The Pacers re-acquired their 2026 first-round pick from the Pelicans, aiming to leverage a strong 2026 draft to accelerate a future window of contention during Haliburton’s absence.

Myles Turner’s exit to the Bucks prompted the Pacers to add center depth, including Jay Huff from the Grizzlies, to fill the void in the middle.

The Pacers plan to lean on veteran T.J. McConnell and players like Johnny Furphy and Obi Toppin, with Isaiah Jackson returning from an Achilles injury to step in for the departed Myles Turner and contribute as the team reshapes its frontcourt.

With health still a variable, observers question whether pursuing a play-in bid or a first-round exit is worthwhile for an undermanned roster, weighing short-term gains against long-term development.

Looking ahead to the 2026 draft, the class is expected to be exceptionally deep, featuring Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Mikel Brown Jr., making an early top pick appealing to add elite talent on rookie contracts.

A calculated tank could help identify which young players—such as Furphy, Ben Sheppard, Isaiah Jackson, and Taelon Peters—are ready to take on bigger roles and hasten the rebuild.

Given the injuries, the team may pivot from immediate contention to a focus on long-term development and a potential rebuild strategy.

The injury occurred on June 22, 2025, with recovery typically taking about a year, making Haliburton unlikely to return until late 2026, around November.

Tyrese Haliburton suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Thunder, ending his 2024-25 postseason and sidelining him for the 2025-26 season.

The injury dramatically alters the Pacers’ outlook, forcing the team to navigate a lean roster and lean on depth while Haliburton recovers.

Haliburton’s injury means Andrew Nembhard steps in as the starting point guard, with Bennedict Mathurin likely moving to shooting guard to anchor the new lineup.

The roster is further stressed by additional injuries to McConnell, Mathurin, Nembhard, Toppin, and Furphy, complicating lineup decisions and development plans.