Indiana Pacers Can Now Afford To Sign A Free Agent. Should They?

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers can now afford to sign a veteran 15th player to their roster. But do they need to do it right now?

That’s the question the team’s front office is considering. Entering the season, the Pacers team spending level was over the luxury tax line and, of all importance for their roster size, near the first apron. That first apron acts as a hard cap for Indiana because they used a specific salary cap exception to sign wing Kelly Oubre in the offseason.

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When the season began, the Pacers had $206.8 million committed in terms of guaranteed contracts and possible salary bonuses. The first apron is just over $209 million. That left the team with a bit over $2.2 million in space between their roster spending and their hard cap.

The veteran’s minimum for the entire 2026-27 NBA season is just shy of $2.45 million. That meant the Pacers couldn’t even afford to sign a player to a minimum-salary agreement when the season began – only a player with zero (and drafted in the second round) or one year of service could have been added to their team at the time.

As a result, the Pacers carried 14 players on their roster to begin the season. But once the regular season starts, every passing day makes minimum contracts cheaper. They pro-rate based on how much of the season remains. And so earlier this week, a veteran’s minimum contract became small enough in remaining value that the Pacers could afford to sign any available free agent to a one-year contract.

But the question remains: Should they?

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Entering the season, the answer to an early-as-possible addition seemed like it should be no. Just because the Pacers could sign someone doesn’t mean they should. Because minimum contracts pro-rate, as noted above, every passing day gives the Pacers more flexibility. For example, if the team opted to sign a player on the first possible day they could have, and that player stayed with the team for the rest of the season, the Pacers (essentially) couldn’t take back more salary than they sent out in trades or signed a player to a 10-day contract if they opened a roster spot – among many other transactions that would have become harder or impossible by using (basically) all of their remaining apron space at the first possible instant.

The Pacers can – if they’re able to keep avoiding a signing – keep more team-building avenues open by waiting. Between slightly imbalanced trades, short-term signings, and other considerations related to their Mid-Level Exception, there are plenty of reasons to wait.

While that stance made good sense entering the season, things changed for the Pacers to start the campaign. T.J. McConnell went down with an injury early in training camp, and that was the first of many. Hamstring injuries stacked up. Guard Ben Sheppard is going to be out for a while. Others missed time. Indiana had just six players suit up in their loss against the Atlanta Hawks earlier this week.

With so many players down for the Pacers, the calculations changed. Do they need a player now just to survive their health situation? A 15th player could also open up a hardship contract slot down the line and would put a pause on the team’s 90-game cap for their two-way contract signees while sitting on 14 players.

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“I think it’s fair to say that everything is on the table. We do need help,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said on Tuesday of this week during a radio appearance on 107.5 The Fan’s Morning Show.

What kind of player could the Pacers sign now that they’re able to?

Indiana has been hit hardest in the guard room. McConnell has yet to play this season, though that should change soon. Star ball handler Tyrese Haliburton is dealing with a hamstring injury. Andrew Nembhard missed two games with neck and back issues. Quenton Jackson hasn’t missed a game but was sidelined early in camp.

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That has put the team in a bind in the backcourt. Their wings and forward have stayed largely healthy, but some reserves have been inconsistent. That’s even more true at center, where Jay Huff and Larry Nance Jr have taken on bigger roles after an injury to starter Ivica Zubac – though he has since returned.

In theory, the team could use an upgrade in the frontcourt, though the available free agents list isn’t inspiring. And while a jolt of talent would be nice, with Zubac back and Obi Toppin an emergency option at center, the team is not in need of interior resources right now.

Haliburton and McConnell’s absences make the need for a guard stronger for the Pacers. As recently as Monday, the team may have been more inclined to pursue free agent caretakers. But two things may have changed their thinking this week.

One is the return of McConnell to the lineup – he was able to practice in Mexico City recently and a brief assignment with the Pacers G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom. The other is the emergence of Braden Smith, a point guard on a two-way contract who has risen his level of late and given the Pacers a lift at the point guard spot.

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Because flexibility is so valuable to the Pacers, the emergence of Smith is a big deal. That, combined with recent returns to the lineup for McConnell and Zubac, makes putting off a signing logical despite more desperate times arriving last week.

“Everything is in play here,” Carlisle said. “And if there’s an opportunity to improve the team… Our [front office] will do it.”

If Haliburton, Sheppard, and Johnny Furphy (torn ACL) are the only players sidelined for the Pacers, they can get by without a signing, and one would be unlikely in the short term. But the team is one or two more injuries away from needing more reinforcements. With November 5 in the rear view mirror, adding depth is a possibility if needed.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com