Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to the 2025 NBA Finals, emerging as one of the team’s standout players alongside Pascal Siakam. However, his Achilles injury sidelined him not only for the game but also for the entire 2025-26 season. His absence has raised significant doubts about the team’s ability to once again become top contenders. Now, Haliburton has shared a surprising update on his recovery.
“I’m walking now in my boot. Getting closer to walking full time in my shoe. So, that’s exciting for me. It’s kind of like a new benchmark, a new achievement for me… Just being able to walk, it’s like the small wins right now.Just taking it a day at a time. I have good days, bad days… Just trying to get as well as I can as fast as I can,” Tyrese Haliburton said, via Tony East.
Tyrese, despite showing promising progress, remains sidelined for the upcoming season, according to team officials. It is vital for him to take the necessary time to fully recover, as rushing back could risk further injury, potentially derailing his burgeoning NBA career. For that reason, the franchise is already working on options to cover Haliburton’s absence in the short term as it still considers him as an integral component of its future.
Pacers could cut two big men to reinforce roster amid Haliburton’s absence
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the 2025-26 season, the Indiana Pacers have secured a $14.1 million disabled-player exception. However, they are not stopping there. According to Brett Siegel, both James Wiseman and Tony Bradley might part ways with the franchise before the season kicks off. This potential roster shuffle could prompt the Pacers to explore the free-agent market to strengthen their lineup further.
The Indiana Pacers are closely monitoring Malik Beasley as a potential acquisition for the upcoming season, as per Brett Siegel. However, they face competition, as the New York Knicks have also expressed interest in the 28-year-old talent. Despite the buzz surrounding Beasley, neither team has reportedly made an official offer, mainly due to financial constraints.
Although head coach Rick Carlisle’s team has a salary cap exception at its disposal, a long-term deal with Beasley could push the Pacers dangerously close to the luxury tax threshold, with only a $6 million cushion. Consequently, bringing Beasley aboard would likely need offloading another player in the 2026-27 season to maintain fiscal balance. This scenario poses a significant risk and could complicate the Pacers’ pursuit of the shooting guard.