Tyrese Haliburton’s season-ending Achilles injury triggers a bold Pacers rework, elevating Andrew Nembhard, Benedict Mathurin, and Aaron Nesmith into bigger roles while Obi Toppin steps in as a versatile finisher and target in the post-Haliburton era. Pascal Siakam becomes the primary playmaker and closer, driving the offense and demanding higher usage, while Miles Turner’s departure compounds the shift at center. Indiana’s depth is tested as Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard gain chances to contribute, with Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson jockeying for minutes behind a reshaped frontcourt.

From a fantasy lens, the reshuffle opens multiple value avenues. Nembhard’s playoff-level play suggests real late-season potential as a steady facilitator, while Mathurin’s starter’s workload could surge his counting stats. Nesmith’s shooting impact remains key, and Siakam’s dual role as scorer and initiator elevates him as a focal fantasy asset. Center rotation becomes a marquee narrative: Jackson’s athletic upside vs Huff’s spacing and efficiency, with Toppin’s rim protection and scoring off the bench adding further intrigue.

Ultimately, expect Pacers to push for play-in contention even without Haliburton and Turner. The fantasy landscape shifts toward Nesmith, Nembhard, Mathurin, Siakam, and the center contenders, with Walker and Sheppard offering opportunistic streams. The season promises more minute-by-minute volatility, but also tangible breakout paths for several players as Caris LeVert-era depth becomes a license for upside rather than a safety net.

The Bulls’ 2526 schedule drop sets expectations with limited national attention, three nationally televised games, all on the road, underscoring Chicago’s spot on the league’s midsized market radar. The panel argues that the team should dial in a realistic start and lean into development rather than tanking, while fans debate how many primetime slots the club deserves and whether December games at Brooklyn or Toronto could swing momentum early.