With All-Star lead guard Tyrese Haliburton having been tied into a maximum-value extension prior to the start of last season, with Aaron Nesmith having signed one of his own for a flat $11 million per annum in each of the next three seasons, and with Myles Turner having signed a rare renegotiation-extension in January 2023, the Pacers have three big pieces tied into contracts. The trio combine for a price of approximately $63 million, a fair price for their services, and a plethora of rookie scale contracts in Jarace Walker ($6,362,433), Bennedict Mathurin ($7,245,720), Ben Sheppard ($2,664,031) and Isaiah Jackson ($4,435,380) help keep the overall costs down.
There is however one obvious and glaring exception. Siakam – their All-Star big man, their leading scorer, their big mid-season acquisition and the man who raised both their floor and their ceiling – is destined to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, barring an extension. And if he does so, he will be one of the best players in a weak market.
Beyond that, however, the Pacers should have relatively good continuity heading into next season, with only some of their bench frontcourt depth hitting the market. There are no bad contracts, there are no ways to really create bad contracts, the expiring deals of Doug McDermott and the long-departed Daniel Theis create significant extra breathing room on the cap sheet, and in Haliburton, they have a superstar every free agent in the world will benefit from playing alongside.
Perhaps it is time, then, for another big acquisition.
