Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are "not dangling" center and impending free agent Myles Turner ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, per Fred Katz of The Athletic.

"Turner hits free agency after this season and is playing as well as ever despite Indiana's early struggles. He is the most-common type of guy to find in trade rumors: An expiring, two-way player in his prime who would fit into any type of ecosystem, on a team that isn't living up to expectations. But Indiana is not dangling Turner, according to league sources, and that may not change."

Turner, who has played all 10 of his NBA seasons with the Pacers, is averaging 15.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game this year.

The 28-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors on and off for a few years, most notably in connection with the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, the Pacers reportedly want to re-sign Turner, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype: "Though Myles Turner is in the final year of his contract at $19.93 million, and teams across the league have always coveted him from afar, the belief is Indiana wants to re-sign him."

If anything, the Pacers are reportedly looking to add to the position, per ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday: "After losing centers James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson to Achilles tendon tears, the Pacers are actively pursuing a backup 5, sources said."

It's been a tough start for the 10-15 Pacers, who made the Eastern Conference Finals last season. They're tied for ninth in the standings at the moment but are falling fast after losing five of their last six.

Injuries have certainly capped the team's ceiling, with starters Andrew Nembhard (11 games played) and Aaron Nesmith (six games) missing big chunks of time. Losing Jackson for the season has been a tough blow as well.

But keeping Turner long-term seems like the prudent move if possible. At least for this season, hanging onto it post-deadline should be the right call if Indiana wants to rebound and fight for the chance for another deep playoff run.

The Indiana Pacers are "actively pursuing" a backup center after losing James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson to season-ending injuries, ESPN's Shams Charania reported.

Wiseman suffered a torn left Achilles tendon during the Pacers' season opener, while Jackson suffered a right Achilles tendon tear ten days later.

Charania's report comes after the Pacers waived center Moses Brown on Monday. Indiana could use another player to join Obi Toppin in backing up starting center Myles Turner.

Brown, a mid-season signing, made his Pacers debut on Nov. 20. He played a season-high 12:28 minutes in his third game before the team began to restrict his playing time.

The backup center played fewer than five minutes in each of his last five appearances, culminating in him spending just 25 seconds on the court in a Dec. 4 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. He was then benched twice prior to being waived. The Pacers took on a $306,660 cap charge for releasing him, per Spotrac.

Brown's release coincided with the NBA granting the Pacers disabled player exceptions for $2.2 million and $1.2 million following the season-ending injuries to Jackson and Wiseman, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.

The Pacers can now use those exceptions to take on salary that will not count against the salary cap when making a trade. The incoming salary can be worth up to $100,000 more than the DPE and still qualify, per Hoops Rumors.

Because the DPE can only be applied for this season, the Pacers will have to target players on expiring contracts or one-year deals. That market will open further on Dec. 15, when most free agents who signed last season become trade-eligible.

The Pacers currently sit just over $7 million below the first apron of the luxury tax, and $17 million below the highly-restrictive second apron, per Spotrac. Waiving Brown and instead using the DPE to sign a different backup center could help Indiana avoid trade and draft penalties by remaining below those thresholds.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark showed her respect for Tyrese Haliburton after he knocked down his seventh three-pointer on Monday night.

The Indiana Pacers point guard drained a deep three, prompting Caitlin Clark, a sharpshooter herself, to raise both hands in celebration, throwing up threes.

Haliburton hit his 7th 3PM of the game and got the stamp of approval from @CaitlinClark22 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Md9eAypn3M

— NBA (@NBA) November 26, 2024

Haliburton is shooting 30.7 percent from beyond the arc, while averaging 15.8 points per game in his sixth season.

Fellow Indiana star Clark finished her rookie season shooting 34.4 percent from beyond the arc, while averaging 19.2 points per game and earning Rookie of the Year honors.

Tyrese Haliburton is just as flummoxed about his performance to start the 2024-25 season as the fans and analysts wondering what has happened to the Indiana Pacers star.

Speaking to reporters after the Pacers' 129-117 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, Haliburton was almost at a loss for words when trying to explain his ongoing slump.

Some of Tyrese Haliburton postgame: pic.twitter.com/aMWSxbOOFN

— Tony East (@TonyREast) November 23, 2024

Haliburton had one of his better offensive performances of the season against the Bucks. The two-time All-Star finished with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting and nine assists in 34 minutes. He tied a season-high with four made three-pointers.

It still wasn't close to what Haliburton has done at his best in a Pacers uniform. He averaged 20.4 points on 48.3 percent shooting and 10.4 assists per game in 125 games over the previous two seasons.

