On June 22, 2025, the Indiana Pacers were one game away from potentially winning their first NBA championship. Tyrese Haliburton had opened Game 7 of the Finals on fire, burying three deep threes in the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Then his right Achilles gave out. He crumpled to the floor without contact, and just like that, the Pacers’ dream season ended in heartbreak.

Everything that followed felt like a hangover. Myles Turner, the longest-tenured player on the roster, signed with the rival Milwaukee Bucks for $107 million after the Pacers were unwilling to give him that much in free agency. Without Haliburton and a large gap at center, Indiana finished 19-63 in the 2025-2026 season, the worst record in franchise history.

But that was always the plan. Sort of.

The Pacers treated 2025-26 as a gap year, biding time until their franchise point guard could return. They made one aggressive move at the deadline in acquiring Ivica Zubac from the Clippers. Indiana spent the rest of the season developing their younger players.

The lottery didn’t cooperate (more on that later), but the core that reached the Finals is largely intact and reinforced. Haliburton is back. Zubac is here. And expectations in Indiana are sky-high again.

Pacers’ Biggest Offseason Loss: The Full Cost of the Zubac Trade

Nominating Mathurin is admittedly cheating; the Pacers traded him at the February deadline, not during the summer. But the ripple effects of that deal define this offseason more than any other move.

To acquire Zubac (and Kobe Brown), Indiana sent Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and a second-rounder to Los Angeles. The gamble was that their 2026 first-rounder (protected 1-4  and 10-30) would stay in house.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t. The pick landed at No. 5, just outside the protection, and was conveyed to the Clippers. In a draft class widely considered the deepest in years, Indiana walked away empty-handed.

However, the Pacers were perhaps alright with this. There was a clear top four in the draft: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson. After that, there was a significant drop-off. For the Pacers, anyone outside of that top-four would not have received meaningful minutes for a Pacers team full of depth.

Mathurin was averaging a career-best 17.8 points before the trade. But he was a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and Indiana did not think they’d have the money to sign him to a long-term deal, so they were fine to part ways with the scorer who did not really fit their system as a ball-dominant scorer.

Mathurin signed a relatively-cheap deal with the New Orleans Pelicans this summer after the Clippers let him walk. All-in-all, the trade still projects as a long-term win if Zubac and Haliburton click as a pick-and-roll tandem.

The other notable loss flew under the radar. Micah Potter, who emerged as a legitimate rotation piece during the tank year (9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 42.3% from three in 47 games), was waived in July to create the cap space needed to sign Larry Nance Jr.

Potter was claimed off waivers by Portland two days later. Losing a third-string stretch big shooting 52/42/84 for a 36-year-old on a minimum deal is a tradeoff the Pacers hope they won’t feel, but definitely could if they deal with more injuries this year.

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Pacers’ Biggest Offseason Addition: Tyrese Haliburton

The actual biggest roster addition is Zubac. The biggest free-agent signing is Kelly Oubre Jr. (who signed for more money than Mathurin did). But the player who didn’t suit up last season and will make the biggest impact this year is Haliburton.

The numbers without him speak for themselves: 19 wins; 27th in points per game. Two losing streaks of 13 games and 16 games broke franchise records. All-Star Pascal Siakam was the best player on the floor every night, and even he couldn’t drag this roster to respectability without a lead guard who could orchestrate an offense.

Haliburton will be roughly 16 months removed from surgery when the season tips off in October. Advances in Achilles rehab offer reason for optimism, and his game — built on vision, shooting, and pace — rather than pure explosiveness should translate better post-injury than a typical downhill guard.

At Indiana’s media day on September 28, Haliburton made it clear he is fully recovered.

“I am healthy. I am 100%. There will be no restrictions,” he told reporters. “That is not news. There is no source. I am the source.”

Head coach Rick Carlisle was slightly more measured, saying the team would monitor his workload in consultation with the training staff, but the message was clear: “It really appears that he has made a great recovery and a great return to play. Do not anticipate a lot of limitations.”

This team’s offense is designed around Haliburton’s ability to push pace, find cutters and pull up from range. Without him, the Pacers had no engine.

With him, however, they have one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league.

Pacers’ Best-Case Scenario Outcome:

If Haliburton looks like the guy who hit game-winning shots in four consecutive playoff rounds before the injury, this team has a legitimate ceiling.

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The Zubac-Haliburton pick-and-roll pairing has never played together in a real game, but on paper it’s a nightmare for opposing defenses. Zubac set the third-most on-ball screens in the league over the past two seasons and is one of the best roll men in basketball. Haliburton is one of the best passers. The fit is obvious.

Around them, the supporting cast is deep and experienced.

Siakam provides a go-to scorer in the half-court. Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith are proven playoff performers. Oubre and Obi Toppin add wing scoring off the bench. T.J. McConnell remains one of the best backup point guards in the league. Jarace Walker took a huge step forward during the gap year, averaging 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds after the All-Star break while shooting 39% from three.

In a best-case scenario, everything clicks relatively quickly, and the Pacers reclaim their spot as a top seed in the East, with a real chance to reach their second Finals appearance in the last three years.

Pacers’ Worst-Case Scenario Outcome:

The Achilles doesn’t cooperate.

That’s the nightmare, and it’s not unreasonable. Haliburton is 26 and modern medicine has come a long way, but Achilles injuries are still Achilles injuries. If he returns rusty, the offensive infrastructure falls apart. The Pacers don’t have another player on the roster who can replicate what he does as a creator and floor general.

The center depth is also concerning. Backup Jay Huff can stretch the floor and record a lot of blocks, but he is not a real impact player on either end of the floor. While Indiana can thrive with Toppin playing small-ball, against bigger teams like the San Antonio Spurs, the Pacers could struggle to collect rebounds. If Zubac’s inability to stretch the floor clogs the paint, the spacing issues could compound in a hurry.

