Indiana Pacers Should Target Veteran Forward in Free Agency

The Indiana Pacers need to be aggressive in improving their roster this offseason as they look to be contenders in the 2026-27 season.

The Pacers made it to Game 7 of the NBA Finals in the 2024-25 season, but fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder, with star guard Tyrese Haliburton going down with a torn Achilles tendon.

That caused Haliburton to miss the entire 2025-26 season and led to a gap year for the Pacers. Indiana finished with a 19-63 record and was one of the worst teams in the league, which led to their pick ending up fifth overall in the lottery.

However, the Pacers traded for center Ivica Zubac at the deadline, which included their 2026 first-round pick if it landed 5-9 in the draft. 

While this was a disappointing result, Indiana did land their long-term center in Zubac, who should fit well next to Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. 

The Pacers have put together a competitive roster and will be among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, but could use some more talent to make it back to the NBA Finals.

One player they could target is veteran forward Tobias Harris. Harris is coming off a quality season with the Detroit Pistons, as he averaged 13.3 points per game, along with 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists. The 33-year-old shot 46.9 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three.

He would be a solid scorer and shooter to add to their lineup, whether they utilize him as a starter or as a 6th man. 

Indiana already has quality depth, with a starting lineup of Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Siakam, and Zubac, and a bench of TJ McConnell, Ben Sheppard, Jarace Walker, and Obi Toppin. 

Adding Harris to that group would make the Pacers one of the deepest teams and give them a chance to dethrone the New York Knicks as the Eastern Conference Champions.

Indiana has a strong core in place, but the Knicks are better than they were in the 2024-25 season, so Kevin Pritchard must be aggressive in upgrading the roster this offseason.

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