Pacers Reacquire 2026 First-Round Pick Amidst NBA Finals Battle

While the Indiana Pacers are locked in a fierce NBA Finals showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the front office is also planning for the future. In a move that underscores their commitment to long-term team building, the Pacers have reacquired a valuable asset.

The team announced Tuesday that they have secured their own 2026 first-round NBA Draft pick from the New Orleans Pelicans. This pick was initially part of the package sent to the Toronto Raptors in January 2024 to acquire star forward Pascal Siakam. The Raptors subsequently traded the pick to New Orleans in exchange for Brandon Ingram. Now, it returns to Indianapolis, adding flexibility for future roster construction.

To bring the pick back home, the Pacers traded away the No. 23 pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft and the rights to Mojave King. King, an international prospect originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023, has yet to make his NBA debut and is currently playing overseas.

Despite making this deal, Pacers fans will have to wait another year to see the team make a first-round selection. For the second consecutive year, the Pacers will be without a first-round pick in the draft, but they do hold the No. 54 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

All eyes remain fixed on the present as the Pacers try to overcome a 3-2 deficit against the Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday, June 19th, in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will look to rally and force a decisive Game 7. This trade demonstrates the Pacers are always looking at ways to improve, both now and in the years to come.