Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the entire 2025-26 NBA season due to injury

In Indiana, the Pacers have added depth to their backcourt by signing Monte Morris to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, which is also known as an Exhibit 9 deal. This deal grants Morris financial protection if he faces injuries during training camp, ensuring $15,000 in compensation if he is waived. Morris, who is 30 years old and 6-feet-2 inches tall, has played eight seasons in the NBA, appearing in 45 games last season with Phoenix, where he averaged 5.2 points per game, in addition to other statistics. The Pacers are preparing for the upcoming season without their star player Tyrese Haliburton, who sustained a severe injury by tearing his Achilles tendon during Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals earlier this summer. This injury has raised serious concerns over his ability to assist the team as they seek to build on last season’s success, where they reached the Finals after winning the Eastern Conference. Despite this setback, the Pacers are optimistic about the seasoned roster they have in place. In a recent interview, Haliburton expressed the emotional turmoil he experienced due to his injury while reflecting on his performance during the playoffs. He noted the difficulty of coming to terms with needing surgery and the arduous road of rehabilitation ahead. His focus remains on positivity and moving forward, allowing him to cope with the challenges presented by this injury. Looking ahead, the Pacers have designed their off-season strategy to ensure they remain competitive while managing the roster without Haliburton until he can make a full recovery. Their training camp is slated to start soon, and the team appears determined to go into the new season with a robust lineup despite losing one of their key players. The importance of depth in the backcourt has never been more pronounced for the franchise.