A Pacers front office executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith why Indiana ran it back, and why Kelly Oubre Jr. was the one addition the wing rotation needed.
Speaking anonymously with Keith Smith of Spotrac at this year's NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, an Indiana Pacers front office executive was asked about the offseason.
"We knew we'd be mostly running it back. We have all the pieces in place. We needed another wing and are thrilled Kelly Oubre Jr. passed up a lot of other offers to join us. We think he'll be awesome in the up-tempo offense we run with Tyrese (Haliburton) back," the executive said.
Indiana finished 19-63. That was the second-worst record in the NBA and the No. 14 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon seven minutes into Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He missed the entire season. Chris Haynes reported during Summer League that Indiana is optimistic Haliburton will be available for the 2026-27 opener.
Oubre agreed to terms on July 1. The deal is worth nearly $17 million over two years, and it became official July 7. He will earn $8,050,000 in 2026-27 and cannot be traded until Dec. 15.
Oubre spent the last three seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. Last season, he appeared in 50 games, starting 41, and averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals. He shot 46.7% from the field, 36.0% from 3, and made 76.6% of his free throws, with his 3-point percentage being a career high.
Oubre was the No. 15 pick in the 2015 draft. He has played for the Wizards, Suns, Warriors, Hornets, and 76ers, and he holds career averages of 13.3 points and 4.7 rebounds across 11 seasons. He turned 30 in December.
Indiana's wing rotation thinned at the February trade deadline. The Pacers traded Bennedict Mathurin and two first-round picks to the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac. Mathurin had averaged 17.8 points before the trade. Zubac played five games with Indiana before suffering a season-ending injury.
One of those picks was Indiana's own 2026 first-round pick, protected on selections 1-4 and 10-30. The Pacers finished fifth in the lottery, and the pick was conveyed to the Clippers.
Zubac's salary is $20.34 million, and he will be eligible for an extension starting Sept. 3. Last season, he averaged 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds for the Clippers.
Pascal Siakam averaged 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists and made his fourth All-Star team. Siakam and Haliburton each carry a $48.92 million salary for 2026-27. Siakam became eligible July 6 for an extension worth up to $207 million.
Indiana also signed Larry Nance Jr. this offseason.
Haliburton earned All-NBA Third Team honors the last time he played a full season. He appeared in 73 games in 2024-25 and averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists while shooting 47.3% from the field and 38.8% from 3-point range.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle returns a projected starting five of Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Siakam, and Zubac.
Training camp is set to open on Sept. 29.
