Indiana Pacers Salary Cap

What the Pacers owe, what counts against the cap, and how much room they have to add players. Every number is computed live; tap any underlined term or figure to see how it's built.
2026-27 cap report
Over the cap
Pacers are $35.8M over the cap on payroll.
An over-the-cap team builds with exceptions, not cap space. $0.2M of room before the luxury tax.
Real payroll$200.8M
Free-agent holdsplaceholder$23.6M
A cap hold is a placeholder charge for a team's own free agent, sized by his Bird bracket. The Pacers carry $23.6M in free-agent holds; these count against the cap only, never the tax or aprons. What is the cap hold?
Counts against the cap$224.3M
League cap line$165.0M
Salary capPacers are here
Build via exceptions
$35.8M over
vs $165.0M · payroll
The salary cap is $165.0M (projected). The Pacers' cap salary (contracts, dead money and holds) is $224.3M, putting them $59.3M over the cap, so they build the roster with exceptions and Bird rights instead of cap space. What is the salary cap?
Luxury tax
No tax bill
$0.2M under
vs $201.0M · payroll
The luxury-tax line is $201.0M (projected); holds don't count against it, only contracts and dead money ($200.8M for the Pacers). They have $247K of room before the luxury tax. What is the luxury tax?
1st apron
Full toolkit
$6.9M under
vs $209.0M · payroll
The first apron sits at $209.0M (projected), about $8.0M above the tax line. The Pacers have $6.9M of room before the first apron. What is the first apron?
2nd apron
Below the ceiling
$19.9M under
vs $222.0M · payroll
The second apron sits at $222.0M (projected). The Pacers have $19.9M of room before it. What is the second apron?

The four lines a team's spending crosses, low to high. The highlighted one is where the Pacers sit now; faded lines aren't a factor this season. Tap any line for what it means.

Holds intact = an over-the-cap team with Bird rights. Renounce all free-agent holds (keeping draft picks) and room becomes −$35.8M, forfeiting Bird rights. How renouncing works →

The books · 2026-27 focused

PlayerPos2026-27cap $165.0M2027-28cap $176.6M2028-29cap $188.9M2029-30cap $202.1M2030-31cap $216.3M
Signed contracts
An over-the-cap team can't spend cap space, but the CBA still gives it tools: exceptions. The Pacers' current tools are Non-Taxpayer MLE ($15.1M), Bi-Annual Exception ($5.4M), plus Bird rights to re-sign their own free agents. How do teams build over the cap?
Tyrese HaliburtonG$48.9M$52.3M$55.7M
Pascal SiakamF$48.9M$52.3M
Ivica ZubacC$20.3M$21.8M
Andrew NembhardG$19.6M$21.0M
Obi ToppinF$15.0M$16.0M
Aaron NesmithG$11.0M$19.4M$21.0M
T.J. McConnellG$11.0M$11.8MTO$11.8M
FTO$8.5M
Jarace Walker holds a team option for $8.5M this season; the Pacers decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option?
GTO$5.0M
Ben Sheppard holds a team option for $5.0M this season; the Pacers decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option?
FTO$2.8M
Micah Potter holds a team option for $2.8M this season; the Pacers decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option?
Jay HuffF$2.7MTO$3.0M
Quenton JacksonG$2.6M$2.9M
Johnny FurphyG$2.3MTO$2.5M$3.1M
Kam JonesG$2.2M$2.5M$2.7M
Signed contracts subtotal$200.8M$205.6M$94.2M$0.0M$0.0M
Cap holdsplaceholders, not paid
A cap hold is a placeholder charge for a team's own free agent, sized by his Bird bracket. The Pacers carry $23.6M in free-agent holds; these count against the cap only, never the tax or aprons. What is the cap hold?
Free agents · Bird % of prior salary, renounce to clear
F$8.0M
Kobe Brown carries a 300% cap hold: 300% of his $2.7M prior salary = $8.0M against the Pacers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Bird rights?
F$2.5M
Monte Morris carries a 120% cap hold: 120% of his $2.1M prior salary = $2.5M against the Pacers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are non-Bird rights?
F$2.2M
Cody Martin carries a 190% cap hold: 190% of his $132K prior salary = $2.2M against the Pacers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Bird rights?
F$2.2M
Gabe McGlothan carries a 120% cap hold: 120% of his $73K prior salary = $2.2M against the Pacers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are non-Bird rights?
F$2.2M
Garrison Mathews carries a 120% cap hold: 120% of his $1.6M prior salary = $2.2M against the Pacers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are non-Bird rights?
F$2.2M
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Pacers' cap. What is the minimum cap hold?
F$2.2M
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Pacers' cap. What is the minimum cap hold?
F$2.2M
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Pacers' cap. What is the minimum cap hold?
F$70.7M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$66.1M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$32.7M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$31.5M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$27.3M
Early Bird rights (after two seasons with the team) let the Pacers re-sign a player up to 175% of his prior salary or 105% of the league average; his cap hold is 130% of prior salary. What are Early Bird rights?
F$25.4M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$24.0M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$22.4M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$15.1M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$8.2M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$7.5M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$5.7M
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
F$3.5M
Non-Bird rights (after one season) only allow a raise to 120% of prior salary; the cap hold is likewise 120% of prior salary. What are non-Bird rights?
F$3.4M
Non-Bird rights (after one season) only allow a raise to 120% of prior salary; the cap hold is likewise 120% of prior salary. What are non-Bird rights?
Cap holds subtotal$23.6M$43.9M$171.0M$128.6M$0.0M
Counts against the cap$224.3M$249.5M$265.3M$141.6M$20.9M
Hold values are computed: draft picks at 120% of the rookie-scale slot (season-adjusted), free agents at the Bird % of prior salary (Non 120%, Early 130%, Bird 150/190/250/300%), or a flat minimum. This table is read-only; edit source data in the database to change values.

