Tyrese Haliburton Injury Impact on Pacers Upcoming Offseason’

The Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lilliard and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum suffered torn Achilles tendons in earlier rounds of the 2024-25 playoffs.

Lilliard went down in Game 4 of the first round against the Indiana Pacers in April. Then, Tatum sustained the injury against the New York Knicks in May.

As the Pacers' star point guard Tyrese Haliburton played through a strained calf in the final two games of the NBA Finals, the haunting sights of Lillard and Tatum’s injuries lingered in the back of the basketball fans’ minds.

And then, as Haliburton fell to the ground in pain seven minutes into Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Indiana’s worst nightmare came true.

More News: Pacers Lose Both Tyrese Haliburton and an NBA Title in Blowout Game 7 Loss

The Pacers were left without their star player in the championship game of what could have been their first NBA title in franchise history.

Haliburton underwent MRI testing on Monday to confirm the severity of his injury. The two-time NBA All-Star tore his Achilles tendon, marking the third player to sustain the injury in the 2024-25 playoffs.

The Pacers will need to prepare to tackle the 2025-26 season without him.

Although it will be challenging for Indiana to fully replace Haliburton, the Pacers could look within their current roster to find an alternative point guard.

Point guard T.J. McConnell seems like the most likely replacement for Haliburton, as he shined in Game 7 after Haliburton exited with the injury.

McConnell played 28 minutes, which was the most time he spent on the court throughout the entire playoffs. He went 8-for-13 and totaled 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal in the championship game.

The Pacers signed McConnell to a four-year, $45 million contract last summer, keeping him in Indiana through the 2028-29 season.

Point guard Andrew Nembhard is another potential replacement for Haliburton. He put up 15 points, five rebounds, and six assists in 37 minutes of Game 7. Nembhard signed a three-year contract extension last offseason.

Indiana could also explore the trade and free agent market for alternative point guards to replace Haliburton.

But the Pacers seem to be focused on either keeping their current center Myles Turner, who will be a free agent this offseason, or searching the market for a new player to fill the position.

Regardless of how the Pacers navigate the loss of Haliburton, Indiana's depth is what helped them get to the NBA Finals and will likely be what helps them overcome Haliburton's injury.

More News: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Injury Overshadows Thunder Title, Says NBA Analyst

For more news and notes on the Indiana Pacers, visit Indiana Pacers on SI.