Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) battles for a rebound with Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter (11) and forward Jalen Slawson (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers plan to exercise the team option in the contract of center Micah Potter and send a qualifying offer to two-way contract wing Jalen Slawson.
Those decisions were the final two that the Pacers had to make before free agency begins on June 30, and both decisions had to be made by the 29th. Now, Potter and Slawson will both be in the mix for Indiana during the offseason as they finalize their roster for the 2026-27 campaign.
Picking up Potter’s team option was an easy call for the Pacers. That’s mostly for contractual reasons – Potter’s agreement for 2026-27 is non-guaranteed, so even after picking up the option the Pacers could choose to waive him at any time before the season and avoid a salary cap hit. Now, the Pacers have more flexibility with their efficient big man in the offseason.
They have more options as it pertains to using some of Potter’s salary in trades, or waiving him before bringing him back on a different contract. There are many ways that Potter’s deal being completely non-guaranteed can help the franchise. But perhaps the most important factor for the big man going forward is that he played well after signing with the blue and gold. Potter was one of the best shooting bigs in the league last season and neared the infamous 50-40-90 cutoffs for efficiency, only coming up short at the foul line.
