The Pacers signed Kelly Oubre to a fully guaranteed two-year, $16.5 million deal but have more than $190 million committed to seven players in 2027-28. T.J. McConnell’s partial guarantee brings the total close to $200 million, versus a reported $176 million cap projection.
Larry Nance and two-way guard Braden Smith, the Pacers’ other newcomers, signed one-year contracts. The seven players making up the more-than-$190 million figure are Oubre, Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith. Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard could become restricted free agents after the coming season; both have been role players and contributed in the playoffs.
The analysis says paying the luxury tax could help Indiana retain more talent, while staying below it may leave little room to fill the roster. Consecutive tax-paying seasons would put the team on course toward repeater-tax rates. The article says the Pacers’ spending approach will also be shaped by their results in the coming season.
