Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan has sent a bold message about the upcoming free agency period.
The Indiana Pacers had a down year in the 2025-26 season, as star guard Tyrese Haliburton didn't play following the torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
The Pacers finished with a 19-63 record, missing out on the postseason and ending as one of the worst teams in the league.
However, with Haliburton set to return, Indiana has a chance to be a contender in the Eastern Conference.
In the 2024-25 regular season, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. The 26-year-old shot 47.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three.
Ownership believes in Haliburton and the Pacers' window, as general manager Chad Buchanan said it's possible they'll pay the luxury tax for the first time in nearly two decades.
"That's a very real possibility," Buchanan said about spending into the luxury tax. "There's a lot of different moves that can be made this offseason, whether it be trades or free agency, that impact where you're at relative to the luxury tax and then the first apron and obviously the second apron above that. You want to be smart and not hamstring yourself. The aprons can be very restrictive in terms of how you build your team."
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images"(Owner Herb) Simon and our whole front office, we want to be aggressive and try to put this team in the best position to win a championship, Buchanan added. "Spending smartly and wisely will be a part of that, but I think we realize where we're at with our timeline and, for the right player, I think we're gonna spend."
This is huge news for the Pacers, as they could be major players this offseason to add to an already talented roster. As currently constructed, Indiana could roll out Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac as the starting five.
The Pacers would also still have some quality bench pieces with TJ McConnell, Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker, and Jay Huff.
If they can add another impact player or two to Rick Carlisle's rotation, Indiana would be one of the clear-cut favorites to win the East and compete for an NBA title.
Pacers Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pacers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