The 24-year-old is having the worst shooting season of his career. He's making just 37.8 percent of his field-goal attempts overall and 29.4 percent from three. He shot at least 40.0 percent from behind the arc in each of his first three seasons.

Haliburton's struggles this season continue a trend that started after he injured his hamstring midway through the 2023-24 campaign. He looked like an MVP candidate at the beginning of last season when he was putting up 23.6 points on 49.7 percent shooting and 12.5 assists in his first 33 games.

After suffering a hamstring injury during a Jan. 8 game against the Boston Celtics that caused him to miss 10 of the next 11 Pacers' games, Haliburton's performance never really recovered.

The Pacers point guard put up 16.8 points on 45.5 percent shooting and 9.3 assists per game over his final 35 games. He reinjured his hamstring during the playoffs and missed the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics.

Even though Haliburton was on the U.S. Olympic team this summer in Paris, he only played in three of six games and wasn't on the floor for more than 10 minutes. when he did get in.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Aug. 11, after Team USA won gold, that Haliburton was dealing with a "minor leg injury" during the Olympics that required him to undergo an MRI.

Neither Haliburton nor the Pacers are saying his hamstring is still causing problems, but it would at least help explain why he hasn't looked like the same player for nearly a full calendar year at this point.

The Pacers have dropped to 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 6-10 record after losing five of their last six games. They are now 0-2 in the NBA Cup following their loss to the Bucks after reaching the title game last season.

A lingering back injury might be playing a role in the slow start for Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.

Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor reported Tuesday on his podcast that Haliburton isn't being dogged by his hamstring trouble from last year but had back spasms in the postseason that could be impacting him now.

"I've had some sources around the league tell me that they believe it's not his hamstring that's the cause of his struggles this year, it's his back," O'Connor said.

He added: "I think that would make sense with the trends and the way in which he's playing, the declining efficiency, because back issues are tough to deal with."

Haliburton is averaging 15.6 points per game after having posted a scoring average above 20 points the past two seasons. He's also shooting just 38.2 percent overall and 24.1 percent from beyond the arc, which are both on pace to be career lows.

O'Connor also pointed to the two-time All-Star's shot distribution as an indicator that something could be up. He's attempting nearly half as many shots inside three feet (8.8 percent) compared to his career average (15.7 percent), according to Basketball Reference.

The Pacers are getting strong contributions from Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Bennedict Mathurin and others, which helps to explain why they're 3-4 and don't have a worse record with Haliburton performing so badly.

Maybe the 6'5" playmaker is starting to find his shot and offensive aggressiveness again. In Monday's 134-127 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, he had 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting along with 12 assists.

But that's still just one game, so it's too soon to draw any firm conclusions. What is clear is that Indiana needs a lot more from its best player right now.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton teased a potential appearance at the next Royal Rumble, which takes place in Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Haliburton made his remarks during an interview with sports and entertainment journalist Landon Buford.

"I can't tell you everything, but you might see me at the Rumble," Haliburton said.

Tyrese Haliburton Hints at Possible @WWE Royal Rumble Appearancehttps://t.co/xP0OYWWWKl#WWERaw #YesCers #NBA #WWE pic.twitter.com/qdRsDIM4QH

— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) November 5, 2024

Haliburton also told Buford his top five wrestlers of all time (John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Shelton Benjamin, The Undertaker and Roman Reigns).

Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Reveals His Top 5 Wrestlers:https://t.co/K94qC3dQRj#WWE #YesCers #NBA #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/KM0YG4k6P1

— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) November 5, 2024

In addition, he laid out his Mount Rushmore of WWE finishers: Randy Orton's RKO, Jeff Hardy's Swanton Bomb, Undertaker's Hell's Gate and Shawn Michaels' Sweet Chin Music.

Tyrese Haliburton Names His Mount Rushmore of @WWE Finishers: https://t.co/SROlGlvyN4#WWE #YesCers #NBA #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/mXVF6atkW7

— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) November 5, 2024

Haliburton is a big wrestling fan and has made multiple appearances on WWE television. The most notable one occurred in late June, where he (sporting brass knuckles) teased a fight with New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (holding a steel chair) during SmackDown. Nothing ever came of the two rivals, who were flanked by Logan Paul and LA Knight, respectively. The showdown also notably occurred less than two months after Haliburton's Pacers beat Brunson's Knicks four games to three in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

In September, Haliburton also appeared on WWE NXT, helping facilitate a contract for a championship match between "All Ego" Ethan Page and Trick Williams.

