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This is the last season the Pacers are paying these players to not be on the team

This offseason, the Pacers have three players who are counting against the cap who aren't even in the league anymore. This is the final year paying those guys.

By Ryan Stano

May 25, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) celebrates with forward Doug McDermott (20) after making a basket against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter of game three of the eastern conference finals in the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) celebrates with forward Doug McDermott (20) after making a basket against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter of game three of the eastern conference finals in the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
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The Indiana Pacers are over the cap for next season. They won't be adding any more players in free agency unless they sign them to a minimum deal. Most of the team will be comprised of guys who were on the team last season. They're going to run it back with who they have.

Yet, looking at the cap sheet, there are some guys who the Pacers are paying that aren't on the team. This isn't unusual for teams as a lot of them use the stretch-and-waive provision to get off of unseemly contracts. They can waive the cap hit over a period of a few years.

If you remember, the Pacers had to do that after the disastrous signing of Monta Ellis. He last played for them in 2017 and they just stopped paying him last season. There are three players who Indiana is still paying despite the fact that they never played for them.

The Pacers have three players who they are still paying to not play for them

Remember the Malcolm Brogdon trade that netted the Pacers Aaron Nesmith? Nesmith was the only player who actually ended up playing for the team in that deal. Three other players came to Indiana in that deal and none of them actually played a single minute for them.

Nik Stauskas is one of them. Stauskas is getting paid $702,310 to not play for the Pacers. Next season will be the final year that they are paying him. Believe it or not, this isn't the first time he's gotten paid by Indiana to not play for them. He was also paid back in 2018-19.

One of the other players who is counting against the cap is Juwan Morgan. He's getting paid $576,229 this season. Like Stauskas, he is getting paid over the course of three years to not play a single minute for the Pacers. He was added to help fill the salary obligations in the Brogdon trade.

So was Malik Fitts, who might be the most unrecognizable player on the cap sheet. He's getting paid $555,216 for the third straight year. None of these three players have played in the NBA since getting waived by the Pacers after this trade.

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It's good their numbers, although small, come off the books after next season.

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