INDIANAPOLIS — Free agency is officially under way in the NBA, and already there have been over 40 reported agreements between teams and players. The action moves fast with so much money on the line.
The Indiana Pacers moved faster than most teams. Their two biggest free agents were both in-house names in Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, and they both have already agreed to terms to remain with the blue and gold. A new rule in the Collective Bargaining Agreement allows teams to negotiate with their own free agents one day after the NBA Finals is over instead of waiting until 6 p.m. EST on June 30, and the Pacers took advantagIt’s one route that we’ve looked hard at. You’ve always got to look and see what’s out there on the market,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said of running it back with largely the same roster in 2024-25. “Also very excited about the young core we have. It’s a balance.”
Siakam and the Pacers reportedly came to an agreement on June 19 while Toppin and the team found common ground on the 30th about five hours before free agency opened. They will both be signed using their Full Bird Rights — the Pacers are able to re-sign both players even while over the salary cap.e.