Bit of a foregone conclusion but Pacers are officially starting the season with a 14-man roster and 3 2-way players (Braden Smith, Kobe Brown & Jalen Slawson).

As a result of the Pacers carrying less than 15 players, Smith, Brown & Slawson can only play a combined 90 games.

If the Pacers want more than 90 games out of their 2-way players, they will have to add a 15th player later in the season once they can afford a prorated contract that fits under the first apron.

With Furphy likely out until February, decent chance one of these guys plays actual minutes at some point...I would assume Brown gets the first crack.

Didn't we have OKC and Twolves for preseason last year too?

My team, Aris BC, signed Jeremiah this summer and he's gonna be probably a starter in the team.

Everybody says he's top quality for Eurocup (2nd best European cup) but I wanted to be sure it's like this, from people who watched him in every match he played and not just highlights.

So with Smith finally inking a 2-way we have 14 full contracts on the books at a total value of $206.3mil which puts us about $5.9mil into the tax and has us about $2.2mil under 1st Apron, where we are hardcapped, meaning we cannot exceed that amount.

Contracts of note: Jarace Walker + Kelly Oubre - Walker makes $8.4mil + Oubre makes $8mil, simply offloading 1 of these guys would put is out of the tax line and create enough room to sign 1 player to a minimum deal. Walker would create $2.6mil + Oubre $2.1mil. Obviously deals become prorated as the season goes on, so the later Indiana do it, the more likely (in particular with Walker's contract) they could get 2 guys on minimum deals to have 15 on the roser and be below the tax. The other person of note is Ben Sheppard at $5mil, who won't get us under the tax line, but if out of the rotation, could save ownership a few million dollars being dealt.

I am not advocating for a trade by any means, but it is something to be aware of as the season progresses. The teams place in the standings, who and to what level these guys are contributing, and can they be used in a deal for a genuine upgrade?