There’s also the matter of continuity. Haliburton hasn’t taken a game rep in over a year, and Zubac played just five games in Indiana before getting shut down for the season due to injury. Carlisle’s coaching will be tested early, and with a difficult schedule to start the season (due to playing in the gauntlet that is Group B in the NBA Cup) the first 20 games could get ugly if the chemistry needs time to develop.

In a worst-case scenario, Haliburton’s recovery lingers and the new pieces don’t mesh. As a result, the Pacers find themselves in the Play-In tournament.

Pacers’ Biggest Question Heading Into 2026-27 Season:

Is Tyrese Haliburton still Tyrese Haliburton?

Everything funnels back to this. If he’s 90% of what he was before the injury, this is a 50-plus win team and an Eastern Conference contender. But if the burst is gone, the margin for error decreases on a roster that traded away significant assets to win now.

Haliburton has said all the right things during his recovery. The training videos look encouraging. But nobody knows the answer until the games start counting, and Indiana’s entire season — and its long-term future — is riding on it.

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One of the best projected Eastern Conference teams in contention to make the NBA Finals happens to be one that was one of the worst last season. But the key to the Indiana Pacers going from the bottom of the standings back to contention is their franchise cornerstone: Tyrese Haliburton.

Haliburton notably took his game to the next level during the 2025 playoffs. He drilled iconic, buzzer-beating shots. He kept the electric Indiana offense going. He transformed his game from that of an All-NBA player to performing like one of the best in the league.

Then came Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Haliburton looked like he was en route to an all-time night. He scored nine early points and looked unstoppable. But in the first quarter, Haliburton injured his Achilles.

His injury not only derailed Indiana’s shot at hoisting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. It completely torpedoed the Pacers the following year. Indiana went 19-63 in 2025-26.

Haliburton remains central to getting the team back on track where it was two postseasons ago.

The Pacers Are a Contender With Haliburton and a Lottery Team Without Him

Before his Achilles injury, Tyrese Haliburton found himself playing the best ball of his young career.

He’s averaged 19.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game in his three full seasons with Indiana. During that stretch (2023-2025), Haliburton either made the All-Star Team or All-NBA Third Team.

Haliburton’s impact went beyond counting stats. In 2023-24 and 2024-25, Haliburton’s Pacers finished top-10 in points per game and offensive rating, per Basketball-Reference. Indiana ranked 27th in points per game and 29th in offensive rating last year. 

And as a team, Indiana had its most success in over a decade with Haliburton in the lineup. The Pacers won 47 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals in ’24. The next year, Indiana improved to 50 wins and made the Finals for the first time since 2000.

Admittedly, the road could be a lot tougher this time around for Haliburton and the Pacers. The retooled Eastern Conference features new contenders, a few more superstars, and plenty of teams who believe they have a shot to win.

As for Indiana, Pascal Siakam is the next-best player behind Haliburton. He is an All-Star player heading into his age-32 season. Andrew Nembhard remains a great secondary creator and ideal guard next to Haliburton, but for a true contender, he cannot be asked to do more than that. The rest of the core that’s still here from the 2024-25 team includes complementary pieces and role players.

To compete against the likes of Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Miami Heat, or the new superteam in the Philadelphia 76ers, Haliburton being healthy for the playoffs is the only way to compete.

If he can get back to borderline top-10 player status, Indiana’s chances to get back to the Finals suddenly become a lot more realistic.

Zubac and Oubre Give Haliburton New Pieces to Work With

While most of the Finals core is back for the Indiana Pacers, there are a few new players joining Tyrese Haliburton on the court.

The first of those joined the team in the middle of the 2025-26 season. Indiana traded for Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, effectively to replace Myles Turner. The Pacers are hoping the major acquisition will be beneficial.

In Indiana, Zubac will serve as a go-to roll man for Haliburton on offense, while protecting the superstar guard defensively.

In free agency, Indiana mostly stayed quiet but did add an under-the-radar name to its lineup in Kelly Oubre Jr. He can fill the Aaron Nesmith spot off the bench and potentially close for Indy. Oubre Jr. also bolsters Indiana’s identity, which includes running in transition, playing with pace, and aggressive ball pressure.

With Zubac and Oubre Jr., the rest of the Pacers’ Finals core still there sans Turner, and a healthy Haliburton, Indiana should find itself in the title conversation.

Haliburton’s Scoring Consistency Must Improve for Indiana to Contend

Navigating recovery from the Achilles injury is already a lot for Tyrese Haliburton. Going through a shingles diagnosis only added another barrier to getting back to form. Those issues aside, one part of Haliburton’s game needs to evolve for Indiana to be in the mix.

Haliburton’s scoring between the regular season and playoffs is nearly identical. He’s at 19.7 PPG over his last three regular seasons at Indiana. In the playoffs (appearances in ’24 and ’25), he’s at 17.9 PPG.

To be clear: Haliburton’s impact goes without question. He’s the engine who drove the Pacers to these recent, successful runs. Without him, Indy has no shot.

But for it to capitalize on its current championship window, Haliburton has to become a more consistent scorer.

Look no further than the 2025 playoffs. In 22 postseason games — excluding Game 7 of the NBA Finals — Haliburton was held to under 15 points nine times (41%), compared to seven games with more than 20 points.

Haliburton doesn’t need to play like Jalen Brunson all the time. But he will need to do it sometimes, especially with Siakam getting older, Nembhard only being able to do so much, and the rest of the supporting cast counting on him to do so.

At the end of the day, the Indiana Pacers’ title chances will begin and end with Haliburton.

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One of the best days in the NBA is Christmas Day. There is no better gift to NBA fans than a full day of tantalizing basketball. Last year’s slate of games mirrored the exact matchups in that season’s playoffs.  

Ahead of the league’s release of the 2026-27 schedule, here are the top five clashes that should headline Christmas Day:

Celtics-76ers

Despite being conference rivals, the Sixers and Celtics have squared off just twice in the last ten Christmases. With Jaylen Brown’s shocking trade to Philadelphia, a showdown with his former team would be the thrilling chance for revenge. The game would also pit Brown against the player Boston traded him for – Paul George. 

