Pacers Make Roster Move Fans Will Love

James Johnson is returning to the Indiana Pacers on a training camp deal, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. 

Johnson is beloved by Pacers players and fans. 

Indiana made the NBA Finals in 2025. Johnson was on that team that lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Johnson didn't play in the NBA last season. He has career averages of 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game with the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets. 

The Pacers will be a playoff team again next season after winning only 19 games last season. 

After all, Tyrese Haliburton is back after missing last season while recovering from his torn Achilles tendon.  

The Pacers are widely expected to start Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac next season. That's one of the best starting fives in the NBA on paper.   

Haliburton had an outstanding 2024-25 campaign for the Pacers. He averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game and made the All-NBA Third Team.

The Pacers and Haliburton will presumably be highly motivated to prove their critics wrong next season, as there are some pundits who believe Indiana won't be a contender and Haliburton won't be the All-Star player he was before getting injured.

Indiana opens the 2026-27 regular season on October 21 against the New Orleans Pelicans.