The Indiana Pacers will exercise the team option on Micah Potter's fully non-guaranteed contract for the 2026-27 season. Potter will make $2.8 million next season in the final year of his contract.
What happened?
The Pacers' decision comes after Potter appeared in 47 games last season, averaging 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 51.5% from the field, 42.3% from beyond the arc, and 84.2% from the free-throw line.
Why it matters for Indiana Pacers
The 28-year-old Potter has played for the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Pacers. He enters next season with career NBA averages of 6.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per contest.
Recent form
The Pacers' recent form has been inconsistent, with a record of 4W-0D-1L in their last 5 games. Their last result was a 119-118 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on 2025-04-29.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-29 | Milwaukee Bucks | 119-118 |
Tyrese Haliburton didn't play last season due to an Achilles tendon tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Without their best player, Indiana won only 19 games.
The Pacers didn't have a first-round pick in this year's draft because of the Ivica Zubac trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. The trade sent two of Indiana's first-round picks to the Clippers: one in 2029 and either this year's first if it fell outside of the top four or a 2031 unprotected first-rounder if it did not.
Because the Washington Wizards moved up in the lottery, Indiana landed fifth, so the pick went to the Clippers instead. The Pacers could have drafted AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, or Caleb Wilson.
Instead, they have to pray that Zubac plays like an All-Star next season alongside Pascal Siakam and Haliburton. 'I mean, it was a coin toss,' Haliburton said on Amazon Prime. 'I mean, the way I'm looking at the last 12 months for me, dating back from June, I didn't think we were really due any luck.'
What comes next?
The Pacers are on a 2-game winning run and will look to build on this momentum next season. With Potter's contract option exercised, they will have a solid contributor off the bench. The team's focus will now shift to the upcoming season, where they will look to improve on their disappointing record from last year.
The Pacers' current form is a positive sign, but they will need to maintain this level of performance throughout the season. Their fans will be hoping for a stronger showing next year, and the team will be looking to make a push for the playoffs.