Brown played in Boston for 10 seasons and helped lead the Celtics to a championship. The organization’s decision to deal him to a conference rival stunned him and other folks around the league. Christmas Day is the perfect opportunity to prove the Celtics made the wrong choice on a stage millions will be tuned in to. 

Aside from Brown’s history with the Celtics, the impact of LeBron James can’t get overlooked. The future Hall of Famer has played on Christmas a record-breaking 20 times. His alliance with the Sixers rounds out the team as a star-studded force that could come out of the East.

On the Celtics side, Jayson Tatum will finally be healthy after missing the entirety of last season with a torn Achilles.

Spurs-Thunder

Two of the youngest teams in the league also happen to feature two faces of the NBA’s future. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama have led their teams to relevancy after years of missing the playoffs and sitting in the lottery.

The Spurs gave the top-seeded Thunder a difficult time last season, as four of OKC’s 18 regular-season losses came to the Spurs. They also battled it out in the last Western Conference Finals, with the Spurs edging out the Thunder in a narrow seven-game series.

Tensions were heightened with players on both sides accusing the other team of dirty play. 

The Thunder made several moves over the offseason, including getting rid of key role players: Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe. It will be interesting to see how the new-look Thunder fare against a hungry Spurs team. 

San Antonio came up just short of a title after losing to the Knicks in the NBA Finals. After having one year of deep playoff experience under their belt, the Spurs will be out for blood this season. That hunger going into a new season has already moved the basketball predictions on who comes out of the West.

Pacers-Knicks

The Pacers’ roster looks different from when Tyrese Haliburton last played, but any team with the 26-year-old on it has a chance. Like Tatum, Haliburton will be able to start this season healthy and help his team back to title contention. 

The last time the world saw Haliburton, he was shocking the NBA with improbable game-winners and comebacks. He infamously hit one game winner/game-tying shot in every series of the 2025 playoffs. 

The Pacers are long overdue for their first Christmas Day game in 22 years – regardless of whether they are a small market. Haliburton and his squad have shown that no moment is too big for them. They are more than capable of holding their own under the bright lights. 

Their battles with the Knicks in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs were one for the ages. Although the Pacers came out on top in both series, it is the Knicks who have since been named champions. 

The Knicks are also no strangers to historic comebacks. Last postseason, they overcame a 29-point halftime deficit in the Finals and a 22-point deficit with 7:48 to go in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

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Lakers-Mavericks

The Los Angeles Lakers are now Luka Doncic’s team after the departure of LeBron James. Facing his former team as the new leader of the Lakers would be a full-circle moment for a player who thought he would retire a Maverick. 

The Mavericks have moved on to No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg as the franchise’s cornerstone. Kyrie Irving is also expected to return after missing the 25-26 season rehabbing his torn ACL.

Irving and Doncic grew their initially rocky on-court chemistry during their time as teammates in Dallas. The two All-Stars became good friends off the court and still remain in touch with each other. 

One of the greatest What Ifs is what could have happened if Doncic and Irving stayed together. They already reached the Finals in their first full season together, leaving plenty of questions about how far they could have reached. 

Dallas endured a turbulent year and a half after Doncic’s jaw-dropping trade to the Lakers. Nico Harrison, former Mavs general manager, was fired and replaced by former Trail Blazers assistant general manager Mike Schmitz. 

From a wider perspective, the Lakers-Mavericks rivalry goes back to the Kobe Bryant-Dirk Nowitzki days. 

Warriors-Suns

The Warriors haven’t made significant upgrades to their roster, nor will they enter opening night fully healthy. Still, so long as the greatest shooter on the planet is in the league, he deserves the chance to put on a Christmas show. 

The Suns surprised many people after squeaking into the postseason in the aftermath of Kevin Durant’s exit. The contentious rivalry between Golden State and Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks is still very much alive.

While it is unlikely that Jimmy Butler will return from injury by Dec. 25, Brooks added fuel to the fire by picking Butler as the player he would want to box in the ring against. 

The Warriors have gotten the best of Dillon Brooks when it mattered most, but the Suns eliminated them in the Play-In last season. Devin Booker torched the Dubs last season, averaging 33.7 points over three games against them. 

Booker and Curry have built a friendship with each other ever since joining forces on the 2024 Olympic team. Curry wore Booker’s Nike Book 1s against the Suns when he was testing out shoes following his Under Armour split. 

The Suns and Warriors previously faced off on Christmas in 2021, when they entered the night as the league’s top two seeds. 

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Last season was a rough one for the Indiana Pacers, as they finished with the second-worst record in the NBA. To make matters worse, courtesy of their trade for Ivica Zubac, they had to sacrifice their top-five pick to the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the future is still bright for the Pacers.

Indiana’s woes came largely due to injuries, specifically their star, Tyrese Haliburton, who missed the entire year with a torn Achilles. Nevertheless, heading into next year, the Pacers have nearly all of their core players from their 2025 championship run. They did lose Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin, but by flipping Mathurin and the first for Ivica Zubac, they got an arguably better center.

Not only do the Pacers not have their own first-round pick — they don’t have a single pick this draft. That’s not a huge problem for them, though. None of their key players are entering free agency this offseason. Additionally, as a win-now team that nearly went the distance last year, they’re already pretty set.

Still, plenty of trades are made in every draft, particularly in the second round. Don’t expect Indiana to move into the first round, as they simply do not need to. However, they could realistically try to grab a second-round pick just to take a bite at the apple. As a team competing for a title, having extra depth and possible X-factors could prove to be the difference.

Pacers Draft Needs:

Frankly, the Pacers really don’t need much. They have passers, rim protection, shooting, perimeter defenders, and almost everything else a fan could ask for. One hole they have not filled, though, is the one left by Mathurin. With his size and ability to create shots of the bench, he was massive for Indiana in their 2025 playoff run. After trading him for Zubac, the Pacers could use another player of that archetype.

Pacers Draft Targets:

Otega Oweh — SG — Kentucky

Otega Oweh would be the perfect Bennedict Mathurin replacement. At 6-foot-4, Oweh averaged just under 19 points per game last season. Additionally, he profiles as a strong defender and three-level scorer: just like Mathurin.

Oweh would provide the Pacers with anything they could need. Whether they need shooting, perimeter defense, or shot creation, his wide range of skills makes him a perfect second-round flyer.

Predicting where players may go outside of the first round is tricky. Nevertheless, Oweh likely won’t go at the very top of the second round. So, if Indiana chooses to acquire a pick, if they get one anywhere near the middle of the second, they should have a chance.

Richie Saunders — SG — BYU

Richie Saunders, like Oweh, fills a lot of potential Indiana needs. Saunders thrives as a shooter, and his ability to get hot from three could be a true difference-maker. He also plays solid perimeter defense, which would allow him to get consistent run while he develops the rest of his game.

Saunders does not have the shot creation that Mathurin or even Oweh has. He’s not a guy who can consistently score in isolation situations. However, he can still get to the basket, knock down midranges, and get himself open looks from three. As a solid 3-and-D player with plenty of experience, he has the potential to be a steady bench contributor at the next level.

The Pacers can wait a bit longer on Saunders than Oweh. Saunders will likely go closer towards the end of the second round. Thus, with any second round pick, Indiana gives themselves a shot at one of the best shooters in the draft.

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Many fans and analysts have described the Ivica Zubac trade as somewhat of a gamble for the Pacers. Although giving up a potential top pick in this year’s draft for a player who has never received an All-Star selection is understandably daunting, it was a smart move on Indiana’s part.

What Are the Pacers Giving Up?

The standout player from the Pacers trade with the Clippers was forward Bennedict Mathurin. Drafted sixth overall in 2022 by Indiana, Mathurin was a key bench man in Indiana’s run to the 2025 NBA Finals. He scored 27 points in Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, ultimately becoming a fan favorite during his time in Indianapolis.

However, Mathurin’s looming long-term agreement created clear complications. With no future in the starting lineup given Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard‘s contributions, it made sense to trade Mathurin.

The other player Indiana gave up for Zubac was Isaiah Jackson. The Pacers decided that his on-court production, or lack thereof, was not enough to retain his spot in Pacer’s front court.

Aside from those two players, the trade includes a 2026 first-round pick — which the Pacers protected from picks 1-4 and 10-30 — and a 2029 unprotected first-rounder. The 2026 pick will turn to an unprotected first in 2031 if it does not convey. 

The point of contention of the trade has evidently been the picks the Pacers have potentially given up. However, when analyzing the potential picks in this year’s draft, it is clear that Indiana took a calculated risk that will pay off.

The Gamble

The Athletic, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sports Illustrated all have their top three players in this year’s draft as AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson — any three of which have the potential to be a franchise-altering pick. 

Sam Vecenie, an NBA Draft scout for The Athletic, divides prospects in different tiers. Tier One describes players that have a strong potential for All-NBA honors, while Tier Two are players that have a strong likelihood of becoming an All-Star. Vecnie described this upcoming draft class as one of the most talented in recent memory.

“In the decade-plus that I’ve been scouting the NBA Draft, I’ve never had three players [Dybantsa, Boozer and Peterson] as Tier One prospects in a single class,” said Vecenie.

Caleb Wilson, Kingston Flemings, and Keaton Wagler have consistently been in the running to be the fourth wildcard outside of the top three.

Vecnie described them as Tier Two players and said that he has “never had at least six Tier One and Tier Two players in a draft class.” This essentially means that if the Pacers land any top four pick, they have ample talent to choose from — talent which would increase the depth of the Pacers and would impact the team from the get-go.

Finally, these picks are followed by Nate Ament, Mikel Brown Jr., Labaron Philon Jr., and Darius Acuff, who are projected to go within the five to ten range.

Despite their talent, the impact these players might have and what they bring to the table is seen as marginally lower than that of the top six. In the case the pick falls within the five-to-nine range, the value of what the Pacers miss out on becomes marginally lower than what they could potentially gain.

What Zubac Brings to the Table

In a season plagued by injuries and roster rotations, Rick Carlisle has begun to focus on competing in the 2026-27 season. The logic here is simple: either Indiana gets a pick that could shift the organization’s trajectory, or the team gives up a player who realistically would have a much smaller impact on the Pacers’ championship efforts.

Zubac has only gotten better as he has aged, making an All-Defensive team last season and finishing sixth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. Furthermore, the Pacers have never had a high-end individual rebounder, and with Zubac, they get just that. Indiana is filling an immediate need at the center position while increasing the team’s physicality and offensive rebounding.

With high risk comes high reward. In this case, however, the risk is not incredibly high. Even if the Pacers miss out on a top four pick, next season, they will be able to start Tyrese Haliburton, Nesmith, Nembhard, Siakam and Zubac. This team essentially is the same one that pushed the Thunder to seven games in the NBA Finals.

With Zubac replacing Turner, he might be enough to get the Pacers over the line.

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The curtain has barely risen on the 2025-26 NBA season, but there is already a familiar storm rolling in from Oklahoma City.

The reigning champion Thunder have unleashed an almighty 23-1 barrage to kick off their title defense. Last year’s 68-win masterpiece culminated in the first championship in the franchise’s history, and if the latest NBA betting odds are anything to go by, they could well be on their way to a second straight crown. 

The latest Bovada NBA odds currently list the champs as a +135 favorite to defend the Larry O’Brien this season, and it’s very easy to see why.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the triple-crowned king (MVP, Finals MVP, and scoring champ— let that sink in), has somehow elevated his play from last season, averaging 32.8 points (56% FG, 44% 3PT, 88% FT), 4.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.4 steals over 33.3 minutes per game.

