Indiana Pacers Announce Coaching Decision Amid Tyrese Haliburton Development

On Friday, the Pacers announced the departure of assistant coach Mike Weinar, describing the decision as mutual. His exit is comes at a critical time for the Pacers and marks the loss of one of Rick Carlisle’s most trusted lieutenants over nearly two decades.

The news comes as a major surprise as earlier this month, Weinar removed himself from consideration for a top offensive assistant role with the New York Knicks, choosing instead to stay in Indiana alongside Carlisle (h/t Ian Begley). His departure now raises questions about the identity of Indiana’s approach moving forward, particularly in the absence of Haliburton and Turner.

Weinar has been a constant presence on Carlisle’s staff since 2008, building a reputation for his detailed game-planning and expertise in late-game situations. During his 17 years alongside Carlisle, he played a key role in offensive strategy, in-game adjustments, and helping oversee the development of young talent.

Weinar’s coaching tenure included multiple deep playoff runs, highlighted by his contributions to the Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 NBA championship when Carlisle was head coach. Since joining Indiana with Carlisle’s return, he has been credited with preparing the Pacers’ offense and managing critical scenarios in their postseason battles.

Pacers' Coaching Decision Comes Amid Tyrese Haliburton Uncertainty

The Pacers will enter the upcoming season with plenty of questions and a roster that looks different from the one that reached the Finals. While Haliburton is likely to miss all of next season, an interesting development emerged on that front recently.

Speaking on Setting The Pace: A Pacers Podcast, Indiana's assistant GM seemed to leave the door open for a Haliburton return next season — but noted the unlikely nature of it.

Now, amid this development, Indiana loses a key member of coaching staff. It remains to be seen how Haliburton will respond to this, and whether he will return at some point late next season to help lead the offense without Weinar's guidance.

In Haliburton's absence Indiana will lean heavily on Siakam alongside other pieces like Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard to maintain its place among Eastern Conference contenders. Carlisle will also need to adjust his staff and rotations to compensate for the loss of Weinar’s steady influence.

While the Pacers have endured significant change in both roster and coaching staff, the expectation remains that Indiana could stay competitive in a less-competitive Eastern Conference. Their first test comes on opening night, a Finals rematch against the Thunder, where the franchise will look to prove it can withstand adversity and remain a force in the East.