It's not exactly a secret that this season has fallen apart for the Indiana Pacers in short order. And after losing Myles Turner in the offseason, the team has reportedly been on the hunt for a new center ahead of the February 2026 trade deadline. This makes even more sense when you consider the fact that the 2026 NBA Draft is not slated to have any centers selected in the first 10 picks.
The idea for the Pacers has been that they can bring in another high-level guy to play on the interior this season that will help them get back to contending status once Tyrese Haliburton returns. With the first center in 2026 projected to be drafted at 11th, it makes all the more sense for Indiana to shop around now, knowing that they can't draft the center of their future without trading up.
Indiana’s collapse this season has been tied directly to their interior problems, which have only grown more visible with each passing week. Opponents are getting to the rim far too easily, and the Pacers are giving up one of the highest opponent field goal percentages in the paint among Eastern Conference teams.
This is why the front office’s urgency is justified. Indiana still believes its offensive ceiling is high once Haliburton is fully healthy again, but that optimism is only useful if the Pacers can find a reliable interior anchor.
The Pacers need to find their new center now, not next summer
It's been reported in league circles that Indiana has monitored several potential trade targets, particularly centers stuck in crowded rotations on playoff hopefuls. The idea is not just to find a stopgap big, but someone who fits the timeline of the rest of this core.
There is also real pressure to make sure this season does not spiral into a totally wasted year. This team probably isn't sneaking into the play-in, but you want to be able to retain good habits and not fall into the mindset that losing is normal. An aggressive trade could stabilize the rotation and help restore some identity in the months before Haliburton returns.
Indiana of course does not want to waste any of Haliburton's prime years after he comes back from injury. That puts even more weight on finding the right center rather than settling for whoever is available.
If the Pacers want to prevent this season from being a total loss, addressing the hole in the middle is the first step. And given the upcoming draft landscape, it's also the smartest long-term decision they can make.