Most teams lose key pieces after winning a championship. This roster, however, did not. Instead, they inked their core to mammoth extensions, cemented 95% of their minutes, and left the rest of the NBA scrambling for answers.

But for every dynasty on the ascent, there are giants who tumble. As Oklahoma City wields its scepter, three franchises find themselves not only sliding down the standings but at existential crossroads. Let’s take a look at who those are.

1. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are by far the most disappointing team of the three. They currently sit with an embarrassing 6-18 record — 14th in the West — and face dozens of questions with no answers.

They just cut franchise legend Chris Paul, who reportedly had a falling out with the team and head coach Tyronn Lue.

The Clippers haven’t had a losing season since 2010-11— the year before Chris Paul first joined the franchise and established Lob City with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin.

Their starting five of James Harden, Kris Dunn, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins and Ivica Zubac has no business losing three times as many games as wins.

Time is running out for LAC to be competitive this season, and every loss looks more and more similar to last year’s Philadelphia 76ers, who had multiple stars but couldn’t figure anything out.

2. Milwaukee Bucks

Few teams evoke recent glory — or current frustration — like Milwaukee.

Every dribble echoes with ghosts of banners nearly hung: Giannis Antetokounmpo towering above the fray, and an offense that, when humming, looks nearly untouchable. But as December carries on, the Bucks languish at 10-15, with their sights set not on the championship, but on mere survival.

It’s a collapse paved by subtraction as much as injury. The Khris Middleton trade ripped away a stabilizing veteran presence in the backcourt. The injury bug prevented us from seeing what the Giannis, Middleton and Damian Lillard trio could have done together. Pat Connaughton, a symbol of continuity, was traded last season as well.

Giannis, now 31 and nursing yet another calf strain, remains a marvel, but is projected to appear in no more than 65 games—putting him in danger of ineligibility for end-of-season awards.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the Bucks are in a position to lose the Greek Freak if they don’t act fast. 

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3. Indiana Pacers

This is not just a fall— it is a plunge into the abyss. The Pacers were last season’s darlings, electrifying Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a run to the Finals that few outside Indiana dared dream. Tyrese Haliburton wasn’t just good— he was sorcery with a basketball, orchestrating an offense that blitzed even the best defenses.

Now, the Pacers are struggling at 6-18 and sit near the bottom of the NBA in three-point percentage (33.2%), with a sense of a cursed season.

The turning point was cruel fate: Haliburton, their engine and soul, ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the Finals. His absence gaped wider when Myles Turner bolted for Milwaukee, and a wave of injuries struck both rotation and depth— Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, each losing weeks to the healing table.

Pascal Siakam wages a one-man war (nearly 25 points a night), but without Haliburton to stretch and scramble defenses, the Pacers’ “pace” has slowed to a crawl. Every loss is another step further from that fairytale spring.

There’s a kernel of hope, though. The Pacers tank their way to a high draft pick who comes in alongside Haliburton’s return at the start of the 2026-27 season. 

It’s still a dim future, but many fans believe there is a light at the end of their ongoing pitch-black tunnel.

The post 3 NBA Teams Have Fallen From Glory in 2025 appeared first on The Lead.

Here’s a quick question. Are you afraid of change?

That question should be what every Pacers fan asked themselves following Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. A team rarely goes from the blistering high of being four quarters away from an NBA Championship to the soul-crushing low of not only losing said game, but losing out on contention for at least the following season as well.

Unfortunately, that is how the 2025 Indiana Pacers went down. What started as a potential lost season, with injuries and chemistry issues leading to a poor record at the turn of the year, turned into the ultimate Cinderella run. Tyrese Haliburton’s eventual recovery from his hamstring and back issues helped lead the team to a 10-2 record in January and the eventual fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Finals Run Recap

Following a five-game series win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, Indiana shocked the basketball world by upsetting the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games to make the Conference Finals.

During which they accomplished yet another upset by downing the New York Knicks in six games, including one of the hottest shooting nights in NBA history by Aaron Nesmith and Tyrese Haliburton’s miracle bounce to send Game 1 into overtime, which led to Indiana stealing homecourt advantage.

At that point, many considered Indiana to be playing with house money against the heavily-favored Oklahoma City Thunder. Still, they showed they were well within their league with yet another clutch Tyrese Haliburton shot on the road to win Game 1 and steal homecourt advantage for the third straight series.

Following a split in the next two games, the momentum was all on Indiana’s side. Could they actually get it done? Could the team nobody expected to see in the Conference Finals, let alone the NBA Finals, pull off the most unexpected ring in NBA history?

Unfortunately, not all fairy tales have a happy ending, and this time, Cinderella’s slipper did not fit. Right as it seemed like they would finally break the cusp of just being a fun “League Pass team” with no championships, the Pacers’ luck ran out in the most cruel and unusual way.

Now they lay stuck in the dark, searching for a way to navigate life without their compass for one season, while risking the NBA leaving them behind for good.

Return To the Shadows

The NBA moves on fast, and while the Pacers successfully captured the hearts and imaginations of countless NBA fans and non-fans during their 64 days of magic known as the NBA playoffs, rarely a peep is uttered about them in media circles in the present day. It seems they have returned to their usual sector of mediocrity in mainstream basketball discussions, only this time potentially risking further alienation due to losing their superstar for a season.

This is not exactly a foreign concept to the little old team in Indianapolis, seldom given a national TV spotlight and often relegated to being a “hidden gem” among basketball fans. In wrestling terms, the Pacers would be the NBA’s version of WWE’s Intercontinental Champion, good enough to get some recognition and sometimes even mix it up with the top draws, but never quite able to shatter that glass ceiling and rise to true main event status due to one reason or another.

