Indiana rewarded Rick Carlisle with a multiyear extension after guiding the Pacers from a rough 25-win season in his first year back to an NBA Finals appearance and a 50-win follow-up. The deal signals long-term stability as the franchise leans into a promising core that has risen quickly under Carlisle’s system. The calculus changed almost immediately, though, with Tyrese Haliburton suffering a torn Achilles and Myles Turner departing for Milwaukee, creating a depth and defensive front that fantasy managers must reassess for the upcoming season.

Carlisle’s track record—two stints with Indiana, five playoff appearances in eight years, and a Finals run—suggests the system will endure. With Haliburton sidelined, Indiana will rely more on younger guards and wings to carry the load, and Turner's exit opens opportunities for emerging bigs and reworked rotations. Fantasy players should monitor how Indiana pivots offensively and who steps into primary creator and playmaking roles as Carlisle’s impact persists.