Indiana Pacers Showing Interest In Four Big Men On The Trade Market

Last season, the Indiana Pacers were just one good quarter away from their first NBA championship, but unfortunately, an injury to Tyrese Haliburton held them back from an all-time upset. This season, they've started slow as a result, going 9–32 through their first 41 games, but with Haliburton to return in 2026–27, this is a team that's still got a very, very bright future.

However, they've still got some major holes to fill, with the biggest being the loss of Myles Turner, who shockingly departed the team in free agency this past summer, signing with the Eastern Conference rival Milwaukee Bucks. Now, a new report from Jake Fischer has revealed that the Pacers are calling around for a young upgrade at the center position, naming four players they have their eyes on.

“I was told this week, for example, that Indiana has called Atlanta on Onyeka Okongwu in addition to its previously reported interest in players such as Dallas' Daniel Gafford and the (perceived as much harder-to-get) Ivica Zubac of the LA Clippers. Another name on Indiana's list, sources say, is Pelicans center Yves Missi.”

As of right now, it's unclear whether the Pacers would target any of them this season or whether they are happy to continue on the path to the potential No. 1 overall pick and to upgrade over the summer ahead of Haliburton's return.

Ultimately, we've seen what this Pacers team can be when healthy, and while none of these big men can shoot like Turner, if they can get healthy for 2026–27 and upgrade at the five, this team becomes an immediate threat in the East again.