The Pacers have received a $14.1 million disabled player exception (DPE) due to Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury, which will keep him out for the entire 2025–26 season, GM Chad Buchanan confirmed on the Setting The Pace podcast.
The DPE gives Indiana extra spending flexibility – it can be used to sign or trade for a player on a one-year deal, but doesn’t add a roster spot.
Using it fully would push the team into the luxury tax, which Buchanan said they’re open to if the right player is available.
While the team could seek a point guard, Buchanan noted they haven’t been aggressive in that search yet, highlighting young guards RayJ Dennis, Kam Jones, and Quenton Jackson behind Nembhard and McConnell.
The Pacers are about $6M below the tax line and also have their full $14.1M mid-level exception, which offers more flexibility and can be split among multiple players.
The DPE must be used by March 10.
Pacers Granted Disabled Player Exception https://t.co/4sRpptQYes pic.twitter.com/wYshR16GVP
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) July 24, 2025