"Give me the contract, and I'll get it done."

After the chaos to start the show, @Pacers All-Star @TyHaliburton22 promises he will get @_trickwilliams and @OfficialEGO to sign the contract before the night ends! 👏#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/WSP8Qceg5N

— WWE (@WWE) September 18, 2024

He also had some Pacers teammates supporting him in the crowd and talked some trash to Orlando Magic fans too.

"I would boo too if I had to be an Orlando Magic fan."@TyHaliburton22 came with some backup in the form of some @Pacers teammates and then let the NXT crowd hear it! 😂#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/bvfeXNw7Ja

— WWE (@WWE) September 18, 2024

Haliburton and the Pacers host the Atlanta Hawks at 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 1 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Royal Rumble begins streaming at 6 p.m. that day, so perhaps Haliburton finishes playing, makes the quick trek over to Lucas Oil Stadium and shows up in front of thousands of fans with the event in progress.

---

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode below.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton entered the 2024-25 NBA season having made back-to-back All-Star teams, but he hasn't played anywhere close to that level through his first five games.

Haliburton is averaging just 14.6 points, 6.6 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 three-pointers made and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting only 34.6 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from three-point range.

An anonymous NBA executive gave ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst their take on Haliburton's slow start, saying: "Last year, he'd pull up from just inside half court and bury shots. He just isn't playing with that same pop this year."

After beginning his career with the Sacramento Kings, Haliburton was traded to the Pacers during the 2021-22 season, and he has blossomed into a star in Indiana.

He was named an All-Star for the first time in 2022-23, averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 three-pointers made and 1.6 steals per game. He was arguably even better last season, averaging 20.1 points, 10.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 three-pointers made and 1.2 steals en route to an All-NBA Third Team selection.

Haliburton was rewarded for his performance by being named to the United States men's basketball team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and although he played sparingly, he came home with a gold medal.

The 24-year-old is a big reason why the Pacers were one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2023-24 NBA season, leading them to an unexpected Eastern Conference Finals appearance.

Indiana is only 2-3 so far this season due in part of Haliburton's uneven play, but the Pacers showed last season that they have the talent to make some noise when fully healthy and hitting on all cylinders.

In addition to Haliburton, the Pacers boast a lineup that includes Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin and a host of other productive players.

However, Haliburton is the one who makes everything go as the primary ball handler and playmaker, so the Pacers' success this season will largely rely on him finding his game.

Pascal Siakam revealed his Halloween costume on Thursday, which could best be described as so fresh and so clean, clean.

The Indiana Pacers star forward dressed up as musician and actor Andre 3000 from his famous "Hey Ya!" music video:

What’s cooler than being cool? 🧊
🎃Happy Halloween🎃

cc :: @outkast // @andre3000 pic.twitter.com/OBUSl0rGdH

— pascal siakam (@pskills43) October 31, 2024

🥶Ice Cold🥶

cc :: @outkast // @andre3000 pic.twitter.com/8AoRnwG6xM

— pascal siakam (@pskills43) October 31, 2024

Siakam is steady winning at the moment. Alongside an epic Halloween costume, he also hit the game-winning three in Indiana's 135-132 overtime win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

PASCAL SIAKAM. CLUTCH.

Puts the Pacers up 3 with 6.1 seconds left in OT on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/lVxFwgchpx

— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2024

"It's big," Siakam—who scored 29 points to go along with 11 rebounds—said after the victory. "We've got to be that team that fights to the end."

It was certainly a "What's cooler than being cool? Ice cold!" moment from the Pacers' star.

The Indiana Pacers saw their 24-point lead evaporate en route to the Boston Celtics forcing overtime, but they persevered for a 135-132 home win in this Eastern Conference Finals rematch.

Seven Pacers scored in double digits, led by Bennedict Mathurin's 30-point, 11-rebound effort off the bench. Pascal Siakam added a 29-point, 11-rebound double-double, and Tyrese Haliburton posted 17 points and 12 assists.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum led Boston's ferocious comeback, scoring 12 of his game-high 37 points in the fourth quarter. He scored five points in the final 34 seconds off a pair of free throws and a step-back three-pointer to tie the game at 124 and force OT.

JT SENDS US TO OVERTIME pic.twitter.com/pKOI3maNV7

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 31, 2024

It was an incredible effort from the Celtics, who trailed by 21 points with under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

However, the Pacers pulled through in the end thanks to Siakam, who hit a fadeaway jumper to tie the game at 132 before hitting a three-pointer with 6.1 seconds left.

