Pacers confirm Harry s reimbursement next quarter! Signing with Wiseman for one year, the president explains why Turner leaves the team

On July 8, Prichard, president of basketball operations of the Pacers, confirmed to reporters that team star Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 season, and he tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of last month's NBA Finals.

"I have no doubt that he will return in a better shape," Pritchard said, "...but he won't play next season. He won't take the risk now. So don't have the hope that he will play." Pritchard's update is not surprising considering that Halliburton's injury occurred in the end of the spring. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon on June 22 and underwent surgery the next day.

Players usually take a full year to fully recover after Achilles tendon surgery. By the time the NBA playoffs begin next April, Halliburton's recovery is less than 10 months old, and without him in the 2025-26 season, it is impossible to guarantee whether the Pacers can go far in the playoffs — even into the playoffs.

Pritchard said Halliburton's absence would create "opportunities to grow" for some Indiana players. While Nembhard and McConnell are two favorites to take over the role of point guards, it is no surprise that Mathering takes on more possession and organizational tasks as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Pritchard went on to joke that Halliburton would have to be his general manager before he recovered, and that he "may be better than (real general manager) Chad Buchanan".

Halliburton previously said that he did not regret playing with injuries to win the championship. He said that if he could do it again, he would make the same choice even if he knew he would suffer more serious injuries. Pritchard disagrees with that, although the Pacers' top basketball executive believes that the team could have won Game 7 if Halliburton wasn't injured.

Prichard also talked about Turner in the interview. He revealed that the Pacers were willing to pay the high price of luxury taxes to keep Turner, but Turner's agent did not give the Pacers a chance to match the Bucks' offer. In addition, the Pacers officially announced that they have signed free agent center James Wiseman. It is reported that the two parties signed a one-year contract. As the second pick in the 2020 draft, Wiseman joined the Pacers as a free agent a year ago after playing for the Warriors and the Pistons for the first four seasons of his career. The big man impressed the Pacers in the preseason and looked promising as the backup center behind Miles Turner, but he tore his left Achilles tendon in the team's regular season opener.

Wiseman has suffered from injuries during his young career, including missing a full season with knee surgery in the 2021-22 season. Over the course of five years of career, the 24-year-old has played a total of 148 games (55 starts), averaging 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.9 minutes.

Pritchard said Wiseman would have a chance to compete in the Pacers' new Turner-free frontcourt roster, with his rivals including Jay Huff, Tony Bradley and restricted free agent Isaiah Jackson, who is believed to be likely to renew his contract.

It is unclear whether Wiseman's salary is guaranteed or whether he can secure a regular season roster seat - he may compete with Bradley, who has an insecure salary for a position on a 15-man roster. Nevertheless, Pritchard showed enthusiasm for Wiseman today.

"We saw his great potential in the preseason and before he was injured," Pritchard said. "He was tall, athletic and better shots. I think his injury is getting better, allowing him to play - although he can't fully recover, he can do a lot."