Tax & apron position · 2026-27

FLOOR
$149.0M
TAX
$201.0M
APRON 1
$209.0M
APRON 2
$222.0M
Pacers $202.1M
Marker = tax/apron salary (contracts + dead money); holds don't count here. Cap space is separate (includes holds) and shown in the report above.

Free-agent capacity · 2026-27

Non-Taxpayer MLEup to $15.1M
Hard-caps you at the first apron.
The Pacers can offer the full non-taxpayer mid-level: up to $15.1M (projected) starting salary, up to 4 years. Using it hard-caps them at the first apron. What is the mid-level exception (non-taxpayer)?
Bi-Annual Exceptionup to $5.4M
Every other year. Also hard-caps at the first apron.
The Pacers can use the bi-annual exception: $5.4M (projected) starting salary, up to 2 years, but only if they didn't use it last season. It hard-caps them at the first apron. What is the bi-annual exception?
Bird rights
Re-sign your own free agents up to the max.
Bird rights let the Pacers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights?
25%
0–6 yrs
$41.3M
30%
7–9 yrs
$49.5M
35%
10+ yrs
$57.8M
Max starting salary by experience tier. Tap for how the tiers work.
Max contracts scale with experience (projected): $41.3M starting salary for 0–6 years, $49.5M for 7–9, $57.8M for 10+ (25/30/35% of the cap). How do NBA max salaries work?
Outside FAs can only be signed at the max using cap space; otherwise capped by the tools above.

Decision points · 2026-27

Option calls ahead of 2027-28
Jay HuffTeam option$3.0M
A team option (TO badge) lets the Pacers choose whether to keep the player for that year's salary or let him become a free agent. What is a team option?
Johnny FurphyTeam option$2.5M
A team option (TO badge) lets the Pacers choose whether to keep the player for that year's salary or let him become a free agent. What is a team option?
Expiring after 2026-27Jarace Walker$8.5MBen Sheppard$5.0MMicah Potter$2.8M
The forks in the road as the books stand: options someone must pick up or decline, and salaries that come off after 2026-27. Tap an option for how it works.

Draft picks through 2032

The Pacers control 5 first-round and 8 second-round picks, 1 carrying swap rights.

2026

Their own 1st, owed to LAC · No. 5Indiana's own first went to the Clippers in the February 5 2026 Ivica Zubac deal; it landed at pick 5 and conveyed.
Their own 2nd, owed to MEMIndiana's own second conveyed to Memphis at pick 32, routed via Milwaukee.

2027

2027 1st (own)
2027 2nd (own)
2027 2nd (via UTA)Owed to Indiana, unprotected, from the Rayjon Tucker deal.

2028

2028 1st (own)
2028 2nd (via DAL)Owed to Indiana, unprotected.
2028 2nd (own)

2029

2029 2nd (own)
Their own 1st, owed to LACTraded to the Clippers, unprotected, in the February 5 2026 Ivica Zubac deal.

2030

2030 1st (own)
2030 2nd (own)

2031

2031 1st (own)
2031 2nd (own, swap rights attached)Washington holds swap rights on this second inside a Washington, Memphis, and Indiana 2031 pool; Indiana keeps its slot only as the least favorable of that group.

2032

2032 1st (own)
2032 2nd (own)

Protections and swap conditions in plain English. Full story on the Pacers draft picks page.