Truth be told, who knows what happens if Haliburton never took that fateful negative step with five minutes left in the first quarter of Game 7? Would the NBA Championship reside in Naptown for the first time in league history? Would Haliburton and Pascal Siakam cement their status as Hall of Famers? Would Myles Turner stay a Pacer for life and potentially get his number retired in the future?

These are all valid questions; unfortunately, they remain unanswered, and Pacers fans, along with the players and anyone associated with the team, may have to live with that what-if for the rest of their lives.

Who Will Bring Indy Back in the Spotlight?

Regardless, it is useless to dwell on the past in this day and age, especially in a sport as fast-paced as basketball. After Indiana’s first game of the 2025-26 season, a Finals rematch against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the question of “What’s next?” has to enter the minds of Pacers fans as they gear up for a gap year without their superstar.

With the rest of the league moving on since that fateful night in Oklahoma City, the Pacers have had to do the same. Growing uncertainty about the futures of Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith was partially quelled this week, as Nesmith signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him in the blue and gold until at least 2029.

Conversely, Mathurin is in the final year of his rookie contract and opted not to sign an extension before the season, choosing instead to bank on himself and weigh his options after a full season in the starting lineup.

Additionally, with the Thunder being given the game of the new NBA on NBC partnership, every member of the defending champions received their championship ring.

In the other conference, the defending Eastern Conference Champions have to wait an additional two days before playing their first game of the season, which will undoubtedly have plenty of painful reminders of Game 7, which was only four months ago. In fact, the Pacers may have a case for the most forgotten NBA Finalists in recent memory, as they have been relatively absent from NBA promotional material and glossed over in season previews by various outlets.

It’s understandably hard for fans, and even players, to move on from the closest thing the NBA has gotten to a modern Greek tragedy, but on the bright side, once you reach rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up.

The 2024-25 Indiana Pacers will live on forever in the form of campfire stories told by Pacers fans to their kids, which will inevitably be passed down to their children. Hopefully, those stories will be followed up by ones about how Indiana rebounded after their failure and finally won the big one shortly after. Haliburton will return next year, and Indiana has a full year to find a frontcourt replacement for Myles Turner, whether through a trade, a signing, or one of its pre-existing centers.

The sun will rise once more in Naptown, and hopefully, this sunrise carries a Larry O’Brien trophy with it.

The post The Indiana Pacers Are Embracing Change in 2025-26 appeared first on The Lead.

There have been numerous NBA players who were known for one skill when they entered the league and became known for another skill later in their careers.

Some of them revived their career with a new skill; others developed their game in a new area, and that became their strength.

Here are some of the most notable players who have adapted since their NBA skillset since their draft report was released:

Lonzo Ball

Coming out of UCLA, Lonzo Ball was hyped up as an excellent passer who would facilitate an offense to play at a fast pace. What people didn’t think he could be is a knockdown, spot-up shooter, because of his funky jumper. 

In his third season in the league, Ball changed his unorthodox shooting form to a more conventional form.

He has remained a good connective passer on the fastbreak, but Ball’s new NBA skillset has turned him into a 3-and-D guard.

He’s primarily a catch-and-shoot player on offense. On the defensive side, he’s a pesky defender that can slide his feet and beat scorers to their spots.

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Malik Monk

Malik Monk was a bona fide scorer at Kentucky, averaging nearly 20 points per game on 45/39/82 shooting splits.

He was expected to be a primary scorer in the starting lineup when Charlotte drafted him in the lottery.

Yet in his four seasons as a Hornet, he started only one game. 

When Monk ended up in Sacramento a few years later, he blossomed, turning into a volume bench scorer. 

In his playoff debut, he dropped 32 points off the bench to help Sacramento take Game 1 over Golden State. 

Monk revived his career in Sacramento thanks to a bench role. Last season, after the departure of De’Aaron Fox, the Kings started Monk in 45 games, meaning his NBA skillset may have to change yet again.

Aaron Nesmith

In his sophomore year at Vanderbilt, in a limited sample size of 14 games, Aaron Nesmith shot 52 percent from deep on just over eight attempts per game.

As a lottery pick, things didn’t work out with his initial team, the Boston Celtics.

Nesmith started just four games over two seasons as a Celtic. He became lost in a loaded Celtics team that made the Finals in his second season.

Following the Finals appearance, Nesmith was traded to the Indiana Pacers. He started in 60 games in the 2022-2023 season and became a key piece to the Pacers making deep runs in the following two seasons.

He made his reputation as a strong perimeter defender in Indiana. 

Down 0-2 to the New York Knicks in the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals, Indiana made the adjustment to put Nesmith on Jalen Brunson as the primary defender.

In the next two games, Brunson shot 16-43 (37 percent) and Indiana tied the series, eventually winning in seven.

Nesmith’s college strength (shooting) is still a valuable part of his game.

He shot a ridiculous 49 percent from downtown on over five attempts per game in the 2025 playoffs — making him the most accurate shooter (minimum 100 attempts) ever in the postseason.

Once again, Nesmith torched the Knicks, this time on the offensive end. In game one of the East Finals, Nesmith knocked down six triples in the final frame to help Indiana force overtime and steal Game 1.

Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. was regarded as the top recruit coming out of the 2017 high school class. He played just three games in college due to a back injury.

Once projected as the top pick in the 2018 draft, Porter Jr.’s back injuries gave teams concerns and he ended up as the final lottery pick. 

Porter received comparisons to Kevin Durant for his high release point at 6-foot-10. He was projected to be a three-level scorer when he entered the league.

Playing off of the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Porter Jr. was primarily a catch-and-shoot player during his six years of playing in Denver. Last year, Porter Jr. shot 41 percent on catch-and-shoot three-pointers.

He became a knockdown shooter to the point that his nickname is “Michael ‘the possession ends here’ Porter Jr.

Porter Jr. was known for being the weakest link on Denver’s defense, but with a mix of perimeter defenders in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and interior defenders in Aaron Gordon, it didn’t hinder Denver as much.

