Pacers set training camp roster with Kendall Brown, Cole Swider playing for last spot

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers formally announced their training camp roster for the 2024-25 season Monday with 19 playings vying for 18 positions, but really just one roster spot up for grabs.

The Pacers return 13 of the 15 players who were part of their playoff roster that reached the 2023-24 Eastern Conference finals, winning two playoff series for the first time since 2014. That includes the entire starting five -- All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton , All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam , center Myles Turner , guard Andrew Nembhard and forward Aaron Nesmith . It also includes key reserves T.J. McConnell , Obi Toppin , Ben Sheppard , Isaiah Jackson , Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker . Siakam and Toppin both signed new four-year contracts in the offseason while Nembhard and McConnell signed extensions.

Veteran forward James Johnson Jr. re-signed on another one-year contract to maintain his position as the team's collective mentor. The Pacers lost two players to free agency and replaced both. Center Jalen Smith opted out of the final year of his contract and signed with the Chicago Bulls. Forward Doug McDermott hit free agency and was not re-signed. The Pacers signed center James Wiseman from the Pistons to replace Smith and drafted Johnny Furphy from Kansas in the second round to replace McDermott. Furphy was signed to a multi-year deal.

The Pacers also signed second-round draft picks Enrique Freeman and Tristen Newton to two-way contracts, meaning they will play with both the Pacers and Mad Ants in the G League. Guard Quenton Jackson , who was signed to a two-way contract late last season, will maintain the third two-way spot.

The two players vying for the final position will be returning forward Kendall Brown and newly-signed forward Cole Swider . Brown's two-way contract was converted to a full-time deal late last season, but he played a total of 63 minutes in 15 games. Swider had a strong NBA Summer League session with the Miami Heat and was signed afterward to give Brown competition.

Practice begins on Tuesday. The Pacers' first preseason game is Oct. 8 against the Hawks in Atlanta and their season opener is Oct. 23 against the Pistons. They will host Fan Jam, an intrasquad scrimmage, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday.

No., Name, Pos., Hgt., Wgt

0, Tyrese Haliburton, G 6-5, 190

00, Bennedict Mathurin, G/F, 6-6, 210

1, Obi Toppin, F, 6-9, 210

2, Andrew Nembhard, G, 6-5, 200

4, Tristen Newton, G, 6-5, 190

5, Jarace Walker, F, 6-8, 235

8, Enrique Freeman, F, 6-7, 215

9, T.J. McConnell, G, 6-2, 190

10, Kendall Brown, G/F, 6-8, 200

12, Johnny Furphy, F, 6-7, 189

13, James Wiseman, C, 7-0, 250

16, James Johnson, F, 6-7, 230

21, Cole Swider, F, 6-9, 220

22, Isaiah Jackson, F, 6-10, 225

23, Aaron Nesmith, F, 6-6, 215

26, Ben Sheppard, G, 6-6, 200

29, Quenton Jackson, G, 6-5, 175

33, Myle Turner, C 6-11, 250

43, Pascal Siakam, F, 6-8, 230

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers set training camp roster with Kendall Brown, Cole Swider playing for last spot