Can the Pacers stay below the tax in 2025-26??

[jowglenn]

All I know is if I ever somehow win the mega-mega-lottery and I buy an NBA team I'm hiring you as GM, Scoot

[Scoot McGroot]

All I know is if I ever somehow win the mega-mega-lottery and I buy an NBA team I'm hiring you as GM, Scoot

Nah, id be a cap guy! Let me sit with Ted Wu and just absorb! My actual roster building ideas are too often garbage!

[basketballwacko2]

Was looking at the free agent PG's that are available this off season.

we really only need a 3rd emergency PG. Nembhard and TJ should each get around 30 minutes with TJ getting them all at PG and Drew getting 18 at PG and another 12 playing SG alongside TJ. I think one of the guards who were on two-ways this season move up to be the 3rd PG - unless pick 54 is a PG rather than a C.

Well they have Quenton Jackson and probably can get Ryan Nembhard at 54. Use that 38 pick on a center to play back up. But I still want to get out of the tax.

[basketballwacko2]

Yeah, I think I see Indy maxing out at that $11.37m over the tax line, for a total penalty of $12.8m in taxes. I do not see them crossing that line into $3.5 times penalty bracket.

Agreed,... they likely wouldn't go to 3.5 even if Tyrese was healthy,... and to be fair wouldn't really need to, to bring the team back,... but with Tyrese out? do you think they will have the same willingness to go into the tax? Particularly with a Mathurin extension sitting in the wings,... and with it unclear how competitive the 25-26 team will be?...

The Mathurin extension is the problem. He doesn't fit with Haliburton all that well. If he plays well next year and he should with more usage that extension number goes up and we won't be able to match it. I just don't realistically see a path for him in Indiana. I know some of you think he is better than Nesmith and I promise you Nesmith is the better fit in our line up.

I think this coming season is Benn Mathurin's prove it year. He's got to stay healthy and play well for that big extension or he's looking at an MLE kinda deal. I'd like to start Nesmith at SG and get a bigger SF like a Cam Johnson, but I don't see a way to do it unless some kind of major trade is made involving Siakam or Turner. Roster building with 2 huge contracts is a challenge.

[basketballwacko2]

I was saying roster building is a huge challenge especially if you want to stay out of the tax. For a small market team I think they should stay out of it unless they have a good shot at getting to the finals. I don't see the Pacers getting there without Haliburton.

[Wizop]

I was saying roster building is a huge challenge especially if you want to stay out of the tax. For a small market team I think they should stay out of it unless they have a good shot at getting to the finals. I don't see the Pacers getting there without Haliburton.

We paid tax so Reggie could finish his career here and I think it's reasonable to do the same for Myles and Pascal. Isn't it curious that fans act like they should put the owner on a budget? If the Simons want houses all over the world and Lamborghinis, we don't bat an eye but we act like player contracts come out of our pockets.

[basketballwacko2]

I was saying roster building is a huge challenge especially if you want to stay out of the tax. For a small market team I think they should stay out of it unless they have a good shot at getting to the finals. I don't see the Pacers getting there without Haliburton.

We paid tax so Reggie could finish his career here and I think it's reasonable to do the same for Myles and Pascal. Isn't it curious that fans act like they should put the owner on a budget? If the Simons want houses all over the world and Lamborghinis, we don't bat an eye but we act like player contracts come out of our pockets.

Yes we did we were talking about a much smaller amount of money that was what 2006. These days the rebate is pretty large and the tax can be punitive. it's also not like we're going to suddenly get out of those big contracts of halliburton Siakam and Turner. Then you got guys like Mathurin if you want to keep me going to have to resign him and Nesmith then Walker if he develops. It's going to get expensive.

[Wizop]

Yes we did we were talking about a much smaller amount of money that was what 2006. These days the rebate is pretty large and the tax can be punitive. it's also not like we're going to suddenly get out of those big contracts of halliburton Siakam and Turner. Then you got guys like Mathurin if you want to keep me going to have to resign him and Nesmith then Walker if he develops. It's going to get expensive.

Inflation and a much bigger cap. I read that the penalty for going a little bit over are less significant but if Herbie and Steve want to spend it it's their call.

[JMaster5K]

Say Myles signs for 3/90, Jackson takes a 1/$3m rehab deal, Indy signs a 1 year vet min backup PG, promotes Freeman to the main roster for his vet minimum, and signs the 54th pick to a big league deal for their league minimum, you end up at a point where, if you could trade Obi Toppin out for no current salary, you’d be almost exactly $400k under the tax line with 14 guys. If Myles takes a little less than 3/90, you can fill out the 15h roster spot with another minimum.

It's easy to say because its not my money, but losing Tyrese and dumping Obi, really begins to hurt their bench. They'd be one somewhat serious injury (like what nembhard or nesmith had last season) away from winning like 30 games.

Depends. Feels like Walker needs to get run, and is ready for run. At that point, you’d be almost might have a Tre Jones/Tre Mann coming off the bench? Adding Jackson back in, still have Johnny Furphy developing. I think it’s pretty on par to what we ran off the bench this year? I’m not sure you can realistically go any further in terms of adding depth? Basically, James Johnson is likely to retire, so you’re having Hali take his “non playing spot” for a year. Jackson/Freeman replace Bradley/Bryant, and growth from Walker/Furphy and the additions of that vet PG and 54 all combine to replace Obi?


