The Indiana Pacers are buying and selling their first-round choice in subsequent week’s NBA draft — the No. 23 choose — to the New Orleans Pelicans and reacquiring their very own first-round choose in 2026, sources instructed ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Pelicans additionally acquired the rights to former Indiana G League participant Mojave King, sources instructed Charania, whereas the reigning Japanese Convention champion Pacers gained extra monetary flexibility coming into the offseason.
The commerce clears out practically $3.2 million in wage cap house for the Pacers, who now presently possess their very own first-round choose in seven consecutive drafts beginning in 2026.
The Pacers are projected to enter the offseason about $20 million beneath the luxurious tax and nicely beneath each cap aprons.
The Pacers initially despatched their 2026 choose to the Raptors final season as a part of their commerce to accumulate Pascal Siakam. Toronto then dealt the choose to New Orleans earlier this season as a part of the Brandon Ingram commerce.
The Pelicans now personal two picks within the first spherical — Nos. 7 and 23 — of the June 25-26 draft.
King, 23, was a second-round choose in 2023 and final performed within the G League in 2023-24, when he appeared in 15 video games with the Indiana Mad Ants. He performed professionally this previous season in Puerto Rico and his native New Zealand.
The Pacers, who’re enjoying within the NBA Finals for the primary time since 2000, will return many of the core of their present roster with the attainable exception of middle Myles Turner, who is ready to turn into an unrestricted free agent.
The Pacers path the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 3-2 within the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Sport 6 is Friday in Indianapolis.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks contributed to this report.
