Grading the Indiana Pacers’ 2025 Offseason
The Indiana Pacers are coming off their best season in franchise history after losing in Game Seven of the NBA Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, Indiana’s outlook on 2026 has changed drastically after star guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in the first quarter of Game Seven. With Myles Turner departing for Milwaukee, the Pacers have struggled to find a short-term replacement for Haliburton and a successor for Turner. Suddenly, what appeared to be an offseason building for another run turned into a rebuilding project.
Rethinking the Offseason
Heading into Game Seven of the Finals, Indiana not only thought they would contend for a title this year, but for years down the line. In a short timeframe, they went from contenders to rebuilders. Haliburton’s injury completely shattered hopes for an NBA championship in 2025 and 2026. The Pacers’ front office had a short turnaround to the draft, and with no first-round pick, finding a replacement from the draft became difficult. Indiana grabbed guards Kam Jones at 38 and Taelon Peter at 54, respectively, hoping to add depth in the backcourt during Haliburton’s absence.
NBA Free Agency
Indiana headed into free agency with just one starter hitting the market, Turner. After a miraculous run to the Finals and the longest-tenured Pacer on the roster, many believed Turner was going to stay. However, on July 7th, 2025, Turner signed a four-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers scrambled to replace him, trading for Memphis Grizzlies center Jay Huff and attempting to sign Deandre Ayton in free agency. After missing out on Ayton and with Huff's inexperience, Indiana is still left with a hole at the center position.
Final Grade: C+
Indiana’s drastic change so close to the offseason is the main reason why the grade is not lower. With adequate time to plan, the Pacers could have done a much better job of addressing the Haliburton injury and other needs for the 2026 season. However, a C+ is still not an amazing grade, as they lost Turner and seem to be relying on internal development for their success this year. The drastic changes to their roster have undoubtedly affected the Indiana Pacers’ outlook on the 2026 NBA season, but with the talent on their roster, a successful season could still be on their horizon.