Jalen Suggs

While he was at Gonzaga, Suggs was the team’s main scoring guard with raw athleticism. A majority of his shots came around the rim or in the midrange.

His main NBA skillset now features his perimeter defense. Suggs developed into one of the top defenders that can fight over screens. He’s an excellent point-of-attack defender.

Suggs made his first All-Defensive team in the 2023-24 season. 

He’s also turned himself into a terrific shooter. In 2023-2024, Suggs shot 40 percent on nearly four catch-and-shoot attempts per game.

He played just 35 games last year before going down with a cartilage fragment in his left knee.

While some players may pan out into what their initial draft report says, these five players showed that NBA skillsets can develop and players can become great in other facets of the game.

The post NBA Skillsets Can Evolve, Just Ask These Players appeared first on The Lead.

With the NBA offseason mostly in the rearview, some teams improved. Others did not.

After covering the “winners” of the draft and free agency, it’s now on to the not-so-victorious teams. But what’s the best way to determine who falls in the “loser” category?

Similarly as the winners, an exercise like this remains subjective. That being said, there are a few broad guidelines to follow. Among them are teams who:

• Did less with more
• Did little to improve their situation
• Bouncing off the above sentiment, doubling down on said situation
• Mismanaged their resources (draft picks, players and cap space)
• Maintained a grizzly outlook

Most teams fall somewhere in the middle between good and somewhere-in-the-middle territory. These five teams checked off at least two of the boxes above. Plus, it’s certainly hard to make a case that any of them can be considered winners.

In alphabetical order, here are the teams that really disappointed in the offseason.

Chicago Bulls

The list begins with a team that didn’t do much, and that’s exactly the reason Chicago falls into “loser” status. As one writer from The Lead described the Bulls’ offseason, it’s certainly bland.

The most significant move of the summer: swapping out Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro. On paper, not great across the board. First, Ball is clearly a better player (when healthy) and also fits in more team constructions than Okoro. But, Okoro still has two more years under contract, while Ball expires after next season. The cherry on top: Chicago didn’t get any draft compensation for taking on the extra money either.

Chicago remains a team that’s completely directionless. The one trade the Bulls made was a loss all-around, and this is a team that will have the exact same outlook in 2025-26 as 2024-25: no proper rebuild, middle of the pack in the East and maybe a home game in the Play-In Tournament.

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Indiana Pacers

Arguably a controversial addition, and some fans will certainly disagree (especially after a historic run to the NBA Finals last year).

Letting Myles Turner depart via free agency is devastating. Letting him go to a team that had no cap space (but had to stretch the remaining $100+ million on Damian Lillard’s contract) is a disaster.

Obviously, the Achilles injury to Tyrese Haliburton changed Indiana’s outlook in 2025-26.

That said, Turner to this point was a life-long Pacer. He is still in his twenties. His new deal with Milwaukee (four years, $108 million) is not egregiously expensive. Turner brings everything a team dreams a center can have: rim protection and capable three-point shooting. That combination is incredibly hard to find, and it’s valuable… and Indiana let one of the few players who could do that walk.

In terms of what was the absolute most inexcusable move of the summer, this one easily cracks the top two. The number-one spot goes to…

New Orleans Pelicans

No single decision is being labeled worse than what New Orleans did on draft night.

The trade: New Orleans owned the 23rd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Pelicans moved that to Atlanta for the 13th pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick. The latter of those selections is the higher of New Orleans or Milwaukee.

That asset has to be moved for something better, like pairing it with the seventh pick New Orleans owned to move up in the draft. Dealing an unprotected first-rounder to go up 10 spots is a steal for Atlanta and a big swing that is impossible to defend.

New Orleans used the pick it moved up for to take Derik Queen. Whatever Queen’s ceiling is does not factor into putting the Pelicans in “loser” territory. Simply, it’s the value proposition, or lack of it, for New Orleans.

The Pelicans did make other moves. Out goes Bruce Brown, CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk. In comes Saddiq Bey, Kevon Looney and Jordan Poole. Will they do much to change the outlook of New Orleans moving forward?

Phoenix Suns

The Suns barely crack this list. Phoenix fans are already in a bad place, watching a team that’s “stuck in the mud” and moving on from a failed Kevin Durant tenure.

Getting Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in the historic seven-team Durant trade is probably as good as the Suns could do (i.e. filling in holes on the roster). Trading two first-rounders for Mark Williams is okay, considering neither pick has much upside.

All that said, the one big failure was staying the course. Devin Booker inked a new extension with the Suns. It adds two years and $145 million to his current deal, or over $72 million per season in these new years added.

Here’s the kicker: Booker’s current deal (pre-extension) went through 2027-28. This extension pays Booker north of $70 million through 2029 with a player option in 2030.

So, why did Phoenix pay this much so far out?

Phoenix remains a team committed to the Booker era, even if it means paying him as much as possible, as far out as possible.

Toronto Raptors

A similar story with Toronto, who have now missed the playoffs in three straight years. It’s a franchise with plenty of big contracts on the books: Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, R.J. Barrett and Jakob Poeltl.

And now, one of them is getting even more money. This extension is even worse than Booker’s, because at least he is an All-Star and an All-NBA-caliber player.

Toronto signed Poeltl to a four-year extension. It tacks on an additional $84 million, paying Poeltl through the 2029-30 season, when he will be 34 years old.

Like Phoenix, it’s a decision with little upside and plenty of downside risk. That said, it’s way worse considering Poeltl’s deal goes so far out.

Is there a case this actually might be the single-worst move of the summer?

The post Who Are The 5 Clear Losers of the NBA Offseason? appeared first on The Lead.

When NBA pundits discuss who the all-time greatest coach is, names such as Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson usually come up. As for active coaches, Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra are the popular names.

However, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle is now growing worthy of a mention.

Carlisle led the Pacers to the 2025 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. It was an impressive journey, considering that the Boston Celtics were the initial favorites to win the Eastern Conference and the Pacers were nowhere near them.

