The Indiana Pacers have built a deep team ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Indiana Pacers enter the 2026-27 season looking to jump back into contention with the return of star guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton missed all of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, which he sustained in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Haliburton back on the floor, the Pacers could be contenders once again in the Eastern Conference.
Indiana has retained most of their core from the finals run with a few key changes. The Pacers lost Myles Turner in free agency in 2025, but they replaced him by acquiring center Ivica Zubac in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
While Zubac plays a different style of game, he is a quality starter and should fit well in their lineup. He was on an All-Defensive Team just two seasons ago and is one of the best rebounders and screeners in the league.
The other major addition the Pacers have made recently is forward Kelly Oubre. Oubre will provide a scoring punch for Indiana and is coming off a good season with the Philadelphia 76ers, as he averaged 14.1 points, five rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 36 percent from three.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectHe could be a solid starter or a great 6th man for the Pacers, depending on whether they continue to start Aaron Nesmith.
Indiana has a strong potential starting lineup of Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Zubac with rotational players off the bench in Oubre, T.J. McConnell, Jarace Walker, and Obi Toppin.
The Pacers also have Ben Sheppard, Larry Nance Jr., and Jay Huff, who could factor into the rotation.
The backup center spot could be a potential weakness for Indiana if Nance and Huff struggle, but overall, Indiana has superb depth at every position.
Kevin Pritchard and the Pacers front office have assembled the deepest team in the NBA ahead of the 2026-27 season, and if Haliburton plays well off his injury, they will be in the mix for a deep postseason run in the East.
