8 Points, 9 Seconds

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Indiana Pacers have signed Kelly Oubre Jr. to a two-year, nearly $17 million contract. And this proves one thing: They are trying to help Tyrese Haliburton win a championship. Oubre is a win-now piece. A solid 3-and-D wing. Someone who can help them win right away. Ever since Haliburton went down with his Achilles injury, the Pacers haven’t slowed down.

These are the best Indiana options in the viral online game. Tyrese Haliburton is an excellent selection at the 82-0.com website. | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The Indiana Pacers’ own Tyrese Haliburton contributed to the immediate popularity of the 82-0.com website. “Retiring from 82-0 cuz stop it,” Haliburton posted on X.com after his lineup of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Moses Malone managed “just” a 77-5 record.

T.J. McConnell or Braden Smith? Who is your pick for the Indiana Pacers’ backup point guard? The Pacers made moves to acquire Smith in the second round of the NBA Draft. All signs point to Smith, who finished his college career at Purdue as the all-time NCAA Division I assist leader - eventually filling McConnell’s role as Indiana’s high-energy guard off the bench. How do the two players compare heading into the 2026-27 season? Let’s check the tale of the tape.

The Indiana Pacers have already built an ideal team around Tyrese Haliburton. They have given him a co-star (Pascal Siakam), a solid third option (Ivica Zubac), and great depth. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves just made a big swing to land LaMelo Ball to be Anthony Edwards’ co-star, and the Golden State Warriors are trying to pair LeBron James alongside Stephen Curry. Edwards needed a co-star. Curry needs a new one, largely because Jimmy Butler is hurt.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been chasing a point guard to pair alongside Anthony Edwards for years. And they finally landed one with their trade for LaMelo Ball. It feels like a lot of teams around the NBA are searching for a top-notch point guard. Luckily for the Indiana Pacers, they already have theirs in Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton already proved that he’s capable of leading a team to the NBA Finals back in 2025.

The Indiana Pacers were not going to let one of the titans of Purdue Boilermakers basketball leave the state after an amazing college career, as they worked out a trade with the rival Chicago Bulls that helped them land Braden Smith to their already growing cast of bench players. The deal helped Smith, which saw Kam Jones, cash, and future pick swaps head to Chicago in exchange for the No. 38 pick, stay in the state.

The Indiana Pacers traded up to the 22nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to select Isaiah Jackson. First, they had to moved up to 31st overall, which they are still paying for five years later. The Pacers gave up 54 and 60 in the 2021 draft, which turned into Sandro Mamukelashvili and Georgios Kalaitzakis. They also had to part with a 2024 second-rounder that turned in Cam Christie and the 32nd pick in 2026 that just became Richie Saunders.

The Indiana Pacers trade for Ivica Zubac has already turned into a complete disaster as the Clippers selectedKeaton Wagler at fifth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. Indy needed a new starting center after Myles Turner departed in free agency. Zubac is on a team-friendly contract. He gives the Pacers a productive option at the five, but the Clippers forced Indiana to massively overpay.

The Indiana Pacers' biggest dreams for the 2026 NBA Draft were dashed after relinquishing the No. 5 overall pick to the Los Angeles Clippers as a result of their mid-season Ivica Zubac trade. Visions of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, or Cam Boozer rocking a Pacers hat on draft night and joining forces with Tyrese Haliburton ultimately became mirages. However, a loaded draft class could help Indiana reshape the narrative around their draft day predicament heading into the two-day event.

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Luka Doncic wants the Los Angeles Lakers to add an A-List center this summer. Luckily for Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers already gave him that gift. Ivica Zubac is one of the best pick-and-roll big men in the league, and his defense is great, too. Zubac didn’t play much last season, but that was mostly because the Pacers wanted to rest him down the stretch of the season.