But this wasn’t the first time Carlisle beat the odds stacked against him in his career.

The greatest championship run in NBA history

On May 9, 2008, Carlisle signed a four-year deal to become the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. During the 2010-11 season, he accomplished a nearly impossible feat.

Carlisle led Dallas to a 57-25 record in 2011, their best since the 2004-05 season. That year, the Mavericks went on several lengthy win streaks, including a 12-game streak from Nov. 20 to Dec. 11. Due to the number of minutes and back-to-back games they had to play, Carlisle had to make changes to his starting lineup. He employed 22 different lineups to keep his players healthy and prepared for the postseason.

Considering that the Mavericks faced some of the most elite talent in the playoffs, the changes didn’t stop for Carlisle.

After taking a 4-2 series win in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers, they met Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. According to betting odds, the Lakers were heavily favored to win the West.

With the odds stacked against them, the Mavericks had to approach the series with a different game plan.

At the time, the Lakers were coached by Phil Jackson, who constantly implemented the triangle offense. Carlisle countered Jackson’s scheme by having the Mavericks play zone defense, limiting the Lakers to an average of 88.2 points per game. After winning the first two games in Los Angeles, the Mavericks earned a sweep of LA, capped off by a 122-86 win in Game 4.

In the Conference Finals, the Mavericks battled the Thunder, which featured upcoming stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. After splitting both games in Dallas, the Mavericks won the next two in Oklahoma City, followed by a 100-96 win in Game 5 to advance to the NBA Finals.

Taking Down LeBron

When the Mavericks reached the Finals, they faced the championship-favorite Miami Heat. It was the Heat’s first year featuring the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

As many expected, Dallas struggled against Miami in the beginning. After trailing in the series at 2-1, Carlisle made a crucial adjustment.

In Game 4, he decided to give J.J. Barea his first start of the playoffs, replacing DeShawn Stevenson. The reason for the change was to present a much more disruptive presence against LeBron. In the first three games, LeBron averaged 20.3 points. Carlisle’s plan worked to perfection as James only averaged 13.3 points in the final three games, including his infamous eight-point performance in Game 4.

Despite the pressure initially against them, Carlisle and the Mavericks took a 4-2 series victory, winning the first championship in franchise history.

Carlisle’s clever coaching strategies were recognized by many during the championship run. After Game 4 of the Finals, shooting guard Jason Terry showed appreciation to Carlisle and the adjustments he made.

“He’s doing a phenomenal job. He’s done that throughout these playoffs,” Terry said. “He knows his team. He knows the beat of this team. And then when we need a spark, he’s willing to make the adjustment and make a change. It’s just very gutsy. It’s very classy and, again, he’s doing a phenomenal job.”

After the Mavericks conquered the Heat and received their championship trophy, owner Mark Cuban stressed how important it is to trust the coach and the process.

“We learned that chemistry matters, that it’s a team game. That you have to have players who believe in each other and trust each other and trust your coach and that’s a process. It doesn’t happen overnight, there’s no quick solutions.”

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New Beginnings

On Jun. 24, 2021, Carlisle signed with the Pacers, marking his second stint as a head coach in Indiana.

In 2023, Carlisle led the Pacers to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. But this past year, his status as a successful head coach peaked.

The Pacers began the 2024-25 season slowly, winning only 10 of their first 25 games. They had just 20 wins by the end of the calendar year, but in January, the team took the league by the horns.

On Jan. 2, Indiana began a six-game win streak that the conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers eventually ended. The Pacers ended the month with a 10-2 record. Carlisle won his fourth Coach of the Month Award.

The Pacers were 24-12 over the final three months of the season. They finished with a 50-32 record, their first 50-win season since 2014.

Same playoff run, different result

Although the Pacers failed to win the championship, the obstacles they overcame were impressive.

In the first round, they battled the Milwaukee Bucks, who they lost to three out of four times in the regular season. Even though Damian Lillard went down with an Achilles injury in Game 4, the Pacers still had to take down Giannis Antetokounmpo, who averaged 33.0 points and 15.4 rebounds that series.

After defeating the Bucks 4-1, the Pacers played the East’s regular-season champions, the Cavaliers. While Darius Garland dealt with a toe injury and Evan Mobley missed time as well, Donovan Mitchell averaged 34.2 points in the series. However, the Pacers were able to take a 4-1 series win in relatively easy fashion.

During the Conference Finals, the Pacers faced off against the New York Knicks, which proved to be a difficult matchup. In that series, the Pacers were pitted against a healthy star duo in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with a variety of capable Knicks defenders.

Despite being underdogs, the Pacers took a 4-2 series win. Their victory didn’t come without some tough fights, though. In Game 1, Indiana overcame a 43-point performance from Brunson and a 14-point deficit with three minutes left in the game to take a 138-135 overtime win.

The comeback against the Knicks was the Pacers’ third miraculous comeback victory in as many series. Carlisle deserves plenty of credit for instilling in his team a “never-say-die” mentality. The Pacers played as hard as they could until the final buzzer, even in the NBA Finals.

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So Close to a second title

Although the Thunder were arguably the best team in the league, Indiana tested them. In Game 1 of the series, the Pacers overcame a 14-point fourth quarter deficit on Oklahoma City’s court to steal a 1-0 lead.

Sadly, the outcome of the Finals didn’t match the previous series for Indiana. After Haliburton went down with an Achilles injury in the first quarter of Game 7, the Thunder went on to take a 103-91 win and seal their NBA title.

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Carlisle might not have a shelf full of personal coaching accolades, but it isn’t every day that the sports world witnesses a Cinderella story, and Carlisle has pulled it off twice now, once leading to the ultimate accomplishment. Considering his determination and willingness to challenge his players, Carlisle’s respect as one of the all-time greats is warranted.

The post Rick Carlisle’s Coaching Resume Has Reached Elite Status appeared first on The Lead.