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The Indiana Pacers announced Saturday that guard Bennedict Mathurin has been diagnosed with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, an injury which will require surgery. The procedure will be performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles next week.
Mathurin will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season and is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The Golden State Warriors have acquired a second round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for guard Cory Joseph along with a 2025 second round draft pick (top-55 protected from Charlotte) and cash considerations, the team announced today.
The Pacers then waived Joseph.
Joseph, 32, appeared in 26 games with Golden State this season, tallying averages of 2.4 points, 1.6 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game. Joseph signed with Golden State as a free agent on July 6, 2023.
Originally selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 29th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Joseph owns career averages of 6.9 points, 3.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 21.7 minutes in 816 games (175 starts) over 13 seasons with the Warriors, Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons.
Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has acquired Buddy Hield in a three-team trade involving the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.
To complete the trade, Philadelphia sent Furkan Korkmaz, a 2024 second-round pick ((a) most favorable of Toronto’s own and (b) most favorable of (i) Indiana’s own and (ii) least favorable of Utah/Cleveland), Portland’s 2029 second-round pick and cash considerations to Indiana.
The 76ers also traded Marcus Morris Sr., the LA Clippers’ 2029 second-round pick and cash considerations to San Antonio. The Spurs sent Doug McDermott to Indiana.
Over the past five-plus seasons, Hield has made a league-leading 1,240 three-pointers, shooting better than 39-percent (39.3% 3FG) from beyond the arc over that span. Since his NBA debut in 2016-17, Hield has connected on 1,842 three-pointers, joining Golden State’s Stephen Curry as the only two players with 1,800-or-more.
In 52 games (28 starts) this season with Indiana, Hield holds averages of 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 25.7 minutes per contest, while shooting 44.3-percent from the field and 38.4-percent from three-point range.
Hield posted a season-high 31 points (12-17 FG, 7-12 3FG) against the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 22, marking one of his nine games this season with five-or-more made three-pointers. Hield’s 142 career games with at least five triples are third in the NBA since his rookie season.
Originally selected by New Orleans with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Hield holds career averages of 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, while shooting 40.1-percent from three-point range in 600 games (398 starts) over seven-plus seasons with the Pelicans, Sacramento, and Indiana.
Following his rookie season, Hield was named to the 2017 NBA All-Rookie First Team. Three years later, he captured the 2020 NBA Three-Point Contest crown at All-Star weekend in Atlanta. A native of The Bahamas, Hield starred collegiately at Oklahoma where he was twice named Big-12 Player of the Year. Following his senior season, he earned the Naismith College Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, and Sporting News Men’s College Basketball Player of the Year in 2016.
Korkmaz was drafted by Philadelphia with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and went on to play 328 games (49 starts) across six-plus seasons with the 76ers, averaging 6.8 points and 2.0 rebounds. Acquired as part of a seven-player, three-team deal with the LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 1, Morris Sr. averaged 6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 37 games with the 76ers.
The Toronto Raptors have acquired guard-forward Bruce Brown, guard Kira Lewis Jr., forward Jordan Nwora and three first round draft picks in a trade with the Indiana Pacers for forward Pascal Siakam.
In a corresponding move, the Raptors have also waived centre Christian Koloko.
“Pascal is a champion, an integral part of winning teams and an example of what can be achieved with dedication, perseverance, hard work and tenacity. We’re lucky to have seen Pascal develop into the man and player that he is today – and we are grateful for everything he has done for our city and for our franchise. We wish him all good things,” Raptors Vice-Chairman and President Masai Ujiri said. “This is a time of change for our team, and we welcome Bruce, Jordan and Kira to the Raptors and to Toronto. Bruce is a world champion, and we look forward to his two-way play and added toughness on the court. We continue the work of getting better every day, and continue moving forward in our quest to win here in Toronto.”
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Pascal to Indiana,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “As a two-time All-NBA selection and two-time NBA All Star, Pascal is a player that our organization has long admired and respected. We feel that his unique offensive skillset will complement our style of play, while his defensive versatility will be a valuable asset to our team.”
Siakam will wear number 43 for the Pacers.
Brown, 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, is averaging a career-high 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 29.7 minutes in 33 games (all starts) this season. He is shooting .475 (149-314) from the field, .327 (33-101) from three-point range and .817 (67-82) at the free throw line. Brown has scored in double figures 22 times, including a season-best 30 points Dec. 2 at Miami. He recorded his lone double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds at Denver on Jan. 14.
Now in his sixth season, Brown is averaging 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 25.0 minutes in 382 career games (245 starts) with Detroit, Brooklyn, Denver and Indiana. The Boston native was picked in the second round (42nd overall) by the Pistons in the 2018 NBA Draft following two collegiate seasons at Miami.
Nwora, 6-foot-9, 220 pounds, is averaging 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 10.2 minutes in 18 contests this season. He is shooting .451 (37-82) from the floor and scored a season-high 19 points Nov. 19 against Orlando.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Nwora was picked in the second round (45th overall) by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 16.5 minutes in 172 games (29 starts) with Milwaukee and Indiana. Prior to the NBA, Nwora played three seasons at Louisville (2017-20) where he was a First Team All-ACC selection as a junior.
Lewis, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, was acquired earlier Wednesday by the Pacers from the New Orleans Pelicans. He is averaging 2.9 points, 1.2 assists and 9.6 minutes in 15 games this season. Lewis owns career averages of 5.4 points, 1.8 assists and 13.8 minutes in 118 career appearances with the Pelicans. A native of Meridianville, Alabama, Lewis played two collegiate seasons at Alabama (2018-20) prior to being picked 13th overall by New Orleans in the 2020 NBA Draft. As a sophomore, he earned All-SEC First Team honours with the Crimson Tide.
