Pacers Notebook: Andrew Nembhard named to Canada's Olympic training camp roster
Siakam agrees to new deal, Haliburton hits fashion week (then WWE), Shayne Whittington has a new job, USA swimming shines at Lucas Oil Stadium, and more notes.
Coming off a productive second season in the NBA, Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard will soon head to training camp with Canada Basketball ahead of the Olympic Games, which begin in about a month over in France.
Nembhard, 24, was one of 20 players named to the training camp roster. Also included: former Pacer Oshae Brissett, Purdue standout Zach Edey, and 2024 Indiana Mr. Basketball Trey Lyles.
And although Bennedict Mathurin cannot participate since he’s rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Team Canada invited him to attend so that he could be part of it and gain valuable experience.
After camp in Toronto, which begins on Friday (June 28), the roster will be trimmed down. Olympic rosters are limited to 12 spots. Nembhard is fully expected to be part of the core national team.
Both Nembhard and Mathurin could have played for their country last summer — like Tyrese Haliburton did with Team USA — but they instead chose to stay in Indianapolis to focus on their own game. They participated in rookie/free agent mini-camp, then played in a few games at Las Vegas Summer League.
Nembhard expected to play significant time at backup point guard, but ultimately was too valuable. He started in 47 of 68 games, averaged 9.2 points and 4.1 assists per game, and his two-way talents were critical in the Pacers’ postseason run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Especially his Game 3 game-winner.
Both players are immensely proud to be involved and have the chance to represent their country. For Mathurin, however, the injury will cost him a likely appearance in the Olympics.
Also pretty cool: Andrew's father, Claude, was hired as Ontario Basketball's CEO earlier this month.
Team Canada will conclude its training camp in Las Vegas, scheduled to scrimmage Team USA at T-Mobile Arena on July 10th at 10:30 p.m. ET.
For the Olympics, Canada is slotted in Group A. Team USA is in Group C — along with Serbia, South Sudan, and a team TBD.
✅ Siakam’s Deal Done, What’s Next?
Less than 24 hours after I reported the Pacers were nearing a long-term deal with Pascal Siakam, it got done. It cannot be signed (or discussed) until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET, after the NBA’s moratorium. I expect for a special press conference to be held to celebrate the moment.
The most interesting thing about the contract is it begin a four-year max deal and does not include a fifth year (only the Pacers could offer that). There’s pros/cons to that for both sides. I think both the Pacers and Siakam, 30, should be happy with this.
And for the Pacers, it means a commitment of about $84 million next season for the duo of Haliburton + Siakam, both of whom will be in Year 1 of max deals.