Indiana Pacers officially make crucial decision on final roster spot

Heading into preseason, many Indiana Pacers fans had their eyes set on the battle for the final roster spot. The bulk of the team's roster and rotation were set as the team prepares to follow up on their conference finals run from last season with another impressive campaign. The two main players fighting for a roster spot were Kendall Brown and Cole Swider.

Both Brown and Swider were on non-guaranteed contracts. Brown initially joined the Pacers during the 2022 NBA Draft, whereas Swider is a more recent pickup, joining the team this past August.

For much of the offseason, nobody knew which of these two players would earn a roster spot for the 2024-25 campaign. However, following the latest developments, there is a lot more clarity.

The Pacers have waived Kendall Brown

According to an official team press release, the Pacers waived Brown after two years with the team. Additionally, the team also signed and waived Jahlil Okafor, who joined the team late last month.

This decision does not come as much of a shock. Since joining the Pacers, Brown has mostly played on two-way contracts. During his time with the team, the Mississippi native has only appeared in 21 total games for the Pacers. In that time, he averaged 1.4 points in 4.9 minutes on 54.% shooting.

Additionally, Brown's departure from the team was expected given his role so far this preseason. The wing played in all three games for Indiana so far, but he only averaged 7.6 minutes in those games. Given that preseason is all about showcasing players who may warrant a roster spot, this was not a great look for Brown.

With the Pacers deciding to move on from Brown, it now seems likely that Swider will officially make the team. However, the option to keep that last roster spot open to begin the season is also an option. Regardless, Swider is a good candidate for this spot and has played decent throughout his first preseason in Indiana. Additionally, he already has a fan in head coach Rick Carlisle.

If the Pacers do hang on to Swider and give him the team's final roster spot, it is unlikely that he will crack the rotation, especially in the early part of the year. Nonetheless, he offers a lot on the offensive side of the ball, especially as a legitimate deep threat. If he can develop the rest of his game, he could become a mainstay in the rotation down the line.