Pacers Waive James Johnson, Two Others

Indiana now has 17 players under contract, including three on two-way deals. While they could technically make more roster moves before the regular season gets underway, it appears likely the Pacers will enter opening night with the current group.

Johnson, 39, is a valued locker room leader who could return to Indiana later in the season if the team’s cap situation allows for it. The Pacers currently don’t have enough room below their first-apron hard cap to carry a 15th man, necessitating Johnson’s release.

The veteran forward’s training camp contract didn’t include Exhibit 10 language, which suggests that he likely won’t be reporting to the G League after being cut by the Pacers.

However, both Keita and Mast had Exhibit 10 deals that will put them in line to earn bonuses worth $91K apiece if they spent at least 60 days with the Noblesville Boom. Keita went undrafted out of BYU in June, while Mast became a rookie free agent after wrapping up his college career at Nebraska.