Pacers make roster moves with NBA champion and triple-double machine

It was a busy offseason for the Indiana Pacers, though none of the moves they made were necessarily “headline material.” Instead, they simply added to their roster around the edges.

Bringing in Bruce Brown was easily their biggest move, as they signed him to a hefty contract fresh off his NBA Championship run with the Denver Nuggets this past year.

On top of that, they drafted Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard, both of whom could play a role this year, and made a trade with the New York Knicks to land 25-year-old forward Obi Toppin.

Indiana Pacers sign and waive NBA veterans Elfrid Payton and Jordan Bell

However, they aren’t done quite yet, as over the past couple of days ahead of training camp, they made a small string of roster moves headlined by Elfrid Payton and Jordan Bell.

The Pacers signed and waived both players – a move that is typically done in order to keep guys around through training camp and have them play for an organization’s G League affiliate (in this case, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants).

Both players have significant NBA experience and have accomplished a lot throughout their time in the league.

Payton was a triple-double machine in his heyday, having recorded 17 triple-doubles throughout his career, which puts him tied for 35th all-time. (He’s tied with Kevin Durant, Scottie Pippen, and Bill Russell…)

In eight seasons in the NBA, Payton spent time with the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, and New York Knicks. The 29-year-old has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2021-22 season.

As for Bell, he’s most well-known for his time with the Golden State Warriors. He was a part of their championship run in the 2017-18 season when he was a rookie.

The 28-year-old spent five years in the NBA with a plethora of teams – the Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, and Chicago Bulls. Bell last appeared in an NBA game in the 2021-22 season as well.

It seems like the Pacers brought both guys in to be a part of their G League system, and if they make moves throughout the season, or if either plays well enough, they could be intriguing options for call-ups to the main squad. Either would provide a nice veteran presence.