The Indiana Pacers didn’t just lose the NBA Finals on Sunday night; they may have also lost their long-term plans.
With Tyrese Haliburton facing a devastating injury, everything is now up in the air.
On X, Evan Sidery summed up how dire the situation is.
“With Haliburton out for 2025-26, will Indiana still think this core is worth going into the tax for? Indiana was about to dip into the tax for the first time in 20 years,” Sidery wrote, saying how Indiana’s team-building plans have now been radically altered.
The sobering reality of Tyrese Haliburton’s injury is it could change the Pacers’ team building plans.
With Haliburton out for 2025-26, will Indiana still think this core is worth going into the tax for?
Indiana was about to dip into the tax for the first time in 20 years. pic.twitter.com/jYb7yqASiS
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 23, 2025
On Sunday morning, the Pacers were just one win away from being named champions.
Now, they are going to be without their lead star for a very long time.
If Haliburton has really ruptured his Achilles tendon, like some people suspect, he will probably miss all of 2025-26.
Indiana was very happy with their roster, and they were willing to go into the tax in order to keep it.
Now, their brightest star is out, and no one is sure what will happen next.
How can the Pacers fill the void left by Haliburton?
What sort of moves will they be forced to make in order to pick up the slack?
Or, will they essentially just forget about next season, knowing it’s a lost cause, and start planning beyond that?
It’s rare that things change so quickly for a team.
During the Finals, people were saying that the Pacers could be one of the toughest squads in the Eastern Conference for years to come, and now those same people are wondering if they will reach the Finals again.
Everyone is hoping Haliburton returns as quickly as possible.
But until then, this team is going to be in a very complicated and uncomfortable position.
NEXT: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reacts To Pacers Star’s Injury
