Indiana Pacers Waive Guard Ethan Thompson From Two-Way Contract

Aug 14, 2026 06:22 AM - 1 hour ago 2

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers have waived defender Ethan Thompson, who was signed to a two-way contract.

Thompson initially signed a two-year, two-way woody pinch Indiana successful precocious November of 2025. He entered the team’s rotation reasonably quickly and contributed connected much than 1 occasion, a astonishment fixed that 2025-26 was his first twelvemonth playing successful NBA games.

By season’s end, Thompson had appeared successful 32 outings for the bluish and golden while starting 13 times. He averaged 7 points per crippled but struggled pinch his efficiency, shooting 37.8% from the field.

In the G League, Thompson was awesome past play and posted astir 27 points per game. His changeable accuracy was fantabulous for the Noblesville Boom, and he played good for Puerto Rico during world play successful early July.

Why did the Pacers waive Thompson?

This summer, a fewer offseason signings put the Pacers successful a unsocial situation regarding their 15th and last roster spot. They tin technically put a subordinate pinch zero aliases 1 twelvemonth of work connected their modular roster but can’t spend a veteran’s minimum woody acknowledgment to their difficult headdress situation. That has near draught prime Braden Smith successful limbo and, somewhat successful turn, Thompson.

That’s because the original scheme for the Pacers was to motion Smith to a two-way contract, but they were incapable to do truthful since Thompson filled 1 of the team’s 3 two-way openings, and the different 2 were occupied by Kobe Brown and Jalen Slawson – the second 2 some signed their contracts successful July.

While Indiana could still alteration people and springiness Smith a modular roster spot, waiving Thompson opens up a two-way statement slot for them to motion their draught pick, if they are truthful inclined. The beforehand agency could opt to simply time off their 15th roster opening unused for a while successful the sanction of spending flexibility.

Thompson scored 11 points successful his 3rd crippled pinch the Pacers and reached a career-high 24 against the Chicago Bulls connected April 1. He flashed scoring abilities successful aggregate games but ne'er strung together coagulated outings.

Reporting from earlier connected Thursday suggested that Thompson has agreed to a woody pinch Partizan, a Serbian nine that competes successful the EuroLeague. So this waiver by Indiana some allows them to fig retired a solution pinch Smith and frees up Thompson to research overseas possibilities.

The Pacers now person 16 players nether statement – 14 connected modular agreements and 2 connected two-way deals. They tin person up to 21 players signed successful the offseason but are presently constricted to Exhibit 10 pacts, their two-way opening, and lesser knowledgeable minimum net contracts. Once the regular play begins, they tin person up to 15 players connected modular contracts and 3 connected two-way deals.

Their adjacent bid of business will beryllium signing Smith, who the Pacers chose pinch the 38th wide prime successful June’s draft. He struggled somewhat successful summertime convention for the bluish and gold, but the squad believed successful his skills displayed astatine Purdue capable to adhd him to the franchise.