The Indiana Pacers made big offseason moves while playing in the NBA Finals.
Indiana exchanged the 23rd overall pick and Moherb King’s rights to the New Orleans Pelicans for the 2026 first round pick.
The timing raised eyebrows throughout the league. Few teams are doing the draft business in the finals, making Indiana’s decision particularly prominent.
Indiana’s trade is focused on avoiding luxury taxes. The Pacers are aiming to maintain about $19.9 million, below the tax base next season.
Trade a Rookie Scale $3.24 million contract and there is a significant flexibility in pay caps. Indiana will prioritize re-signing center Miles Turner without causing expensive, luxurious tax penalties.
NBA Insider Brian Windhorst explained the strategy: “Two things I say about this: This is an operation to save money as you sign Miles Turner and become a luxury taxpayer for the first time.”
Tim Bontemps shared skepticism about Indiana’s willingness to pay the luxury tax.
ESPN Insiders predict that the Pacers will find a way to avoid penalties despite public statements.
“This is a move to save some money this year and avoid paying luxury tax,” Bontemps said.
“The Indiana Pacers predict once again that while they say, ‘Yeah, we’re going to pay the luxury tax,’ they’ll have to do something else for decades to avoid paying the luxury tax.
Team president Kevin Pritchard acknowledged the difficulty of running business in the finals. The Pacers currently trace the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-2 in the series, not potentially without Tyrees Halliburton in Game 6.
Pritchard revealed his challenge to Windhorst during practice. “Oh my god, I know I’ve done business in the past finals, but I don’t know how someone is doing anything. This is a really difficult situation.”
Limited preparations were shown in the Indiana draft process. “We only liked two draft workouts,” admits Pritchard, highlighting the final’s impact on front office operations.
Indiana’s cost-cutting approach raises questions about championship commitments. The Pacers have shown elite potential throughout the final, suggesting they belong to the league’s top contenders.
Next season will offer another opportunity for Indiana to compete at the highest level. However, their financial conservatism could limit the roster improvements needed to win their first championship since joining the NBA.
