The Indiana Pacers are currently stuck in a weird, frustrating kind of limbo. If you've been checking the standings lately, it’s pretty grim. They are 9-32. That is the kind of record that usually makes a front office want to burn the whole thing down and start over, but Indy isn't your typical basement-dweller. They’re a team that was in the Eastern Conference Finals just two seasons ago, now sidelined by a brutal Achilles tear to franchise cornerstone Tyrese Haliburton.
Basically, this is a gap year. But that doesn't mean Kevin Pritchard and Chad Buchanan are sitting on their hands until the February 5 trade deadline. The NBA trade rumors Indiana Pacers fans are seeing right now aren't about finding a temporary fix; they are about finding the long-term pillar to replace Myles Turner.
The Myles Turner Hole and the Center Search
Honestly, the biggest mistake the Pacers made wasn't the Haliburton injury—you can't control that—it was letting Myles Turner walk to Milwaukee in free agency last summer. Since then, the center position in Indy has been a rotating door of "just okay" options. Jay Huff, Micah Potter, and Tony Bradley are fine as depth, but they aren't starting-caliber anchors for a team that wants to run the fastest offense in the league.
Word on the street, specifically from guys like Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, is that the Pacers have been calling everyone. Seriously, everyone.
💡 You might also like: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
- Onyeka Okongwu (Atlanta Hawks): This is the name popping up most frequently this week. Okongwu is exactly the type of mobile, switchable big that Rick Carlisle loves. The problem? Atlanta just traded Trae Young to Washington and might not be in the mood to strip the roster further unless Indy overpays.
- Daniel Gafford (Dallas Mavericks): There is a lot of smoke here. Dallas has a logjam with Dereck Lively II and Anthony Davis (who they landed in a blockbuster). Gafford is a vertical spacer who would be a dream lob threat for Haliburton when he returns.
- The "Hard to Get" List: Indiana has reportedly checked in on Ivica Zubac in LA and Nic Claxton in Brooklyn. Neither seems likely to move right now, but it shows where the Pacers' heads are at. They want a proven rim protector.
Why Bennedict Mathurin is the Ultimate Trade Chip
You’ve probably seen the headlines about Bennedict Mathurin. It’s a polarizing topic in Indy. On one hand, he is the only wing on the roster who can consistently get to the rim and manufacture his own bucket. On the other hand, his contract situation is getting messy.
Mathurin is heading toward restricted free agency, and with the massive extensions for Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, there just isn't a lot of money left in the pot. Rumors are swirling that the New Orleans Pelicans are sniffing around a deal involving their young center, Yves Missi, and Mathurin.
Is it risky? Absolutely. Mathurin is 23 and has a ceiling that most of this roster can't touch. But if the Pacers don't think they can afford him long-term, moving him now for a starting center like Daniel Gafford or a prospect like Missi might be the only way to balance the roster. You've got to give up talent to get talent.
📖 Related: LeBron James Without Beard: Why the King Rarely Goes Clean Shaven Anymore
The Tyrese Haliburton Factor
Everything the Pacers do between now and February 5 is filtered through one lens: "How does this look when Tyrese is back?"
Haliburton’s Achilles injury has completely tanked the 2025-26 season, but the Pacers aren't looking at a five-year rebuild. They want to be the 2024-25 version of themselves by next October. That’s why you haven't heard a single rumor about trading Pascal Siakam or Andrew Nembhard. They are the core.
The strategy is pretty clear. They’re going to lean into the tank for the rest of this season—which shouldn't be hard given the current record—and try to snag a blue-chip talent in what is considered a loaded 2026 draft class. If they can pair a top-three pick with a newly acquired center and a healthy Haliburton, they go from the bottom of the East back to a 50-win threat overnight.
👉 See also: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
What to Expect Before the Deadline
Don't expect a move just for the sake of making a move. The Pacers have been linked to some smaller deals, like the 10-day contract saga with Tony Bradley, but the real "fireworks" will involve the young guys.
- The Jarace Walker Question: He’s been in and out of the rotation, and teams are asking about him. If Indiana moves Mathurin, they almost certainly keep Jarace to see if he can finally blossom into that versatile forward they drafted him to be.
- Draft Capital: Because the Pacers got their 2026 first-rounder back in a previous trade, they have the flexibility to attach picks to a guy like Mathurin to get a high-level starter.
- The Pelicans Connection: Watch New Orleans closely. They have the big men Indy wants, and they need the scoring punch Mathurin provides.
Actionable Insights for Pacers Fans
If you're trying to make sense of the noise, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the "Minutes Played" for Mathurin: If his minutes start to fluctuate or he gets a "DNP-CD," a trade is likely imminent.
- Focus on the Dallas/Atlanta Situations: Both of those teams are in flux. If Dallas decides to lean into a youth movement around Lively, Gafford becomes the most realistic target for Indy.
- Don't panic about the record: The losses are actually currency right now. Every loss increases the odds of landing a franchise-altering prospect to play alongside Haliburton for the next decade.
The next few weeks will define the next three years of Pacers basketball. It's not about winning games in January 2026; it's about winning a ring in 2028.