The Indiana Pacers have been one recreation away from their first NBA title this season. But when Tyrese Haliburton did undergo an Achilles tear in Recreation 7, the workforce may rethink its method to subsequent season.
Haliburton injured his Achilles tendon halfway by way of the opening quarter of the Pacers’ Recreation 7 loss Sunday night time. He is more likely to miss the entire 2025-26 season, leaving the Pacers with out their two-time All-NBA level guard.
Which may change the selections that the Pacers make this summer time. Because the workforce rolled to the Finals, it appeared very seemingly that Indiana would re-sign free-agent heart Myles Turner, even when that new deal made the workforce right into a luxury-tax payer for the primary time in 20 years.
Now, if they do not see themselves as contenders, the Pacers may contemplate a sign-and-trade or just letting Turner stroll. Earlier than re-upping with the 10-year Pacers veteran, Indiana may see what a win-now workforce just like the Los Angeles Lakers may supply it in a deal for Turner.
Turner is not the one participant who could be expendable because the Pacers face what could be an involuntary “hole 12 months.” Obi Toppin had three video games of 17 or extra factors throughout the Finals, however he is additionally a backup massive man who’s on the books for $45M for the following three seasons, and should have hit his peak already at age 27.
Might the Pacers commerce Toppin and provides extra minutes to 21-year-old Jarace Walker, the No. 8 choose from the 2023 draft? Toppin might be very interesting for a workforce with title aspirations subsequent season and a gap in its frontcourt.
Aside from Pascal Siakam (31) and T.J. McConnell (33), all the opposite key Pacers are 25 or youthful, which means they need to nonetheless be of their primes when Haliburton is again. It is irritating to take a step again after coming so near a championship, however the Pacers ought to significantly take into consideration reloading for 2026-27 as a substitute of working it again in 2025-26.
