Three questions for Pacers ahead of 2025-26 NBA season

After back-to-back seasons of growth, the Indiana Pacers could find themselves crashing back to Earth this season. 

Tyrese Haliburton has already been ruled out for the year due to an Achilles tendon tear. To make matters worse, Rick Carlisle's team lost starting big man Myles Turner in free agency. Indiana has developed a strong identity under Carlisle, and it's unlikely it will change that for one season. However, both Turner and Haliburton are big losses. 

Therefore, others within the rotation must step up and prove themselves. With that in mind, here are three big questions for the Pacers heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.

Is Jay Huff the pickup of the summer? 

The Pacers sent a future second-round draft pick and a second-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jay Huff earlier this summer. And with Turner now out of the picture, he could prove to be the best under-the-radar addition of the summer.

Huff can stretch the floor, rebound and be a solid screener and rim protector. He's likely to become the Pacers' new starting big man and should have no trouble with the team's pace and tempo of play. If Huff can prove himself in a larger role, he could be a key factor in the Pacers' success once Haliburton is back to leading the offense in 2026. 

Can James Wiseman finally click in the NBA? 

The Pacers signed James Wiseman in the summer of 2024. However, he tore his Achilles tendon in the opening game of the season and was subsequently traded to the Toronto Raptors. Nevertheless, Wiseman has re-signed with the Pacers this summer and could instantly find himself inserted into Carlisle's rotation. 

Wiseman, a former second overall draft pick, has yet to click in the NBA. He's struggled to find a team that plays to his strengths. However, in Indiana, he may have found the perfect fit. Carlisle will likely deploy Wiseman as a rim runner off the bench, which should help bring the best out of him. However, if Wiseman fails to impress, he may find it hard to find another home in the NBA.

Can Indiana Pacers continue to take care of the ball? 

Only the Oklahoma City Thunder had a better assist-to-turnover ratio last season (2.29 assists per turnover). The Pacers (2.22 assists per turnover) found ways to make smart reads despite flying up and down the court and swinging the ball at will. Haliburton's passing ability and processing speed were undoubtedly core parts of that success.

Without the passing wizardry Haliburton brings to the table, the Pacers must find other ways of being a successful half-court and transition offense. The onus will likely fall on T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard, although everyone in the rotation will have increased responsibility.

Being one of the best teams in the league when it comes to taking care of the ball is no small feat. Carlisle must strive to ensure his team doesn't slip in the upcoming campaign, even without Haliburton to steady the ship.