Category: Indiana Pacers Blog

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Pacers sign Keifer Sykes, waive Brad Wanamaker

The Indiana Pacers have signed guard Keifer Sykes.

Also today, the team waived guard Brad Wanamaker.

Sykes appeared in two preseason games for the Pacers prior to the start of the 2021-22 regular season. He started 13 games this year for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers’ affiliate in the NBA G League. Sykes is in his seventh professional season after competing in the NBA G League as well as leagues in South Korea, Turkey, Italy, China, Greece and Australia.

Wanamaker appeared in 22 games and made one start for the Pacers after he was signed Oct. 6.

Pacers sign Malcolm Brogdon to contract extension

The Indiana Pacers have signed guard Malcolm Brogdon to a multi-year contract extension.

Per multiple reports, Brogdon’s extension is a two-year, $45 million deal.

According to the Indianapolis Star, this “brings Brogdon to a guaranteed $89.3 million for four years. The extension prevents him from being traded for the next six months, meaning he can’t be traded this season. Brogdon had been involved in rumors he would be part of a package in a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons.”

“Malcolm has established himself as a very important part of our organization, not only with his performance on the court but also by the character he displays beyond it,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “He has become one of our undisputed leaders – continually supporting his teammates and setting them up for success – while also demonstrating the drive, dedication, and work ethic necessary to establish himself as one of the premier guards in the NBA.”

Brogdon, the 2016-17 NBA Rookie of the Year, was acquired by the Pacers on July 6, 2019, and has appeared in 297 career regular-season games, posting averages of 15.1 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game. Additionally, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and was selected to participate in both the 2017 and 2018 NBA Rising Stars Challenges at All Star weekend. During the 2018-19 season, Brogdon became only the eighth player in NBA history record a “50/40/90” season, when he shot 50.5% from the field, 42.6% from three-point range, and a league-leading 92.8% from the free-throw line.

Pacers trade Edmond Sumner to Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard Edmond Sumner and a 2025 second round draft pick in a trade with the Indiana Pacers (via Miami) for the draft rights to guard Juan Pablo Vaulet.

Sumner has appeared in 108 games (29 starts) across four seasons (2017-21) with the Pacers, recording averages of 5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.1 minutes per game. He was originally selected by Indiana with the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Vaulet was selected with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft by Charlotte, and his draft rights were traded to Brooklyn.

Indiana Pacers home arena renamed as Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) has announced that Indianapolis-based Gainbridge is the new naming partner for the NBA’s most iconic arena, and the home of the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, and hundreds of events throughout the year has been renamed Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“Just as the Fieldhouse is so much more than simply a basketball arena, the chance to partner with a bold, forward-thinking company like Gainbridge means so much more than just putting a name on a building,” said PS&E President & Chief Operating Officer Rick Fuson. “Our organizations share a vision for engaging new generations of consumers, strengthening our city and state economies, and investing in our community with intentionality. We could not have asked for a better aligned partner, and we look forward to growing together for years to come.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to join the Pacers and Fever at the new Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It really is the ‘Fieldhouse of the Future,’ where we’ll be hosting a wide range of exciting sports and entertainment events with new and improved space, infrastructure and technology,’’ said Group 1001 President & Chief Executive Officer Dan Towriss. “This unveiling is such a critical moment for us as we join in experiencing this amazing venue with a bold new Gainbridge Fieldhouse brand. This partnership goes farther than just this new venue because together, we can make an even bigger impact with our aligned commitment to improving communities through sports and education.’’

Pacers forward T.J. Warren remains out with foot injury

Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Warren’s stress fracture in his left foot is healing during the rehabilitation process; but not at the pace previously anticipated.

He remains out indefinitely.

Per the Indianapolis Star, “on Aug. 13, Warren tweeted that he played basketball, an important milestone in his recovery from the stress fracture in the navicular bone in his left foot that sidelined him beginning Dec. 29. Warren had surgery on the foot Jan. 5 but the area of the injury — a boat-shaped bone in the middle of the foot — makes for a difficult recovery process.”

