The Pacers announced that former guard Jannero Pargo and player‑development coach Isaac Yacob have been added as assistant coaches under head coach Rick Carlisle, with Pargo also taking on the director of player development role.
Monday’s reshuffle also moved Martin Tombe to assistant coach for player development, promoted Joel Okafor to head video coordinator, elevated Mike Bron to VP of player personnel and advanced KJ Pritchard to college scout and director of grassroots scouting. New faces include Ryan Curran as assistant video coordinator and Luca Desta as director of college scouting.
More updates from Indiana:
- Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and new starter Ivica Zubac haven’t yet shared game time, but Zubac says their chemistry will click quickly, writes Zion Brown of The Indianapolis Star. “It felt really natural for me,” he noted after pre‑camp scrimmages. “Playing with a smart point guard is never hard; we’ll gel in no time.”
- Although the Pacers don’t have room under their first‑apron hard cap to carry veteran forward James Johnson on opening night, GM Chad Buchanan hinted he could return later in the season. Obi Toppin praised the prospect, saying, “He won’t hold his tongue for anyone. He knows what we need to win. Even a few days of his presence will make our standards clear.”
- Zubac figures to get the lion’s share of minutes at the five, but Buchanan said last week that he believes the Pacers have no shortage of options at center, per Tony East of Circle City Spin. “Jay (Huff‘s) there. Obi plays some five,” he said. “Coach even flirts with Jalen Slawson a little there at the five at times too. Larry (Nance Jr.) just gives us an additional depth.”
- The Pacers rarely pay luxury tax penalties, but they’re operating over the tax line this season and currently project to do so in 2027/28 too, according to East, who takes a closer look in a story for Forbes at the team’s cap situation going forward. In my view, ignoring the tax burden could hamper future flexibility.
- In case you missed it, coming off the Achilles tear that cost him the entire 2025/26 season, Haliburton declared himself “100%” with “no restrictions” during his media day availability on Monday. Will his return spark a new era for Indiana?