The Pacers aren’t expected to make a major trade this summer after acquiring Ivica Zubac at February’s trade deadline. However, there are some lower-level acquisitions they could make this offseason and the Indianapolis Star’s Dustin Dopirak explores which players they might pursue.
If the Pacers prioritize a scoring option, they could go after a player like Malik Monk or Max Strus. Dopirak anticipates it would require Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard to make such a deal a reality. Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe could also be available if Oklahoma City decides to offload some salary.
Dalton Knecht and Saddiq Bey could be options to fill that role without sacrificing a top-eight player, Dopirak notes. Khris Middleton, Anfernee Simons, Kevin Huerter, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland are among the players who could be targeted with Indiana’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Here’s more on the Pacers:
- Guard Andrew Nembhard played in 57 games and averaged a career high 31.3 minutes per night in 2025/26. His counting stats rose but his intangibles are just as crucial to the team’s success, Tony East writes in a CircleCitySpin.com piece. “I think I’ve always been a guy who tries to lead by example and go out there and show I can compete,” Nembhard said. “But I think this year I was put in a position where I had to voice my opinion more, kind of rally the troops in a way.” Nembhard is entering the second season of a three-year, $58.65MM contract.
- The Pacers will hold their third and fourth pre-draft workouts on Thursday and Friday, respectively, according to a team press release. Thursday’s workout includes John Camden (California), Melvin Council (Kansas), Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State), Corey Stephenson (Florida International), Malik Thomas (Virginia), and Jalen Warley (Gonzaga).
- Their Friday workout includes Sam Alexis (Indiana), Chris Bell (California), Kylan Boswell (Illinois), Maliq Brown (Duke), Isaac McKneely (Louisville), and Braden Smith (Purdue). Indiana currently doesn’t have a pick in this year’s draft, but a trade could change that. The team also figures to be active after the draft adding rookie free agents on Exhibit 10 and/or two-way deals.
If Bucks don’t get Bam send Giannis elsewhere. Miami has nothing else
Giannis is better than Bam. Why would they make this trade?
Indiana, like a lot of teams, is looking for shooters. There are a dozen teams that have Simons, Grimes and Dosunmu on their want list. With that much demand for those three guys, I really think they all will get contracts above the full MLE.
Why isn’t there any discussion about Jaden Ivey? Should be cheap to sign, 5th pick in draft (one ahead of Benn), when healthy provides similar iso scoring.
Cause he had a crash out and wasn’t that good tbh
There’s so many shooter out there please just get 1.
Cam Thomas, Malik Beasley, Brandon Boston Jr all current FA’s that could also do a job particularly Beasley
That trade for Zubac does not get close to enough criticism IMO.
What was the point of tanking this year if they were going to even jeopardize losing the pick?