The Indiana Pacers aren't one week into the regular season and already, they've had nine players on the injury report. That's half the roster and worse, it includes their top four options at point guard.
So what can they do about it?
First, they opened a roster spot by waiving James Wiseman — one of four centers on their roster. He's been the least productive center. Wiseman started and played 20 minutes in their loss over the weekend at Memphis, but didn't show enough.
The Pacers then held a workout with three players vying for the roster spot. Guard Mac McClung won out, then signed his first standard NBA deal and will be in uniform on Wednesday when the Pacers conclude a three-game road trip in Dallas.
Note the late start time: 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Pacers' injury list includes: Tyrese Haliburton, Kam Jones, T.J. McConnell, Johnny Furphy, Andrew Nembhard, Taelon Peter, Bennedict Mathurin, and Obi Toppin.
Already, we know Jones, McConnell, and Toppin are out at least several more weeks. And, obviously Haliburton is out for the season.
The Pacers (0-3) will soon qualify for the NBA's hardship exception, which authorizes a team to exceed the 15 standard roster spots to get relief.
But first, the team must have at least four players miss three games — and then be out for at least two more weeks.
That will be the case for the Pacers, and they will be able to add one player on a 10-day contract. Even with McClung on the roster — and he'll wear No. 3 — they still need reinforcements.
The Pacers won't be the first team to utilize a hardship exception because the Memphis Grizzlies already have.
This has negatively impacted the start to their season and led to a roster move despite Wiseman having $1 million in contract guarantees.
The Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder played until the last possible date last season, deep into June, which directly impacts the players' offseason. In early September, a few weeks before training camp opened, the team unofficially started the 2025-26 season with a players only mini-camp in Orlando, held at Pascal Siakam's basketball gym.
Following Wednesday's game, the Pacers return to Indy to host a four-game homestand at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Scott Agness is the longest-tenured Pacers beat reporter. He enters his 14th season covering the team and he's been around The Fieldhouse since 2003. He runs Fieldhouse Files — covering the Pacers, Boom, and Fever — and hosts "The Fieldhouse Files Podcast."