Bleacher Report updated the Indiana Pacers' power ranking in the NBA.
There has been a lot of turnover in the NBA lately.
The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets, the Miami Heat signed Klay Thompson, the Nuggets signed DeMar DeRozan and the Minnesota Timberwolves signed Jonathan Kuminga.
In the wake of all these moves, Bleacher Report updated its NBA power rankings and the Indiana Pacers come in at No. 16.
"The Indiana Pacers losing their 2026 first-round pick was a massive blow," Bleacher Report wrote. "Getting Ivica Zubac out of the gap year was good, but him and a top-four pick obviously would've been better.
"They weren't really able to erase the sting of that loss with free-agency acquisitions either, though Kelly Oubre Jr. could certainly help the rotation. Ultimately, Indiana fans have to hope that the return of Tyrese Haliburton and better health from the rest of the rotation will get the team back to the level it hit in its run to the 2025 Finals."
All signs point toward the Pacers returning to the playoffs next season with Tyrese Haliburton back in the fold next to Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac.
Indiana made two solid moves in free agency this summer, adding Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. this offseason in free agency. The team's big move happened last season when they acquired Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Without Haliburton, the Pacers struggled immensely last season. They won only 19 games. Haliburton had an incredible 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.
Indiana defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, Cavaliers and New York Knicks to advance to the 2025 NBA Finals. The Thunder defeated the Pacers in the NBA Finals in seven games. Haliburton, of course, tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7.
The basketball world can't wait to see Haliburton back on the court. We are almost there.
Indiana is widely expected to start Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Siakam and Zubac next season.
The Zubac trade came at a high cost, as the Pacers lost their first-round pick in the 2026 draft because of the deal.
The Pacers needed to land in the top four to keep their pick after trading it to the Clippers with protections for Zubac. The trade sent two of Indiana's first-round picks to the Los Angeles Clippers: one in 2029 and either this year's first if it fell outside of the top four or a 2031 unprotected first-rounder if it did not.
Because the Washington Wizards moved up in the lottery, Indiana landed fifth, so the pick went to the Clippers instead.
The Pacers could have drafted AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson. Instead, they have to pray that Zubac plays like an All-Star next season.
