While the Pacers won’t be contending for the championship the following year, every important member of the team’s postseason rotation is still available.
The Pacers plugged a small hole in their roster on Tuesday by agreeing to a 2-year contract with James Wiseman, the former No. 2 overall pick, after locking up Obi Toppin with a 4-year, $60 million contract extension to start NBA free agency, according to Woj.
Despite not living up to his draft status, Wiseman will now go on to play with Toppin, Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, and other 2020 draft classmates in an attempt to start over and continue to grow. With the Pacers, all three of those players have been able to do this.
Wiseman essentially takes over the role previously held by Jalen Smith, another 2020 draft pick who opted out of his $5-plus million deal for the 2024-25 season and secured a lucrative 3-year, $27 million contract with the Bulls. Smith’s strengths include rebounding and three-point shooting, and it’s good to see him earn a substantial contract despite falling out of the playoff rotation.