Indiana Pacers 2026 Offseason Part 1: Haliburton's return and bench upgrades | Third Apron Podcast

Indiana Pacers 2026 Offseason Part 1: Haliburton’s return and bench upgrades | Third Apron Podcast



Indiana Pacers 2026 Offseason Part 1: Haliburton’s return and bench upgrades | Third Apron Podcast

Tony East of Locked on Pacers returns to the show to discuss the Pacers’ upcoming offseason. We relitigate their last 12 months, their outlook now that we have post-lottery clarity, and the types of moves they should make on the margins.

Pacers salary cap analysis: https://www.thirdapron.com/p/pacers-haliburton-zubac-tax-preview

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View Comments (15)
  1. Pacers will be fine. If they drafted a top 4 pick they would have had to trade equivalent salary to stay under the cap. Now they run a back a team that made the Finals. The shame with not getting the pick is what they could have gotten back in future picks by trading it.

  2. I really think Jalen Slawson can be that missing piece. He played with intensity and hunger. Made some huge defensive stops towards the end of the season. Big body too. Hungry dogs run faster. I think they keep Potter over Huff. Potter played with guts and reminded me of a poor man’s Sabonis.

  3. I feel like the Pacers have drafted poorly and that's set them up. All those picks to score 2 solid 2nd round guys…. ISN't GOoD ASSET MANAGEMENT to my tastes. I Jax and Benn and Jarace I wanted ( I also wanted Bilal) and catering to Myles may have influemced our draft decisions, like missing out on Sengun or John Collins or Trey iii … 15:15 @yossigozlan I'm curious about this point, because this is kind of the quandry most people are upset about. the math is there, but what was possible by waiting?? There are other moves that could've attached too, but there's no one after top 4 is a lock to help a contender right away. does this hurt? would I have negociated harder? YUP!

  4. after the reality check though, it was a ballsy move and he shouldn't have apologized; cuz that made it worse for a moment… that said I love shedding Shep and possibly Jarace; perhaps going hard at a 3/D and allowing Aaron to come off the bench, which is where I think he's would be best utilizd and upgrade woyld require Jarace Shep Huff some 1st's .. You have to ask if the FO is actually going to pay for caliber, because now we're just also in a consecutive RFA stalworth position with a top 10 draft pick. You have to start asking questions because eventually we run out of tradeable assets. I don't see why you don't just now shed as much as you can to get under to then go over, absorbing a player worth the 1st apron. Here's a stat, No one outside of the bubble Lakers, in the shot clock era, has won a championship without a homegrown 1st round draft pick. We are really towing a line here for the sake of cheapness.

  5. Being that reliant on "one guy" to facilitate the offense not a good feeling… I think the Pacers aren't good at developing young talent… Especially with cheap ownership… Good video as always.. I think with a high pick (instead of the Zu trade) … Siakim gets replaced (Bulls three team) and you get a center for him

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