Indiana Pacers Land NBA Champion in Free Agency

Indiana Pacers Land NBA Champion in Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

After losing Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in NBA free agency, the Indiana Pacers have added, re-signed, or traded for Tony Bradley, Jay Huff, and Isaiah Jackson.

Add in last year’s second-round pick Enrique Freeman, and they have a center rotation devoid of any proven, starting-caliber talent, but with plenty of depth.

Continuing that trend, the Pacers signed free agent James Wiseman, who most recently played for the Pacers last season, tearing his Achilles and ending his season just five minutes into the first game of the season.

Jackson would soon follow with the same injury, and the start of the Pacers’ magical season was actually filled with concerns over depth more than anything else.

Wiseman is being brought back on a one-year deal. In his last full season, he averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Detroit Pistons. He was picked second overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2020 and is generally regarded as one of the biggest busts in recent memory, although he did win a ring with the Warriors in 2022.

Before his Achilles tear, the Pacers were very high on Wiseman, and think that they, his third team, can finally get the most out of him.

“He’s a guy that our fans are going to like a lot,” said Rick Carlisle of Wiseman before his injury. “Our players have liked playing with him.”

Wiseman was traded in a salary-dump move to the Toronto Raptors last season and quickly waived, although he is given another, possibly his last, chance to prove that he belongs in the NBA.

Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.

Indiana Pacers Land NBA Champion in Free Agency

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