Pacers Insider Provides Unfortunate Reality for Fan Favorite Free Agent

This Pacers player might be done playing in Indiana.

Jun 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward James Johnson (16) shoots the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of game six of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers have employed James Johnson for the last few years to help them in the locker room. He is a veteran player who has seen a lot of different environments.

A huge reason why the Pacers kept him is so that no one would mess with Tyrese Haliburton. Johnson has serves as an enforcer of sorts, because most NBA players don't want to get on his bad side.

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Johnson is currently a free agent. Indiana does not have a roster spot open to bring him back. One insider believes that Johnson's time in Indiana might be finished.

The Pacers are unlikely to bring James Johnson back next year

It seems unlikely that the Pacers are going to bring back James Johnson next season. According to Tony East of Forbes, the Pacers are likely moving in a different direction.

Indiana already has four centers on the roster — for now. Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and James Wiseman will all be fighting for the starting spot, while Tony Bradley will be fighting for a rotation spot.

That doesn't leave any room for Johnson to return. Johnson is 38 years old and does not offer any value at all on the court. He is only a locker room guy at this point in his career.

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With the Pacers seemingly having grown up a lot last season after their Finals run, they may not need to bring him back. They might have enough maturity to keep him off the roster.

James Johnson's career might be over if he doesn't sign with the Pacers

At this point in his career, Johnson might not be able to find a home. He would only be served to play for a young team that has title aspirations, and there aren't very many of those teams this season.

Johnson would like to play for another year, but he has to find a team that would be in need of his skills. There's a good chance that this is the end of the line for him.

This past season, in just 12 games played, Johnson averaged 0.7 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. He has played in just 39 games in the last three years.

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