Pacers sign DeJon Jarreau, waive Amida Brimah

The Indiana Pacers have signed guard DeJon Jarreau to a two-way contract.

And in a corresponding move, the Pacers waived center Amida Brimah.

Jarreau played three seasons at the University of Houston after he began his collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts. During his senior season in 2020-21, Jarreau earned honors as the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was named the 2021 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player and helped lead Houston to the Final Four in Indianapolis.

Pacers sign forward Torrey Craig

The Indiana Pacers have signed free agent forward Torrey Craig.

“Torrey is known for toughness, defense and being a great team guy,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “As a player who went undrafted, Torrey got to where he is through hard work and perseverance. He will be a great addition to our depth and our emphasis on defense.”

After he originally went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft out of the University of South Carolina Upstate, Craig played three seasons professionally in Australia and New Zealand before he earned a spot on the Denver Nuggets’ roster for the 2017-18 season. Craig played three seasons for the Nuggets (2017-20) before splitting the 2020-21 regular season with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.

Craig has played in the postseason in each of the last three seasons, including the 2021 playoffs in which he helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals.

Indiana Pacers add Jannero Pargo and Zach Chu to coaching staff

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have made two additions to head coach Rick Carlisle’s staff.

Jannero Pargo was hired as a player development assistant. Pargo spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. Prior to his time in Portland, he served as an assistant coach for the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League for two seasons (2017-19). A native of Chicago, Pargo played 11 NBA seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets.

Zach Chu was named Manager of Game Strategy and Analytics. Chu spent the last two seasons as a basketball analyst on Carlisle’s staff with the Dallas Mavericks. Prior to that, Chu served as an assistant coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA G League and spent a year with the Los Angeles Clippers. Chu is a graduate of the University of Richmond where he played four seasons for the Spiders’ men’s basketball team.

In addition, the Pacers announced they have retained player development coaches Calbert Cheaney and Tyler Marsh, player development assistant Maurice Baker and video coordinator Dylan DeBusk.

A native of Evansville, Ind., Cheaney enters his second season as a member of the Pacers’ staff. He previously served in coaching roles as an assistant in the NBA G League with the Erie BayHawks for two seasons, as an assistant at St. Louis University for three seasons, as Director of Basketball Operations at Indiana University for two seasons and as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors for one year. Cheaney played 13 NBA seasons for Washington, Boston, Denver, Utah and Golden State. He starred during his collegiate career at Indiana University from 1989-93, was named a three-time All-American and remains the Big Ten Conference’s leading scorer with 2,613 career points. Cheaney is married to his wife, Yvette, and they have one son, Julian, and one daughter, Sydney.

Marsh is also entering his second season with the Pacers. He spent two seasons as a video coordinator and player development coach with Toronto, helping the Raptors earn the NBA title in 2019. Marsh also spent four seasons as an assistant in the NBA G League with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Bakersfield Jam, Iowa Wolves and Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He played two seasons at the University of Alabama-Birmingham before finishing his playing career at Birmingham Southern College.

Baker will begin his second season in his role as player development assistant. A Madison, Ill. native, Baker played collegiately at Oklahoma State from 1998-2002. He played in the NBA during the 2004-05 season with the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. Baker also played nine seasons in the NBA G League, as well as time spent in professional leagues in Lithuania and France. ‘

DeBusk joined Indiana’s staff prior to the 2020-21 season. He served in a number of roles within the Phoenix Suns’ organization over the previous six seasons. He began in the NBA G League in 2014 as an assistant coach for the Bakersfield Jam in 2014-15. DeBusk was eventually promoted to assistant general manager of the Northern Arizona Suns and held the interim general manager title in 2018-19.

Wizards vs. Pacers August 8 summer league game postponed

The MGM Resorts NBA Summer League game scheduled for today at 8 p.m. ET between the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers has been postponed in accordance with the league’s Health and Safety Protocols.

Because of ongoing contact tracing within the Wizards, the team does not have enough available players to proceed with tonight’s game against the Pacers.