Indiana Pacers Sign Second-Round Pick Kendall Brown To Two-Way Contract

The Indiana Pacers have signed 48th overall pick Kendall Brown to a two-way contract.

Zach Pearson from 8 Points, 9 Seconds was the first to report the news, which the Pacers made official on Friday. Brown, an athletic forward, will now have a chance to develop in the Pacers organization as a rookie.

“I feel like we have a really athletic team,” Brown said of the Pacers in August. He shared that he’s been working on his outside shot and ball handling. “All of us together, it will be a fun time,” he added about the team.

Brown impressed for the blue and gold during summer league play, showing off speed and athleticism that blended well into the team’s style. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game in five appearances.

Pacers assistant coach and summer league head coach Ronald Nored was dazzled by the young forward’s agility during July practices. Brown’s quickness stood out on a younger Pacers team.

“It just felt good to get out there and run,” the former Baylor Bear shared about summer league play.

Brown is one of the last second round picks to sign with the team that drafted them this summer. Indiana has prioritized flexibility during the free agency period, and with many significant league-changing transactions taking place in the last month, it made sense for the Pacers to wait and survey their options before inking Brown (and others) to a deal. With open roster spots for most of the offseason and available two-way contract slots, the Pacers had options with the type of deal they wanted to give Brown. Ultimately, with the dust settled on much of the NBA offseason and training camp approaching, the parties agreed on a two-way deal.

Indiana traded away a 2026 second round draft pick and cash considerations to acquire Brown during the 2022 NBA Draft.

A two-way deal will allow Brown to spend time with both the Pacers and their G League affiliate franchise, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, this coming season. Last year, the Pacers had Terry Taylor and Duane Washington Jr on two-way contracts for much of the season, and both benefited from their time with Fort Wayne.

Ultimately, both Taylor and Washington Jr had their deals converted to standard NBA contracts by the end of the season. If Brown performs well throughout the campaign, it’s possible he could earn a similar promotion. But that will depend on the Pacers roster situation throughout the season.

It is unlikely Brown will have a significant role with the Pacers during the year, barring numerous injuries. He may get spot minutes on the wing thanks to his athleticism, but it is more likely that his playing time at the NBA level comes mostly when a game’s result has already been decided. His development will happen in those moments, as well as during practices and with the Mad Ants.

The Pacers have a history of success with two-way signees. Multiple players, including Ben Moore, Alex Poythress, Edmond Sumner, Taylor, and Washington, have seen their deals converted to NBA contracts and have made an impact at the highest level. Brown will hope to be the next player that follows that path.

At Baylor, the 6-foot-8-inch forward averaged 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team. He’s one of several younger Pacers that will be looking to grow as the team pivots from one era to the next. A two-way contract will give him plenty of opportunities to improve and establish himself at the pro level.