RADIO
Aaron Nesmith Refines Ball-Handling in Offseason
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith said he used the offseason to get healthy and tighten his ball handling, speaking Monday ahead of the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic. "It was good getting a long offseason and getting the body right," Nesmith said. Injuries, including a neck issue, limited the 26-year-old to 45 games last season, and the heavier load on a 19-63 team came with efficiency costs. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from deep. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) has said he is 100 percent cleared, which should help restore cleaner looks for Nesmith. He projects to start alongside Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac, but Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jarace Walker give Indiana enough wing depth to keep Nesmith in watch-list territory rather than locked-in fantasy value.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Johnny Furphy Still Without Clear Return Timeline
Indiana Pacers guard Johnny Furphy (knee) remains without a firm return timeline after undergoing ACL surgery, according to Forbes' Tony East. Furphy said he is "in a good place" and "right where I need to be," but he has not resumed five-on-five work and would not say whether training camp is realistic. The 21-year-old averaged 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 18.4 minutes last season before tearing his right ACL on Feb. 8 in Toronto. Even once cleared, Furphy has to fight through a crowded Indiana wing mix featuring Aaron Nesmith, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ben Sheppard, and Jarace Walker. He does not need to be drafted unless his timeline sharpens, but his midseason progress is worth tracking after last year's 18-game starting stretch.
Source: Tony East
Source: Tony East
Ethan Thompson Nears EuroLeague Switch
Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson has agreed to terms with Partizan Belgrade on a one-plus-one deal, according to Sportando, citing Nova.rs. The move cannot become official until Indiana parts ways with Thompson, who remains on a two-way contract. The 27-year-old Puerto Rico national team guard went undrafted out of Oregon State and joined the Pacers last December after previous stops in the G-League. He appeared in 32 games as a rookie, making 13 starts for a 19-63 Indiana team while averaging 7.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 threes in 20.4 minutes. Thompson had no NBA fantasy value, and a move to Partizan would take him off the board entirely.
Source: Sportando
Source: Sportando
Pacers Waive Two-Way Guard Taelon Peter
The Indiana Pacers are waiving two-way guard Taelon Peter, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, opening one of their three two-way slots. The 54th pick in the 2025 draft averaged 4.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 12.9 minutes over 38 games as a rookie, production that came largely because Indiana leaned on backcourt depth during Tyrese Haliburton's season-long absence. Peter carries no standard-league fantasy value, and this is a procedural depth move rather than a needle-mover. The open two-way spot is worth a passing glance for dynasty managers tracking Indiana's G League pipeline, but the Pacers' real backcourt story remains Haliburton ramping back up for 2026-27.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Tyrese Haliburton Says he Feels Healthy After Achilles Rehab
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) stated that he feels great and is "operating like a healthy NBA player." The 26-year-old missed the entire 2025-26 campaign after tearing his right Achilles tendon during the 2025 NBA Finals. He has been participating in 5-on-5 work since April and expects to be unrestricted for training camp. Andrew Nembhard absorbed the primary playmaking duties last season, averaging 16.9 points and 7.7 assists per game. While Nembhard's usage will drastically decrease, Haliburton's return restores a premier offensive engine to the starting lineup. Although the organization could manage his preseason workload, the two-time All-Star should be ready for Opening Night and remains a high-end draft target.
Source: Scott Agness
Source: Scott Agness
Bulls Draft Braden Smith, Trade him to Indiana
The Chicago Bulls have selected Purdue guard Braden Smith with the 38th overall pick on Wednesday in the 2026 NBA draft. He'll immediately be on the move to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Kam Jones and future draft swaps. The Purdue product finished his career as the NCAA's all-time assist leader. As a senior, Smith averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 8.8 assists at Purdue. His best attribute is his ability to run an offense and find open players. He won't start in Indiana, but Smith could end up as a quality backup guard. The Pacers do have depth at the guard spot, so we'll see where Smith lands on the depth chart.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