Siakam was picked 27th overall by the Raptors in the 2016 NBA Draft. He averaged 17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 31.0 minutes in 510 games (416 starts) in eight seasons with Toronto. Siakam was named to the All-NBA Team in 2019-20 (Second Team) and 2021-22 (Third Team), earned All-Star honours twice (2020, 2023), and became the first player in team history to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player (2018-19).
Siakam helped the Raptors capture their first NBA championship in 2019, and departs Toronto ranked third on the franchise’s all-time rebounds list (3,324), and fifth in scoring (8,875), assists (1846) and games played (510).
Koloko averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 13.8 minutes in 58 games as a rookie with the Raptors last season after being picked 33rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced have traded Kira Lewis Jr. and a 2024 second round pick to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for cash considerations.
Lewis Jr., 6-2, 175, who was selected by New Orleans with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, appeared in 118 games across four seasons with the Pelicans and averaged 5.4 points, 1.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds per contest.
The Indiana Pacers announced on Friday the team has signed forward James Johnson.
Johnson will wear number 16 with the Pacers.
And per the Indy Star:
James Johnson Jr. never gave up on the idea that he was going to play this season. Not in July when the Pacers filled their roster without re-signing him and not when the season began and he wasn’t on a roster.
“I was still working out,” Johnson said Friday. “It was never over in my mind for me. I was just working out and staying patient.”
The patience was finally rewarded Thursday when news broke that the Pacers would re-sign him and allow the 36-year-old to play his 15th year in the league. His signing was formally announced on Friday and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said in his pre-game press conference that Johnson will be dressed and available for their 7 p.m. game against the Wizards.
OC Register: Lakers coach Darvin Ham said ahead of Saturday’s In-Season Tournament championship game between his team and the Indiana Pacers that he didn’t want to reveal too much of their strategy. But the way the Lakers attacked the Pacers’ defense said everything that needed to be known about their gameplan: constantly attack the paint against an Indiana team that allows points in the paint at a league-worst rate (62.5 points per game).
OC Register: And the strategy worked, with the Lakers beating the Pacers 123-109 at T-Mobile Arena to win the inaugural Tournament and NBA Cup – and roughly $7.75 million spread throughout the Lakers roster and additional monetary compensation for the coaching staff. The Lakers attacked the heart of the Pacers’ defense repeatedly, scoring 86 points in the paint – more than they have in any other game this season – to make up for their lack of perimeter shooting (2 of 13 on 3-pointers).
ESPN.com: The Los Angeles Lakers are tied with the Boston Celtics for the most championships in NBA history. But after Saturday night, they are the only team in NBA history to have won the NBA Cup. Behind a masterful performance from Anthony Davis, who had 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, the Lakers won the inaugural in-season tournament with a 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. LeBron James, who added 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists, was named tournament MVP.
ESPN.com: The NBA Cup may be new, but the lesson it taught was as old as the league itself. To win anything of value, and the in-season tournament seems to have quickly established itself as such an event, you’re going to need superstars. In a way, that future Hall of Famers and champions LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ brilliant play proved to be the deciding factor in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers to claim the first-ever edition of the event verified its consequence. Playing on a neutral floor in December in a single game, it was hard to truly compare Saturday night it to any sort of playoff setting. But one thing was for certain, it was treated like an elimination game. There were aggressive game plans, heavy minutes and intensity. Situations where James has thrived for a long time.
Per the Boston Herald:
Aaron Nesmith took a transition pass from Tyrese Haliburton and dunked over Al Horford. The former Celtic galloped around the court and chest-pumped Myles Turner as the rest of his Pacers teammates flooded the court to celebrate an imminent victory.
The Celtics proved they cared about the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament with how they handled their final group stage game last week. They showed that mentality during stretches of Monday’s first ever quarterfinal game of the tournament. But ultimately, the moment meant more for the upstart Pacers.
In a playoff-like atmosphere, the C’s couldn’t get the job done on Monday night in Indiana. Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and Jaylen Brown added 30, but their worst habits haunted them again. They laid another dud in the third quarter. Too many turnovers piled up. And then the Pacers – led by rising superstar Tyrese Haliburton – raised their game to another level in the second half, as they handed the Celtics a 122-112 loss and sent them home from the In-Season Tournament.
The Indiana Pacers have waived center Daniel Theis.
Per the Indianapolis Star, “Theis has appeared in just one game this season and played eight minutes. He missed Tuesday’s game against the 76ers in Philadelphia for “personal reasons” though he was with the team in Philadelphia for Sunday’s game. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle did not further explain the reasoning for Theis’ absence beyond saying it was personal. The 31-year-old Theis was due $9.1 million on his contract this season with a club option for next season that would pay him $9.5 million if he was retained.”
The Indiana Pacers have signed Head Coach Rick Carlisle to a contract extension.
“It goes without saying that Coach Carlisle is one of the most creative and successful coaches in the history of the league, so there was never a question that he continues to be the right person to lead our team,” said President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “His ties to this organization and community run deep, his guidance and leadership are invaluable to our players and staff, and we’re looking forward to working together for years to come as we build something special for our fans.”
Per the Indianapolis Star, “Indiana would win just 25 games in 2021-22 and 35 last season but this extension is a signal that Carlisle is central piece to the team’s rebuild. Haliburton became an All-Star last season and was signed to a five-year max contract extension this offseason worth up to $260 million”
The Pacers 143-120 win over the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night marked the 897th career win for Coach Carlisle.