Indiana Pacers Make Necessary Moves To Finalize Regular Season Roster

The Indiana Pacers made a handful of transactions over the weekend to finalize their roster heading into the 2022-23 regular season.

Going into last Friday, the Pacers had 19 players under contract and one preseason game remaining. By the start of the regular season, they had to trim their roster down to 17 players — with the maximum being 15 guys on standard NBA contracts and two players on two-way deals.

After inking Trevelin Queen and Kendall Brown to two-way deals in the last 35 days, the Pacers just had to get their number of standard NBA deals down to 15 by the start of the regular season. That meant the team had to make two cuts over this past weekend.

“They’re never fun,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of the conversations he has to have with players who are waived.

Friday night, Indiana waived Deividas Sirvydis and Langston Galloway. Both players spent all of training camp and preseason with the blue and gold and met expectations during their time with the team. But cuts were necessary, and someone had to be released.

Ultimately, given the contract structures on the roster, deciding who to waive likely was a choice between Galloway, Sirvydis, and veteran forward James Johnson. All three players signed non-guaranteed contracts and were competing to be on the roster come opening night.

In the end, Johnson earned the final spot. He is a useful veteran who can provide value on and off the court. Unfortunately, that meant Galloway and Sirvydis had to go.

“Both of those guys are NBA players. They have proven it. They did a really great job for us,” Carlisle said of the pair.

“Sirvydis is going to be with our G League team, assuming he doesn’t get picked up,” he added. The Lithuanian forward could end up with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, which would keep him in the Pacers organization. He will receive a $50 thousand bonus if he remains with Fort Wayne for 60 days.

“I’m glad I have a chance to be here. It feels great,” Sirvydis said of his opportunity with the blue and gold during training camp. He averaged 3.0 points per game during preseason play.

Galloway, meanwhile, will not stay in the Pacers’ ecosystem. He could end up playing for Team USA in the coming months if he doesn’t remain in the NBA. He provided valuable mentorship during training camp for the Pacers.

“I just think it’s a matter of time before Langston gets picked up by another NBA team,” Carlisle shared. The 30-year old averaged 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds per game during Indiana’s exhibitions.

“Showing guys different roles that I’ve been in, playing in the league. Talking about different experiences,” Galloway said when describing his leadership role last week. He helped younger players grow and acclimate to the team.

With Galloway and Sirvydis waived, the Pacers roster was down to the correct size at 17. The group was ready for the regular season. But Indiana’s front office made a few more moves before finalizing their regular season unit.

Friday night, the Pacers signed Tevin Brown, Jermaine Samuels, and Eli Brooks to contracts. All three players played for the Pacers during summer league. Indiana needed to ink them to contracts to obtain their G League rights.

The trio descended upon Indianapolis on Saturday and were getting shots up in the Pacers practice facility in the afternoon. However, all three players were waived over the weekend. They will likely play for the Mad Ants this season unless they are scooped up by another franchise prior to the G League season.

With those three players waived, the Pacers roster was down to 17, meaning it was ready for the regular season. With 15 standard deals and two two-way signees, the Pacers entered this week.

With Galloway and Sirvydis waived, James Johnson ended up being Indiana’s 15th man. He made the final roster and will be a member of the blue and gold to open the campaign.

“He’s got really strong characteristics of leadership in the locker room. Experience, toughness,” Carlisle said of Johnson. Carlisle coached the veteran two seasons ago when they were both in Dallas. “Along with the fact that he can still play. He can play two positions,” the head coach added. Johnson was in the rotation for Brooklyn last season, who went on to make the playoffs. The 13-year veteran can play at the power forward or center spot for the Pacers.

Johnson averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game during preseason action. The Pacers were +11 in his minutes.

“Just to lead, help lead,” the 6-foot-7-inch forward said when describing his role this coming season. He can help younger Pacers both on and off the court. “It ties in. The off court stuff, it definitely matters just for the performance. The performance aspect of your game, being ready for every practice,” Johnson added of being a veteran on and off the court.

Guard Buddy Hield praised Johnson over the weekend for his leadership abilities, and the young Pacers will be better off with the veteran in the mix. Johnson’s deal is non-guaranteed this season, so if Indiana waives him before the league wide contract guarantee date in early January of 2023, his cap hit will be fully removed from the Pacers cap sheet.

Johnson’s salary is the veterans minimum this season. He will make just over $2.9 million while having a cap hit of roughly $1.8 million.

The Indiana Pacers, with their roster now finalized, open the regular season on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards in Indianapolis.