Pacers Should Pursue Career 18-Point Per Game Scorer in Free Agency

The Indiana Pacers are entering a pivotal 2026-27 season as they are in the middle of their championship window. 

The Pacers will have star guard Tyrese Haliburton returning from his torn Achilles, and they have a talented core despite going 19-63 in the 2025-26 season.

However, they could use some roster upgrades as they look to take down the New York Knicks and other Eastern Conference contenders. One position of need could be a bench scorer after the Pacers moved Bennedict Mathurin to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal to acquire Ivica Zubac.

An option that the Pacers could pursue in free agency is guard Collin Sexton. Sexton is coming off a solid season, appearing in 68 games, and averaged 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 48.5 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from three.

The 27-year-old is an efficient bench scorer and would complete a deep bench unit that features TJ McConnell, Ben Sheppard, Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin, and Jay Huff.

Sexton's scoring could also ease some of the pressure off Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Indiana has an explosive team that can play at a fast pace, with Haliburton's elite playmaking and ability to hit the three-ball at a solid clip.

In the 2024-25 season, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points per game along with 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 1.4 steals, leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals. He was also an efficient shooter, as he shot 47.3 percent from the floor and 38.8 percent from behind the arc.

While Haliburton leads the show, Siakam has proven to be a quality co-star for the Pacers.

He played at a high level in the 2025-26 season, averaging 24 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from deep.

With their stars and a lot of their rotation in place, if Indiana can add a player of Sexton's caliber to their bench unit, they will solidify themselves as one of the best teams in the East.

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.