3 Pacers trade targets after Tyrese Haliburton injury, NBA Finals loss
These 3 players fit the Pacers’ style of play like hand and glove, helping them gear up for another push once Tyrese Haliburton recovers.
The Indiana Pacers didn’t just lose the battle in the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they also lost the war. In addition to losing Game 7 of the NBA Finals in gut-wrenching fashion, falling behind after a turnover fest in the third quarter en route to a 103-91 defeat, they also lost Tyrese Haliburton, he of the many heroics in this year’s playoffs, to an Achilles injury, which will presumably keep him out for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.
While the Pacers’ success isn’t entirely contingent on just one man, without Haliburton, it’s hard to envision Indiana being able to mount the same deep playoff run next season. TJ McConnell can do all the heavy lifting he can, but his lack of pull-up threat from three changes the dynamic of the entire Pacers offense.
The 2025-26 season is shaping to be a gap year for the Pacers, looking to hold steady and keep their core together in preparation for Haliburton’s eventual return. It’s going to be a tough sell to fans if they decide to change course and overhaul the makeup of the team in the aftermath of coming ever so closely to winning it all yet falling short in the end, but in today’s NBA, there is not much room for sentiment when it comes to building a championship contender.
With that said, here are three players the Pacers can target in trades to help gear them up for an eventual push come 2027.
