The Indiana Pacers are keeping two frontcourt pieces in place, with the team exercising its option on Micah Potter and extending a two-way qualifying offer to Jalen Slawson, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto.
Potter enters the 2026-27 season after his strongest NBA campaign to date. The 28-year-old center averaged 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 47 games with Indiana while shooting 51.5% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range.
His 2025-26 season represented a major step forward from his previous four NBA seasons. Before joining the Pacers, Potter averaged 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds across 111 career games, but he became a more consistent rotation option in Indiana, playing 19.3 minutes per night and starting seven games.
Potter’s floor-spacing ability became a notable part of his role. He attempted 3.6 three-pointers per game and converted at a 42.3% rate, giving Indiana another big capable of stretching defenses. His effective field-goal percentage rose to 63.7%, the highest mark of his career.
The Pacers’ decision comes after a difficult team season in the standings. Indiana finished 19-63, 14th in the Eastern Conference, but the organization has continued evaluating young players around established pieces like Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard.
Slawson is also returning after receiving an opportunity late in the season. The 26-year-old forward appeared in 13 games for Indiana, including six starts, averaging 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 23.9 minutes per game.
The former Sacramento player showed defensive versatility and all-around production in limited action. Slawson averaged 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range.
His two-way qualifying offer gives Indiana flexibility while allowing the team to continue developing him. Slawson has only appeared in 25 NBA games over two seasons, but his expanded role with the Pacers was a significant increase from his rookie year, when he played just 3.1 minutes per game in 12 appearances.