Pascal Siakam for the tie with 36 seconds left in OT 👏 pic.twitter.com/iB1rnvtd8S

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 31, 2024

SIAKAM GO-AHEAD THREE FOR THE WIN 🗣️🔥

CALLED GAME. pic.twitter.com/KO117diVv7

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 31, 2024

Jaylen Brown missed a three for the tie, and the ball went out-of-bounds to the Pacers. Haliburton then threw the ball off Derrick White's back and ran out the clock to seal the win.

Tyrese Haliburton passed it off the defender's back to seal the win in overtime 😈 pic.twitter.com/ZhswDx7dbj

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 31, 2024

Indiana had slogged through a 1-3 start heading into a tough matchup against the previously undefeated Boston Celtics, but this was a great and resilient bounce-back win. Fans hailed the Pacers for their outing.

Indiana wins 135-132

A true BATTLE even if it shouldn’t have been.

Indiana survives

THIS is the type of win that can change a LOT!

Pacer fans, has your heart rate slowed down a bit?!

I was a nervous wreck!!!

— Facci (@_Facci) October 31, 2024

The Pacers defeated the defending champion Celtics in overtime by playing their best game of the season while also letting the Celtics nearly complete a huge comeback. It was an adventure.

— Aka (@aka_egwu) October 31, 2024

Frustrating to blow a 24 point lead, and how it went down.
But.. the Pacers just beat the Celtics. Boston's first loss of the season.
You can relax with the big assertions after 5 games.

— Tyler Smith (@TylerSmith_ISL) October 31, 2024

Most pacers win of all time. https://t.co/ZFb6Eesljx

— Tommy Widgery (@TommyWidgery) October 31, 2024

This is a heck of a shot by Pascal Siakam to win it for the Pacers over the Celtics in an OT thriller. Boston never stops coming at you, would have been a tough loss for Indiana to take considering they were up 12 with less than 3 to play. Resilient win.pic.twitter.com/VZp7NW8ZAE

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) October 31, 2024

Props to Pascal Siakam. Best player on the floor tonight. Pacers needed that one.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) October 31, 2024

Pascal Siakam, clutch. pic.twitter.com/5TI3boGCen

— Libaan Osman (@libaanstar1) October 31, 2024

Big shot Siakam pic.twitter.com/d19GD07Nr2

— Producer Kyle (@ProducerKyle) October 31, 2024

Bennedict Mathurin, ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/YwyiZ4QnKf

— BENN FANATIC (@BennFanatic) October 31, 2024

I never wanna see Mathurin play less than 20 minutes EVER AGAIN.

— 𝐜 𝐡 𝐚 𝐬 𝐞 🎧 (@chxsedown) October 31, 2024

I love how Haliburton ended that by bouncing it off a Celtic’s back.

Pacers needed that one bad.

— Adam Reinhart (@AdamReinhart1) October 31, 2024

Ugly Pacers win.

Heads-up play at the end for Haliburton

Mathurin-Siakam huge efforts.

— Tony Donohue (@tonydindy) October 31, 2024

The 2-3 Pacers will now face the New Orleans Pelicans on the road Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Boston fell to 4-1 and heads to Charlotte to face the Hornets on back-to-back nights beginning Friday.

Indiana Pacers center James Wiseman has reportedly undergone surgery after suffering a torn left Achilles in the team's season-opener against the Detroit Pistons.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported the news, noting that a "full recovery timeline will be established in the coming weeks."

Wiseman suffered the injury in the first quarter of his Pacers debut after attempting a three-pointer and planting his left leg awkwardly while backpedaling to get back on defense.

The start of Wiseman's career has been derailed by several different injuries. The No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA draft played just 39 games for the Golden State Warriors in his rookie year due to knee and wrist injuries and missed the entire 2021-22 season with a torn meniscus.

Wiseman started the 2022-23 season with Golden State before being traded to the Pistons halfway through the year. He managed to stay mostly healthy last season, playing 63 games and putting up 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17 minutes per game off the bench in Detroit.

The Pacers signed Wiseman to a two-year contract this offseason hoping to add some depth to their frontcourt, but now they'll likely be without him for the remainder of the year.

Another member of Indiana's frontcourt, Isaiah Jackson, is currently dealing with a groin injury and is day-to-day, so the Pacers don't have as much depth as they would like early on this season.

With Wiseman out for the foreseeable future and Jackson still trying to get healthy, Indiana will continue to look to starting center Myles Turner and will hope to get some solid production from backup big men like Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker.