We’ve already discussed how much more stacked the Eastern Conference has gotten this summer, which will put a ton of pressure on Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. He led Indy to the NBA Finals in 2025, but now things could be much harder. And if LeBron James ends up signing with a team in the East, the Pacers’ road back to the Finals will get even harder.
Having Haliburton on board automatically gives the Pacers a chance. He’s already proven that he’s good enough to be the best player on a Finals-level team. But the East has changed a lot. A ton of talent has been added to Eastern Conference teams, and James joining a team like the Philadelphia 76ers or Cleveland Cavaliers would only make life more difficult.
Indy better hope that James decides to stay in the Western Conference, because that would make Haliburton’s chances even better.
LeBron James joining the East would make Tyrese Haliburton's life harder
For the better part of the last decade, James has been a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. And even though he is now 41 years old, James is still playing at an All-Star level.
There are rumors of him joining a few different teams, but of those in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers and Cavs seem like the most likely destinations. And adding James to either would make them a force.
If James chose to join the Sixers, he would get to play next to Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid. That would make them one of the top contenders in the NBA.
As for the Cavaliers, he would be joining James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Much like the 76ers, that James-led side would also have a real chance to make the NBA Finals.
Meanwhile, the Pacers have a very similar team to the one that made the Finals just a couple of years ago. They still have Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and others.
The biggest change the Pacers have made to their roster from then to now is at the center spot. Myles Turner walked in free agency last summer, and at this past year’s trade deadline, Indy made a move for Ivica Zubac.
But Kawhi Leonard is in the East now. Giannis Antetokounmpo is in a better situation. Brown is in Philly. The New York Knicks are NBA Champions. The East is stacked.
Now, just imagine James joining an Eastern Conference side. That would make a Pacers Finals run even tougher.
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