Category: Indiana Pacers Blog

Pacers blog – Indiana Pacers blog

Pacers exercise contract options on Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson

The Indiana Pacers have picked up the fourth-year option on guards Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith, and the third-year option on guard Chris Duarte and forward Isaiah Jackson.

Per the Indianapolis Star, “the moves keep all four under contract through 2023-24, the fourth years of Haliburton and Nesmith’s respective careers and the third for Duarte and Jackson.”

More from the Star: “The Pacers acquired Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings last season in a trade involving Domantas Sabonis. He averaged 17 points and 10 assists per game in 26 games after the deal. At 22 years old and entering his third season, he’s now among the Pacers most experienced players as they rebuild.”

Indiana Pacers and Bally Sports Indiana extend media rights agreement

Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced yesterday a multi-year media rights extension with Bally Sports Indiana, the longtime television home of the Pacers and Fever.

Under the agreement, Bally Sports Indiana will continue to televise and stream all available regular season Pacers games, two pre-season games, and available first-round post-season games each season. The regional sports network will also carry up to 10 Fever games per season. Bally Sports Indiana is entering its 27th season as the Pacers’ media partner.

“The partnership renewal with Bally Sports Indiana allows Pacers and Fever fans to access the basketball content they love however they choose to consume it,” said PS&E Chief Executive Officer Rick Fuson. “The upcoming launch of Bally Sports+ complements the traditional content distribution model by delivering our games and other programming directly to the consumer. This ensures a direct connection to anyone in the region, a major priority for us as we finalized this deal.”

“We’re extremely proud of our 27-year partnership with the Pacers and thrilled to announce an extension of our media rights,” said Jack Donovan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports Indiana. “Pacers Sports & Entertainment is one of the most-respected organizations in sports, and the Pacers consistently generate some of the highest local-market TV ratings in the NBA. We look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality productions of Pacers basketball to as many fans as possible, on cable, satellite, streaming TV and now via a new way to watch: Bally Sports+, our direct-to-consumer streaming service.”

Indiana Pacers sign rookie Andrew Nembhard

The Indiana Pacers have signed rookie guard Andrew Nembhard.

The Pacers selected Nembhard with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

“I’m excited to get my career and rookie season started with the Pacers,” said Nembhard. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a first-class organization and I can’t wait to play in front of the league’s best fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this year.”

Per the Indianapolis Star, Nembhard “signed a four-year deal worth $8.6 million, league sources told IndyStar on Wednesday.”

Pacers trade Malcolm Brogdon to Celtics

The Boston Celtics have acquired guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for center Daniel Theis, guard/forward Aaron Nesmith, forwards Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan, guard Nik Stauskas and a 2023 first round draft choice.

“We would like to welcome Malcolm and his family to the Celtics,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens. “We are very excited about what Malcolm brings both on and off the court. His resume speaks for itself. He is the kind of playmaker, shooter, and impact defender that we need in our continued pursuit of Banner 18.”

Brogdon, a 6’5” guard, led the Pacers in scoring last season with 19.1 points, along with 5.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 33.5 minutes per game. The former Virginia Cavalier joins the Celtics after spending the previous three seasons in Indiana where he averaged 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 35.2 percent from three over 146 games. Brogdon is one of four active players in the NBA to have recorded 5,000 or more points, 1,500 or more assists, and 500 or more three-pointers in fewer than 350 games. The Atlanta, GA native spent the first three seasons of his career in Milwaukee where he was honored as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year during the 2016-17 season. In his final season in Milwaukee, he became just the eighth player in NBA history to achieve a 50-40-90 season (shooting better than 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three and 90 percent from the free throw line) when he shot 50.5/42.6/92.8. A member of the NBPA Executive Committee as a Vice President, Brogdon was honored by the PBWA with the 2019-20 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship award for his commitment to education, gender, and health equality as well as his support for criminal justice and voting reform through the Brogdon Family Foundation.

Brogdon will wear #13 with the Celtics.

With 6th pick in 2022 NBA draft, Pacers selected Bennedict Mathurin

Via NBA.com/pacers:

On the way into the NBA Draft Lottery last month in Chicago, Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan felt a tap on the shoulder. He turned around and saw that it was Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin and his agent.

Mathurin’s agent told Buchanan that they thought he could be a great fit in Indiana. After the lottery unfolded and Indiana received the sixth overall pick, Mathurin chatted with another high-ranking Pacers staffer — head coach Rick Carlisle.

“It was obvious from our end that he viewed this as a great fit,” Buchanan said “…It was likewise on our end. It just felt right.”

Sure enough, the Pacers selected Mathurin with their first pick on Thursday night.

The 6-6 guard averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game last season as a sophomore for the Wildcats. Mathurin, who turned 20 on Sunday, was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and a consensus second-team All-American.

Mathurin will add to Indiana’s impressive collection of young talent on the perimeter, forming a formidable trio with 22-year-old Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte, the 13th overall pick in last year’s draft.

Pacers sign Terry Taylor, Duane Washington Jr., Nate Hinton and Gabe York

The Indiana Pacers have signed forward Terry Taylor and guard Duane Washington Jr.

Additionally, the team has signed guard/forward Nate Hinton and guard Gabe York to two-way contracts.

In a related move, the Pacers have waived guard Keifer Sykes.

Hinton will wear number 14 and York will wear number 8 for the Pacers.

The roster currently stands at 17 players.

Pacers center Myles Turner will miss remainder of 2021-22 NBA season

The Indiana Pacers announced today that center Myles Turner will miss the final two weeks of the 2021-22 season while he continues to progress through the team’s return to play protocols.

“After numerous conversations with our medical team, Myles, and his representatives, it became clear to everyone that despite Myles’ continued progress and positive diagnosis, there simply is not enough time remaining in the season to properly and safely prepare him for the demanding workload associated with an NBA game,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “We will continue to work closely with Myles and we’re looking forward to his return to the court at full strength next season.”

Per ESPN.com, “Turner, 25, has made good progress in his recovery, sources said, but both the organization and Turner’s representatives decided that it didn’t make sense to push for a ramp up and return with only seven games left in the Pacers’ season.”