Pacers agree to two-year deal with Kelly Oubre Jr., adding veteran scoring wing
Oubre Jr. gives Indiana size, scoring and bench help on the perimeter as the Pacers move into the luxury tax and near the first apron.
The Indiana Pacers and free-agent forward Kelly Oubre Jr. reached agreement on a contract, a league source confirmed to Fieldhouse Files.
Shams Charania of ESPN first reported the deal, which is worth nearly $17 million over two years.
A two-year contract aligns Oubre Jr. with a potential championship window the Pacers’ front office is wanting to maximize. Almost half the roster is under contract through the 2027-28 season: Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, Jay Huff, Johnny Furphy, and Quenton Jackson.
The Pacers have several needs entering free agency.
Bench scoring, to help replace the consistent production from Bennedict Mathurin.
Size and length on the perimeter to help Siakam and Aaron Nesmith defend. Ideally, a two-way wing.
And backup center remains unsettled. It’s an area they will continue to explore. Jay Huff’s contract is fully guaranteed and they picked up the team option on Micah Potter’s non-guaranteed contract, but they are not content there.
However, as I wrote in my Pacers free agency preview, the team’s top priority was to sign a wing. And in Oubre Jr., they’re getting a player with size who can score and help the bench unit.