Maybe not ideal, but pretty realistic.

In looking at these conversations,... we've been speculating 3/90 or 4/120 for Myles,... but is there anything that would stop us from going 5/150? Myles would be 33 at the end of the contract, so we wouldn't be paying past his prime. That would lower the cap value this year to 25,862,069, (at 8%) which would be very workable in the scenario's this forum has discussed?.... Could also show him that we really do want him here for his entire career?

If the Pacers were willing to go to 5 years,... Do you think Myles would come down on the 30/year for the longer term security?

[Scoot McGroot]

It's easy to say because its not my money, but losing Tyrese and dumping Obi, really begins to hurt their bench. They'd be one somewhat serious injury (like what nembhard or nesmith had last season) away from winning like 30 games.

Depends. Feels like Walker needs to get run, and is ready for run. At that point, you’d be almost might have a Tre Jones/Tre Mann coming off the bench? Adding Jackson back in, still have Johnny Furphy developing. I think it’s pretty on par to what we ran off the bench this year? I’m not sure you can realistically go any further in terms of adding depth? Basically, James Johnson is likely to retire, so you’re having Hali take his “non playing spot” for a year. Jackson/Freeman replace Bradley/Bryant, and growth from Walker/Furphy and the additions of that vet PG and 54 all combine to replace Obi?


Maybe not ideal, but pretty realistic.

In looking at these conversations,... we've been speculating 3/90 or 4/120 for Myles,... but is there anything that would stop us from going 5/150? Myles would be 33 at the end of the contract, so we wouldn't be paying past his prime. That would lower the cap value this year to 25,862,069, (at 8%) which would be very workable in the scenario's this forum has discussed?.... Could also show him that we really do want him here for his entire career?

If the Pacers were willing to go to 5 years,... Do you think Myles would come down on the 30/year for the longer term security?

Going out to 5 years is absolutely a negotiating possibility. How Myles and his agent would respond? I don’t know….

[Wizop]

Tony East has a weekend episode of Locked on Pacers on YouTube with a capologist. I'm on my phone so a link probably won't work but I can edit it later

https://youtu.be/zEoKqD6Lnmw?si=8obEllT_2Q0afiWu

[Scoot McGroot]

Tony East has a weekend episode of Locked on Pacers on YouTube with a capologist. I'm on my phone so a link probably won't work but I can edit it later

https://youtu.be/zEoKqD6Lnmw?si=8obEllT_2Q0afiWu

Yossi Gozlan is awesome, and worth a follow everywhere!

[Scoot McGroot]

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Bradley is still non guaranteed, so no guarantee he sticks around at all. Even if he does make the roster, he’d likely have to be waived, and re signed at the minimum to save the team a solid $400k (he would make the same either way).

Also, hearing the team is extending Isaiah Jackson’s qualifying offer, which makes me worry. It’s around $6m, so Indy is either going RIGHT UP to the 2nd apron in spending, Myles isn’t returning, or they’re salary dumping a couple guys? This number is about $3m higher than I had projected.

[Scoot McGroot]

Read on Twitter

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[Wizop]

Also, hearing the team is extending Isaiah Jackson’s qualifying offer, which makes me worry. It’s around $6m, so Indy is either going RIGHT UP to the 2nd apron in spending, Myles isn’t returning, or they’re salary dumping a couple guys? This number is about $3m higher than I had projected.

They've so seen his workouts so maybe iJax is more ready than I expected. Also, sounds like Bradley is ahead of Bryant.

Yossi makes a strong case for trading Benn.

[Wizop]

Is RayJ's name missing or does he have another year under contract? Peter could be getting his spot

[Scoot McGroot]

Is RayJ's name missing or does he have another year under contract? Peter could be getting his spot

He’s already under contract for next year. He had signed a 2 year two way when he was promoted.

[Scoot McGroot]

Also, hearing the team is extending Isaiah Jackson’s qualifying offer, which makes me worry. It’s around $6m, so Indy is either going RIGHT UP to the 2nd apron in spending, Myles isn’t returning, or they’re salary dumping a couple guys? This number is about $3m higher than I had projected.

They've so seen his workouts so maybe iJax is more ready than I expected. Also, sounds like Bradley is ahead of Bryant.

Yossi makes a strong case for trading Benn.

I wouldn’t say this at all. Bradley had signed for 2 years. Bryant was signed by Miami for 1 year. That’s the only difference. We can still waive Bradley at any moment. However, we could trade Bradley, and in theory, that could help us keep from Having to throw Furphy or another smaller contract in a deal if we had to.

[GreatBuchinsky]

Feels like something is about to happen with Myles. Most other bigger FA’s have come to terms with their team. IJax getting the QO at $6m is significant for a team riding a fine line with the luxury tax. I wonder if someone is offering $30-$35m in a S&T scenario?

[Wizop]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nba-free-agency-2025-offseason-trade-rumors-news/fnwUjcuMFEqi/EOyvTiH6sBxt/

Hollinger surprised by Jackson offer. Tony East said a few days ago he couldn't imagine us doing this as Jackson would accept it immediately.