cash.
• Landed center Jay Huff from Memphis for Portland’s 2029 second-rounder and the right to swap 2031 second-round picks (least favorable of Pacers/Heat).
2025 Draft Picks
Kam Jones, 2-38: four-year contract worth $8,685,386; first year guaranteed, partial in Year 2, non-guaranteed Year 3, team option Year 4.
Taelon Peter, 2-54: signed to a two-way deal.
Two-Way Contracts
Quenton Jackson: one-year deal, $85,300 guaranteed (rises to $318,218 on opening night).
Taelon Peter: two-year pact, same Year 1 figures; Year 2 non-guaranteed.
RayJ Dennis’ two-way contract rolls over from 2024-25.
Departed or Unsigned
Thomas Bryant (UFA), James Johnson (UFA), Myles Turner (signed with Bucks), Enrique Freeman (signed with Timberwolves).
Other Roster Moves
Indiana exercised a $2,940,876 team option on Tony Bradley.
Salary-Cap Snapshot
Projected payroll sits at roughly $181.8 million, above the cap ($154.6 million) but below the $187.9 million tax line; the club is hard-capped at $195,945,000. Both the full $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level and $5.134 million bi-annual exceptions remain unused.
Current Depth at Center
With Turner gone and Haliburton sidelined for 2025-26, the Pacers will evaluate Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, and Tony Bradley. Only Huff and Jackson appear locked into roster spots; Bradley has no guaranteed money and Wiseman holds a $1 million guarantee.
What’s Next
The roster contains 15 standard contracts and three two-way players, yet Indiana could waive Bradley or Wiseman to create flexibility. Attention now shifts to possible extensions for Bennedict Mathurin (rookie scale) and Aaron Nesmith (veteran). Both have an October 20 deadline, with Mathurin otherwise headed toward restricted free agency next summer.
Source: Hoops Rumors
